I was curious if anyone knew typically what a ballast consumes for energy? I run a 400W MH HPS interchangable ballast and a convertable ballast currently running a 600W bulb. Wanted to know if i should be concerned if this is setting off Red Flags with the Power company to my room and if so suggestions on how to correct. Space is 4x8. Need help as concerned its consuming too much!
Ballast Consumption
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sober sasquatch
Member
red flag with power company.....not even close
it varys in diff parts of the country i think cali is $.40 kilawatt hr
sober sasquatch
Member
its actually a bit more then 400 watts bc its not 100% efficient and some power just goes to "waste"
legallyflying
Well-Known Member
You could likely run about 2k worth of lights without falling outside the curve in terms of power usage. It is very easy for the power company to see how you stack up against other houses of your size. They ahve all the access to the information they need to know if something is up. They know your sq. footage, primary heat source, and how many bedrooms you have. When I called the power company to switch to a time of use plan the lady said "WOW, you are using ALLOT of electricity given the size of your home". I said "yeah, I have a large hot tub and a pottery kiln that I use quite often".
just for reference, my grow setup uses a combined total of 6K watts when everything is runnning.
just for reference, my grow setup uses a combined total of 6K watts when everything is runnning.
karr
Well-Known Member
Ummm no. Sorry but no.
A 400w standard magnetic ballast will draw about 460 watts. A digital will be closer to 400w.
A 400 on a 12 hour day is 4.8 kw/hr. Multiply that by 30 for days is 144 kw/hrs. So multiply that by your rate, which varies a lot by area and company, and you get your monthly additional cost.
Generally it's nothing to worry about until you get to 3k +. but its speculation really. More of a tell is a large increase in usage in a short amount of time. So one quarter you jump up 50% might be something to someone notices.
In most cases just pay on time and don't talk about your grow. Mostly the cops will subpoena the usage from the company, not the other way around.
Edit: my numbers are for a digital ballast and are very optimistic, generally it will be more.
Nitro1990
Active Member
erm yes it dose draw 198.9 w i am an electrician so i know what my power consumption is i have my electric monitor to see what my power draw is so don't call me a soddin lire not and i only use 3kw/hr per day it cots me £3 per week to run my light! and with my 3 fans and water pump its another £2 so ur calculations are WRONG an im from the uk so are electrics are different my kettle takes in 1.4kw/hr to boil water
karr
Well-Known Member
Well i called no one a liar, i simply said you were wrong because. well... you are.
Here are pics of a 400w magnetic ballast, it is drawing 480W due to its inefficient design (being magnetic) it draws more than the rated 400w.
This last one is with my fans plugged in and my hydro unit going. 600W
Are you sure you aren't using a US scale electricity meter or perhaps your meter is switched to 120v? In the states we run 120v opposed to your 240v. If you are using a meter meant for 120v it may show half as many watts because it is passing less amps through it and converting it incorrectly.
Perhaps you are measuring before the light fires? when i hot start my lamp it shows about 170w until the lamp re-ignites, at which point it goes back up to 480 W
Don't need to take it personal man
Here are pics of a 400w magnetic ballast, it is drawing 480W due to its inefficient design (being magnetic) it draws more than the rated 400w.
This last one is with my fans plugged in and my hydro unit going. 600W
Are you sure you aren't using a US scale electricity meter or perhaps your meter is switched to 120v? In the states we run 120v opposed to your 240v. If you are using a meter meant for 120v it may show half as many watts because it is passing less amps through it and converting it incorrectly.
Perhaps you are measuring before the light fires? when i hot start my lamp it shows about 170w until the lamp re-ignites, at which point it goes back up to 480 W
Don't need to take it personal man
legallyflying
Well-Known Member
Your an electrician and yet you think a 400 watt bulb only uses 200 watts? WTF?! If you are measuring your flow through then your ballast is bad.
What advice is coming next? "switch to 220 and cut your poser usage in half!" LMAO
What advice is coming next? "switch to 220 and cut your poser usage in half!" LMAO
legallyflying
Well-Known Member
Perhaps you can explain how a 400 watt ballast is only drawing 200 watts. I am not an electrician but I do know my way around electricity wise and I do own a power meter. My amp draw is right in line with what the manufacturers state and when the watts are calculated they are certainly certainly a little higher than the bulb wattage.
As an electrician you must know that makes no sense at all. Your ballast or meter is broke. A 400 watt bulb should draw...I know this is crazy talk...400 watts
As an electrician you must know that makes no sense at all. Your ballast or meter is broke. A 400 watt bulb should draw...I know this is crazy talk...400 watts
karr
Well-Known Member
Tell us, what ballast are you using? did you need to use a converter to supply the light with 120v vs the standard European plug?
My money is on either your lamp is a 120v thus drawing half the amps through a 240v system and throwing off your meter, or your meter is bad, or lastly you bought yourself an uncommon 200w ballast, or perhaps your ballast is only working on half strength.
Time to open up those dusty electrician coursework books and find out where your messing things up.
A simple google search should be enough if you are having trouble finding your old books. Cant do it for ya, late for work.
My money is on either your lamp is a 120v thus drawing half the amps through a 240v system and throwing off your meter, or your meter is bad, or lastly you bought yourself an uncommon 200w ballast, or perhaps your ballast is only working on half strength.
Time to open up those dusty electrician coursework books and find out where your messing things up.
A simple google search should be enough if you are having trouble finding your old books. Cant do it for ya, late for work.
There is absolutely nowhere in california at .40 kw/h. I am in the bay area and its .15 in chico its like .12 but it changes depending on usage and time of day.