FUCK. I'm just getting really pissed off now

Thread starter pftek
Start date Nov 6, 2009

pftek

Active Member

#1

I think my grow is doomed for failure even before I start.

My whole apartment is on ONLY 1 circuit.

Just using my microwave dims the lights. Microwave and heater trips the circuit.

So, even if I dedicated 1000 watts to growing. I'd have DIM LIGHTS. Right?

AWWRRGGGG. I already signed a year lease. FUCK!

Gixxer420

Member

#2

pftek said:
I think my grow is doomed for failure even before I start.

My whole apartment is on ONLY 1 circuit.

Just using my microwave dims the lights. Microwave and heater trips the circuit.

So, even if I dedicated 1000 watts to growing. I'd have DIM LIGHTS. Right?

AWWRRGGGG. I already signed a year lease. FUCK!

Most likely you have a 15amp circuit breaker. So figure you can run around 1500 watts maybe a little more before it trips.

1500Watts/110Volts = 13.63 Amps

Figure out what your microwave, heater, other lights, tv, etc.. are using and go from there.

Once you figure out your watts, divide it by your supply voltage and that gives you your amps.

So yeah, if you only got one breaker your pretty much fucked or go CFL's all the way.

slk

Well-Known Member

#3

run the 1000 watt light when you are not home. but I would say you have a problem dude

kno

Active Member

#4

I have this issue, I can run a 400w just fine on my single 15amp breaker (which is what you most likely have) and I can run just _one_ appliance, that means choosing between microwave / toaster / dish washer / air conditioner. If I use more than one I have to take a trip to the breaker box and replace the god damned fuse AGAIN.

I feel your pain, you WILL have to go with a smaller light, but you can still grow at least.

pftek

Active Member

#5

kno said:
I have this issue, I can run a 400w just fine on my single 15amp breaker (which is what you most likely have) and I can run just _one_ appliance, that means choosing between microwave / toaster / dish washer / air conditioner. If I use more than one I have to take a trip to the breaker box and replace the god damned fuse AGAIN.

I feel your pain, you WILL have to go with a smaller light, but you can still grow at least.

are you worried you'll melt the wiring?

purple voodoo#5

Member

#6

pftek said:
I think my grow is doomed for failure even before I start.

My whole apartment is on ONLY 1 circuit.

Just using my microwave dims the lights. Microwave and heater trips the circuit.

So, even if I dedicated 1000 watts to growing. I'd have DIM LIGHTS. Right?

AWWRRGGGG. I already signed a year lease. FUCK!

you could try running your light at night while everything else is off and use a 400 instead of 1000 and go small for now. or wait a year till you can move. or cfl's. or just sacrifice everything for the grow and use your 1 circuit only for grow op and nothing else. good luck. :bigjoint:

:bigjoint:

MaintMan

Well-Known Member

#7

pftek said:
are you worried you'll melt the wiring?

You shouldn't have to worry, that's why the fuse blows/breaker trips, so that the wiring won't be damaged.

My first grow was a similar situation although indie have more than one circut. I ended up through trial and error figuring out what I could safely run without tripping fuse. As others said you are prob limited to a 600 max. But check out Heath robinsons grows, he gets gms per watt with a 600 and a neat flooded tube setup. And I also agree you should run the majority of your light at night when u aren't using much power.

Also another idea would be to start the light cycle with medium ammounts of floro light and then hit them with the bigger light fr the middle part of the night ( also while u are sleeping) then finish with floros again before bed? Sounds reasonable and u could prob go with a 1000 for he 8 hrs u sleep.
Other than that just wait to get a few grows underyour belt before you go crazy n next time check the power situation before comiting

pftek

Active Member

#8

MaintMan said:
You shouldn't have to worry, that's why the fuse blows/breaker trips, so that the wiring won't be damaged.

My first grow was a similar situation although indie have more than one circut. I ended up through trial and error figuring out what I could safely run without tripping fuse. As others said you are prob limited to a 600 max. But check out Heath robinsons grows, he gets gms per watt with a 600 and a neat flooded tube setup. And I also agree you should run the majority of your light at night when u aren't using much power.

Also another idea would be to start the light cycle with medium ammounts of floro light and then hit them with the bigger light fr the middle part of the night ( also while u are sleeping) then finish with floros again before bed? Sounds reasonable and u could prob go with a 1000 for he 8 hrs u sleep.
Other than that just wait to get a few grows underyour belt before you go crazy n next time check the power situation before comiting

Would this screw up everything in my freezer and fridge if I unplugged it for 12 hours every night? and at night ONLY dedicate my electricitiy to the laptop and to the lights/fan.

Johnnyorganic

Well-Known Member

#9

pftek said:
I think my grow is doomed for failure even before I start.

My whole apartment is on ONLY 1 circuit.

Just using my microwave dims the lights. Microwave and heater trips the circuit.

So, even if I dedicated 1000 watts to growing. I'd have DIM LIGHTS. Right?

AWWRRGGGG. I already signed a year lease. FUCK!

Apartment growing has distinct disadvantages. Many apartments are not exactly spacious. Close proximity to neighbors creates a problems when the girls get smelly. Employees can report you if they spot your grow on an unannounced/unexpected maintenance call. And this limited electrical capacity problem you have.

Perhaps you should lower your expectations and start small. Perhaps a 250 watt HPS/MH conversion system or a 200 watt CFL setup. It would limit you to far fewer plants than a beefy 1000 watt setup, but at least you could be growing. And a smaller system could fit into a stealth cabinet. In fact all the problems attributed to apartment growing could be mitigated with a smaller grow.

Good luck and good growing.

pftek

Active Member

#10

yeah it does pretty much suck. however, one think i did notice is that I accidently miscalculated the amount of lumens is required for my plants. so 1000 watts just might be enough. I truly hope so. and that when I use the 1000 watts they aren't DIMMING.

MaintMan

Well-Known Member

#11

pftek said:
Would this screw up everything in my freezer and fridge if I unplugged it for 12 hours every night? and at night ONLY dedicate my electricitiy to the laptop and to the lights/fan.

as long as you dont open the doors more than just a couple times a night you should be ok, but this can and prob will cause premature compressor failure but hey if ur that intent on running a 1k light it prob dosent matter if u gotta buy a cheep 100 dollar fridge to get by if it goes out

purple voodoo#5

Member

#12

pftek said:
yeah it does pretty much suck. however, one think i did notice is that I accidently miscalculated the amount of lumens is required for my plants. so 1000 watts just might be enough. I truly hope so. and that when I use the 1000 watts they aren't DIMMING.

of course you are going to do what you want but i would not go with 1000 watts in your situation. i would go 400, i overloaded a socket in an apartment my very first grow. then had to hide all my shit and tell the manager my power blew out and felt real fuckin dumb :bigjoint:

:bigjoint:

pftek

Active Member

#13

why would that cause premature compression failure? is it because it has to work hard to get things back to the right temperature? i was thinking of doing this for 18 hours a day. 6 hours on fridge. 18 off. so i can get 18/6 lighting.

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