Hi everyone, im trying to get my 2x2x5 grow cab project off the ground and I am unsure of some things about lighting. I was wondering, is a 400 watt Hps/MH and x4 65 watt cfls a good choice for growing a single plant? How much will this set up make my electric bill go up? Is there a better set up for a single plant? please add your imput as I am a noob looking to get started! Thanks GC!
That's overkill for one plant, but if you plan to grow more than one at a time in the future it's better to buy the big light now rather than buying a small light setup now and then having to replace it. 50-100 watts HID per plant is good, or a minimum of 100 actual watts per plant with CFL. You could do a 250w HID in that space, but in the long run you will be happier with a 400w. Also think about temp control -- those lights can give off quite a bit of heat, so you might need an air-cooled hood but not many of them will fit across only a 2' span including the venting on both ends.
thanks toasty! how would a 400 watt HID lamp effect my electric bill? im realistic and do expect an increase in electricity usuage but will it run the bill at such a high level as to cause alarm or raise suspicion? also what would you suggest as an ideal way to ventilate such a space as 2x2x5 using that lamp?
No, a 400w light will not set off alarm bells, just pay your bill and all will be fine. There are lots of possible legitimate reasons your electrical use is higher. To calculate the cost: 1) Multiply light wattage x number of hours running per day x 30 (av. days per month) 2) Divide by 1,000 to get to kilowatt hours 3) Check your electric bill for your kwh rate. If it isn't printed there then divide the amount of your last bill by the total number of kilowatt hours consumed during that billing period (that info definitely is on your bill). Example: a 400w HID on 18/6 would burn up 216 kwh per month (400x18x30÷1,000) Last electric bill was $150 for using 1250 kwh, that's 12¢ per kwh ($150÷1250). 216 x 12¢ = about $26 per month to run that light. For ventilation you need intake and fan-driven exhaust.