Has anyone used a generator?

SoCaliSmoker · Dec 19, 2009

Please help out a fellow grower if you can. I don’t know much about powering a grow operation with a generator except for a few sketchy threads I’ve read. I have a good idea about how many lights you can plug into your home, but has anyone ever used a generator for their flowering? 12-12 cycle only?

If you wanted to run 5,000w continuous for 12 hours, is there a generator that could handle that kind of juice? Something that could be brought into a home, something that won’t be as loud as 2 lawnmowers put side by side? (At least with the noise there is help for that), anything you guys suggest?

I’ve seen some quiet generators online, but has anyone used a generator for a grow op and what was your experience like? Please help out if you know the answer. Thanks gang…

Lazyman · Dec 19, 2009

Oh dude, no, if you live in a city it's not done. I know guys who do genny ops, none of them live within a couple MILES of their nearest neighbor. Another buddy tried one and had a neighbor from 3 miles away banging on his door at 6 AM to "SHUT THAT FUCKIN GENERATOR OFF!" You can't run a gasoline one, and a diesel one requires fuel deliveries, usually from multiple fuel companies so they don't see you all the time.

They smell like ass too, and you can't use the exhaust from a diesel for CO2. They are expensive, require a lot of maintenance (because they usually run 24X7 to run two rooms) and that means you need two so you can shut it down for repairs/replacement. Most of the guys doing genny ops are running 40-200 lights, they're strictly big time for middle of nowhere ops.

Sorry man, think solar, better for the environment anyway and quieter.

rickemery · Dec 19, 2009

the only way to go on a generator op is to use biodiesel or waste vegetable oil, both fuels can be run directly in a diesel generator and are easily obtainable at a fraction of the cost of gas/diesel, sometimes even for free.. gasoline ones break down far to quickly, so as lazyman said, you would require a diesel generator, but definitely not in the house, to hard to evacuate those fumes completely and unoticebly, they create not only co2 but also carbon monoxide, a deadly gas.

SpasticGramps · Dec 19, 2009

Like Lazy said, that's really a no go bro. You never want to run a generator in a house. Very dangerous.

Generator are very loud. You'll have to deal with logistics of keeping it full. Diesel generator burn LOTS of gas.

The only way I would see a generator being plausible is if you live WAAAAYYY out in the middle of nowhere. I mean deep in the woods where people don't go within 60 miles. No roads. GO DEEP and use a massive generator like they use to power diesel electric rigs.

I use generator to power my house during hurricanes and there is no way I would use on for a grow. 5k and you shouldn't have to worry about your electric bill. Keep it within reason to your house specs IMO.

SoCaliSmoker · Dec 19, 2009

Thanks fellaz. This helped in my decision. I'm gonna stick to to pluggin em in the house, I just needed some assurance from those who knew better.

Appreciate it!

s13sr20det · Dec 19, 2009

i always wondered if you can use biodiesel in a diesel generator.
shits like .80 / gal. + you can make it yourself
anyone know?

Lazyman · Dec 19, 2009

Yes you can, you can convert them to veggie oil if you want too. It would be cool if you were on city gas (look on your gas company maps) and run one on natural gas. Works even during a power failure and you never have to fuel it yourself. Usually city gas means neighbors though, and honestly I think solar might be cheaper than a genny plus an automatic transfer switch.

Oldmac · Dec 20, 2009

Not sure I should even mention this....it is dangerous to do if you grow in a living space or house.

Many years ago I ran a op in a 40' trailer, like in tractor trailer. It was a reefer unit, so temp control was easy. We powered the lights, fans, pumps and the reefer unit with a generator. The gen was from an RV and sat in its own noise reduction cabinet and was mounted in the front of the trailer, in another housing below the reefer unit. The generator was converted to run on propane gas, and we used the exhaust for co2 suplemation. It was a 10k gen that put about out abt 8600 watts on propane. Very quiet, very mobile and extremely stealthy.

Hephaestus · Dec 20, 2009

Properly done - one could do it safely and quietly... Seem to recall the honda EU3000i's can be connected like the EU1000's - giving you 6000w output. Used one at a big party this year - 10' away you didn't know it was running (and this was way out in the bush).

Might want to look at one of the LPG versions - little work to refit it for NG - then you'd be down to little more than CO2/water vapour as exhaust. Some of the RV forums have some BIG threads on the chinese generators you'll find at costco/lowes/etc - sound dampening boxes, every mod known to man, and a few you've never heard of

zenoonez · Dec 20, 2009

Hephaestus said:
Properly done - one could do it safely and quietly... Seem to recall the honda EU3000i's can be connected like the EU1000's - giving you 6000w output. Used one at a big party this year - 10' away you didn't know it was running (and this was way out in the bush).

Might want to look at one of the LPG versions - little work to refit it for NG - then you'd be down to little more than CO2/water vapour as exhaust. Some of the RV forums have some BIG threads on the chinese generators you'll find at costco/lowes/etc - sound dampening boxes, every mod known to man, and a few you've never heard of

Links? You got me interested...

Amstel Light · Dec 20, 2009

5000K would only net you like 3500K peak..why not take that 500$ and invest in solar slowely but surely....i cant wate too

zenoonez · Dec 20, 2009

Amstel Light said:
5000K would only net you like 3500K peak..why not take that 500$ and invest in solar slowely but surely....i cant wate too

You can build your own solar panels too if you don't mind the monotonous work of doing it.

SpasticGramps · Dec 20, 2009

Great info here! I have a 16k gen that is rigged to run off of propane. I don't know how loud it is. It's rigged to fire automatically if I ever lose power. Lots of hurricanes here.

Here it is tied into the Main Box.

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Hephaestus · Dec 20, 2009

http://www.honda.ca/HPower/Models/ModelOverview?L=E&Type=Generators&Series=Inverter&Model=EU3000iC

Might be mistaken about the interlinking... but there's always the 6500w version

The inverter generators are the way to go if you want to go this way... But the cheap chinese gens git'r'dun too

801pages of technical goodness

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/15131645.cfm

zenoonez · Dec 20, 2009

Anyone know how much per kwhr it costs to run an op off of propane or ng?

SpasticGramps · Dec 20, 2009

zenoonez said:
Anyone know how much per kwhr it costs to run an op off of propane or ng?

I would love to know this! I might be able to extrapolate the info from my gas use in the summer. Maybe at least get a good idea.

I'm all about cost analysis.

zenoonez · Dec 20, 2009

SpasticGramps said:
I would love to know this! I might be able to extrapolate the info from my gas use in the summer. Maybe at least get a good idea.

I'm all about cost analysis.

If it is close to normal kw/hr costs it would worth it just not to have to deal with the power company.

Lazyman · Dec 20, 2009

Hephaestus said:
http://www.honda.ca/HPower/Models/ModelOverview?L=E&Type=Generators&Series=Inverter&Model=EU3000iC

Might be mistaken about the interlinking... but there's always the 6500w version The inverter generators are the way to go if you want to go this way... But the cheap chinese gens git'r'dun too

801pages of technical goodness
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/15131645.cfm

No offense man, but the only thing worse than a diesel generator, is a gas genny. They are LOUD at full throttle at full load, and there are no gas generators that I know of that are rated for continuous use.

Gas usage of a LPG or NG genny, check manufacturers sites for consumption rates. For me propane is $2.50 a gallon.

Hephaestus · Dec 20, 2009

Well the champion 70008 LPG (rated to 4200 starting 3500w nominal) draws >2.0kg/hr - the honda's would draw significantly less (and that eco throttle is a kickarse setup - the 3000 I used for the party, according to the hour meter ran 22 hours on less than a gallon - and we had a fairly significant DJ system connected to it)

real world numbers - dunno... The devils in the details of your setup like anything...

Lazyman said:
No offense man, but the only thing worse than a diesel generator, is a gas genny. They are LOUD at full throttle at full load, and there are no gas generators that I know of that are rated for continuous use.

Gas usage of a LPG or NG genny, check manufacturers sites for consumption rates. For me propane is $2.50 a gallon.

The honda's are quiet... Rent one (most local rental shops have them) see for yourself. The cheap generators - yup they are loud; but you can upgrade the mufflers and do some other things to quiet them down to a reasonable level... One of my co-workers runs one of the champions in the bed of his truck - Only way to tell it's running is to catch it's occasional puff of blue when his trailer's A/C kicks in... Of course he's got it in a heck of a sound isolation chamber (think of a shortbox with topper - fully foamed in, very well done)

The continuous duty rating - well that'd mean the manufacturer says it can run 24/7/365... Most wont bother saying anything close - as they don't want the liability... There's a champion on my jobsite right now feeding the super's trailer off a 100lb propane tank... It's been going at least 6 months straight - actually now that i think about it - probably about due for a oil change

Lazyman · Dec 20, 2009

Dude,I know you're trying to help, but gasoline generators are a joke for growing. If you tried to run even a big Honda at full load for 24 hours you'd be amazed at the consumption rate and noise. It's not like gasoline is cheap, nor can it be delivered without serious questions.

Try to find even one grow in a city powered by a gas genny, they just don't exist.

Has anyone used a generator?

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