Max watts to use in a 3br house?

[jamaican fro]

What is the maximum amount of wattage i should use in a 3br house without big brother noticing anything. I was hoping to use around 6000 watts in the grow area alone.
Thanks for any help, all responses much appreciated

 

[krustytheclown]

People on here have run 10k watts in a house grow before. 6000 watts sounds possible. Personally, the legal exposure is too large to justify any financial upside of such a large grow.

Just pay your electric bill and don't steal power.

 

[LiLWaynE]

depends on your amp service, and how the home is wired..

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

depends on your amp service, and how the home is wired..

b,i,n,g-fucking-o!
thats what its about. id say its safe to go with 4 or 5k total light watts +a/c if u have elec stove and dryer then u could probably go up to 9k +a/c safely. id do some light stagering at that rage to save a few amps but either way, you should be alright, dont steal! they call the cops. it gets ugly.

 

[jamaican fro]

thanks for the responses. I was actually planning on running a 4000w flower room and a 1200w veg room, along with the venting, ac ex all in the basement. I didn't think it would be to big of a deal as my house is farely secluded, but i just really wasn't sure how homes really average out with electricity use, Im pretty much clueless to electrical work .

 

[eyes]

How about it depends where you live and who lived in the house before you.what was there electrical consumption?Are you in ca where higher electric use is possibly justified?I wouldnt run a high bill just based on bedrooms alone.Things certainly have changed in the last few years.Be safe.

 

[maryjanesdad]

rule of thumb is usually 1000 watts per bedroom.

i would stick around to 4000-6000watts of grow power.


I ran 9 lights in total (4800 watts) not including the 2 AC's in a 2 bedroom full basement home. never had a problem, and my bill would be between $450-$650 if i remember correctly (give or take).

 

[superuber]

Dam i would not go over 3k but thats me. How many sq is the house and how many levels? If your are growing for commercial don't be greedy man that shit will catch up to you. If you do it right 3-4k should pull in about 3-5lbs thats alot of dank. Do as you please but really think about it before you jump into things.

 

[Bababooey]

If you're growing commercially, if anything, you'll probably be caught because of a CI tip, not because of power usage. So long as your grow is STEALTH (nothing suspicious, no light leaks no odor leaks no power stealing) you could be like maryjanesdad and run 5-6k easy with no one blinking an eye. But it's the people you sell to you have to be careful of; if someone gets pinched with a lb of your homegrown, cops will put pressure on them and they could flip on you... just my two cents..

 

[yamaha_1fan]

There have been multiple reports of people getting busted based on electrical useage. Some power companies are mining their database for high usage or 12/12 patterns and turning over to LEO.

I currently run 10K+ just in lights and am really anxious to find another spot, since they put in the digital meter.

If anything, flip flop it so the usage is stable

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

There have been multiple reports of people getting busted based on electrical useage. Some power companies are mining their database for high usage or 12/12 patterns and turning over to LEO.

I currently run 10K+ just in lights and am really anxious to find another spot, since they put in the digital meter.

If anything, flip flop it so the usage is stable

i only herd that florida was going after the growers....care to elaborate?

 

[~fvk~]

There was an article about some dickhead lame ass in Texas requesting information on homeowners from utility companies that have strange electrical patterns and high usage. I think someone got busted as a result of it.

There was also an article about a family in Oceanside or Carlsbad getting raided because of high usage and putting out their garbage on garbage day... Hell, I throw NOTHING grow related away and I still don't put my garbage out til late.

I'm sure there's more, just depends on what kinds of oinks you're dealing with in your jurisdiction and how bored they are... I'm sure you've seen these articles... But yeah Florida went straight up Nazi on their citizens... All those dinosaur backwoods politicians and cops can go to hell. Sink, Florida, sink...

 

[whodi]

You guys noticed how they are promoting 'go green' 'save energy' commercials these days?

Well I was thinkng maybe now is a time to look into solar energy and stuff...

Any of you guys got some solid info on ways to not rely on the power company so much, with the use of solar energy?

Dunno bout you all, but i take pride in becoming self reliant.. fuck these pwoer companies.. if we can generate our own shit from the sun/wind

 

[eyes]

6000 watts dam.i guess most of u are on the west coast runnin that kinda wattage

 

[irconfused]

You guys noticed how they are promoting 'go green' 'save energy' commercials these days?

Well I was thinkng maybe now is a time to look into solar energy and stuff...

Any of you guys got some solid info on ways to not rely on the power company so much, with the use of solar energy?

Dunno bout you all, but i take pride in becoming self reliant.. fuck these pwoer companies.. if we can generate our own shit from the sun/wind

Thats fine if you have the money to spend, figure $7 per watt and remembering it is only working at full capacity when it is in full sunlight. Also keep in mind the resources it takes to produce thousands of watts worth of solar panels, and putting out thousands of btus into the atmosphere constantly while a drop in the ocean is not exactly helping global warming...

In reality the only way to really be environmentally friendly would be outdoor or greenhouse. There are unique challenges to both but after seeing what I would consider a dream greenhouse, as well as the $ figures involved I'm sold!


As for everyone asking for an answer on the highest amount of wattage they can use there is no right answer. One way or another you are rolling the dice, but the reality is that aside from a few seemingly isolated incidents power companies aren't lining up to turn us in. Even when they are a part of the puzzle it is rare that they were the catalyst for the person getting busted.

 

[jamaican fro]

thanks all

thanks all

thanks again guys for all the replies, some good info.

6000 watts dam.i guess most of u are on the west coast runnin that kinda wattage

Does it really matter if you are on west/east coast when it comes to running a grow?
MJdad, i also thought it was about 1000w per bedroom. In conclusion i think i will run maybe about 4000w total. If in the future i were to add additional lighting, say another 1800w, would that be a safe idea? or would it be to much of an electricity jump and set off some red lights for the electrical company?

 

[Dr. G]

i run about 1000w t5 vegg 25kbtu ac a 10" can fan max 5400w flower no air cooling and i got a salt water fish tank

in a 2 bedroom townhouse with no basement and im not worried your one of millions of people they serve energy to

just be safe who your sellin to

 

[yamaha_1fan]

i only herd that florida was going after the growers....care to elaborate?

I think FVK answered but here is one link.

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=73074&highlight=email+usage

I have heard of other stories as well. I admit I hear alot more about houses on fire, or some other act that gets grows busted. BUT, I have not heard about this guy in Austin getting slammed so how many agencies will follow in his footsteps? How many power companies will tell LEO to fuck off w/o a warrant?

Basically it is a small percentage but for how long?

 

[CaptainTrips]

It was a long time ago, but I know a house once that got a drug task force visit from at least 6 dickheads solely from power use(or possible a "tip", the neiborhood isnt the best so who knows) ... It was a big two story house which always has a high power use. Weed has never been grown there... not an outrageous amount even back then. Like $400/month power bills.

 

[whodi]

It was a long time ago, but I know a house once that got a drug task force visit from at least 6 dickheads solely from power use(or possible a "tip", the neiborhood isnt the best so who knows) ... It was a big two story house which always has a high power use. Weed has never been grown there... not an outrageous amount even back then. Like $400/month power bills.

$400 a month isn't shit. doubt they busted them soley on 'power usage'.. but ya never know i guess.