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Upgrading to a big facility?

DanCloutier

New member
I'm at an interesting place in my life. I started growing in a small spare room in my closet as a kid, eventually moved up to a shed, then I had a garage. Now I have the opportunity to own a ranch with 100 amps at 240v single phase with several different shops and just an optimal grow space.

I love growing, its one of my great passions in life. I decided I want a big space with multiple rooms so I can do plant breeding, have a big mother room and a big experimental room on top of various flowing rooms.

My biggest previous grow was 3,000w in a one car garage. I'm a hydroponic grower who loves using DWCs. I'm hoping to have three flowering rooms, a mother room and an experimental/breeding/decontam room.

I'm in a legal State and I'm a legal grower but I'm scared about going so big. Using so much power (I'd like to use 15-20 kilowatts) I think would make people show up to my ranch and I'm thinking theres got to be problems or concerns I'm not thinking of.

My ultimate goal and dream would be to make my living growing, breeding and making seeds while living a reclusive life off in the beauty of the mountains but buying this ranch would be the biggest and scariest commitment I've made in my life.

Your thoughts or advice?
 

Mikell

Dipshit Know-Nothing
ICMag Donor
Veteran
KISS. Build one room and make it pay before upgrading and experimenting, your eyes are looking too big for your panel.
 

DanCloutier

New member
KISS. Build one room and make it pay before upgrading and experimenting, your eyes are looking too big for your panel.

Definitely would take it slow and put it together piece by piece. When I say I want to get into plant breeding and experimenting, I'm saying that's a year or two away but I want the space and the mental plan together to do it.

But in the beginning I would like three flowers rooms running 3k - 6k to start and a mother/germ room.

I think you're right though, I would be nervous to push past 10k until I was comfortable.

I don't know, I probably started this thread prematurely as I'm just beginning to study bigger buildings and putting my designs together but I thought I'd start the conversation.
 

DanCloutier

New member
It's daunting but completely mentally stimulating. I've been doing nothing but reading reading reading the last few days. I started this thread prematurely with a loose idea in my head but maybe I'll put out what my thoughts are.

I have a 32X50 building as my main place. I'm thinking about buying three of these 10X30 tents and using six 1000w digital HPS/MH lights in each tent.

http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Pavil...5610334&sr=8-3&keywords=10x30+tent+heavy+duty

I know that's pretty sparse lighting at first but I like the option of being able to dial down to 3,000w a tent if I feel like it. I'm open to advice, feedback and criticism on this idea.

I'm also thinking about going with 10 X 20 tents because that way I have more options because I think I could get four 10 X 30 tents in that space but I could get six 10 X 20 tents in that space. I also like the idea of having the tent frames to build scrog nets into. I think I would build a PVC set up to hang lights from so I wouldn't put that stress on the frame.

Its really really fun to think about and plan these things.
 

DanCloutier

New member
The more I think about it, the more I like the 10X20 idea. I think I could get six tents in that space, I could run a flip flop and I would have much more control over what I'm doing. I think it would be much easier to run that way.
 

billyboat

Member
Warehouse grow and you're thinking about running tents?

Ditch everything you know and start thinking different. Call a contractor, get your rooms built out wood/metal stud framing, Drywall/OSB walls, Steel Doors with locks...
Electrical up to code.

3 ton Mini Split AC's for each room.

100 AMP single phase will allow you to run, 2x 7-8k flower rooms on the flip, 3 ton mini split for each room, A small 2-3k veg room plus ac.
 

billyboat

Member
And what do you tell the contractor (mainly electrical here)?

Draw everything on paper.

Have all plans and layouts finished.

By doing that you will know where outlets need to go, and you will be able to calculate how much materials you will need.

What kind of budget?

My first warehouse was 100 amps and I was on a budget so I have been down this road and got the tshirt.
 
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