Kampbe1l
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Lazily, I have been running both 2 x 55W T5 fluorescent light fixtures 24/7 in the grow tent - unless the plants are sitting outside absorbing the natural sunlight.
My electricity 'provider' charges peak usage rates from 2 pm to 8 pm weekdays. Shoulder rates apply between 7 am to 2 pm, and 8 m and 10 pm, with off-peak hours from 10 pm through to 7 am. I won't explain here the complexity of our gold-plated electricity distribution network here, but it means that i should cut my electricity usage, especially between the peak hour period.
On the 18/6 on/off light cycle, it means to switch off the lights for the 6 hour period to coincide conveniently with this peak hour period between 2 and 8 pm.
Finally, today, I got my arse around simply inserting the smart-plug into the power-board, then a double-adapter into the smart-plug, and the 2 power-cords for the light fixtures into the double-adapter. Not that hard, but a task put off for the last 3 weeks. I already have installed the smart application on my smart phone, and I saw there that these 2 light fixtures were drawing 175 watts of electricity from the wall.
I would save about 1/4 of the electricity cost running 18/6 rather than 24/7. Rough figures as its based on peak hour usage charge rates, It's $1.20 AUD ($0.80 USD) to run these lights daily these light fixtures, or $430 annually.
Okay, from tomorrow, I am going to start to cut down the hours from 24/7 towards 18/6 -switch off the lights from 7 pm to 8 pm, and leave it on 23/7 for a couple of days before cutting it further hour, until i reach that 18/6 cycle. Gradually, i want to sync the darkness with this peak hour, and over winter run at this 18/6 strictly with light off between this peak hour period.
i figured better to cut down from sunset times, so i have the option of leaving these plants outside to absorb the natural sunlight when the weather & mother nature co-operates without disrupting too much its dark hours.
I gather that there are not much benefit of running 24/7 rather than 18/6, in terms of growth of the plants. The plants would get some benefits of resting during darkness. I would save some electricity cost, my 20 cents a day. Yah?
My electricity 'provider' charges peak usage rates from 2 pm to 8 pm weekdays. Shoulder rates apply between 7 am to 2 pm, and 8 m and 10 pm, with off-peak hours from 10 pm through to 7 am. I won't explain here the complexity of our gold-plated electricity distribution network here, but it means that i should cut my electricity usage, especially between the peak hour period.
On the 18/6 on/off light cycle, it means to switch off the lights for the 6 hour period to coincide conveniently with this peak hour period between 2 and 8 pm.
Finally, today, I got my arse around simply inserting the smart-plug into the power-board, then a double-adapter into the smart-plug, and the 2 power-cords for the light fixtures into the double-adapter. Not that hard, but a task put off for the last 3 weeks. I already have installed the smart application on my smart phone, and I saw there that these 2 light fixtures were drawing 175 watts of electricity from the wall.
I would save about 1/4 of the electricity cost running 18/6 rather than 24/7. Rough figures as its based on peak hour usage charge rates, It's $1.20 AUD ($0.80 USD) to run these lights daily these light fixtures, or $430 annually.
Okay, from tomorrow, I am going to start to cut down the hours from 24/7 towards 18/6 -switch off the lights from 7 pm to 8 pm, and leave it on 23/7 for a couple of days before cutting it further hour, until i reach that 18/6 cycle. Gradually, i want to sync the darkness with this peak hour, and over winter run at this 18/6 strictly with light off between this peak hour period.
i figured better to cut down from sunset times, so i have the option of leaving these plants outside to absorb the natural sunlight when the weather & mother nature co-operates without disrupting too much its dark hours.
I gather that there are not much benefit of running 24/7 rather than 18/6, in terms of growth of the plants. The plants would get some benefits of resting during darkness. I would save some electricity cost, my 20 cents a day. Yah?
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