Another energy rise in October - 32%

[GMO]

Whilst on this has anyone had the £150 council tax rebate back yet ? I've not myself, think i need to chase that one up

I had mine turn up in the post last week. Just take it to the post office and got cash straight away. No fuss

[2-Scoops]

I know a few growers round here and all have being fighting off the led revolution, but they are slowly waking upto the fact paying a bigger cost upfront for a lot better efficient light and less heat problems lol only taken em 10 years

Not necessarily cheaper to run though Paul, we seem to see lots swapping out like for like on power and ive seen a good few go in even higher wattage cus they can control environment better, maybe the energy hike will get those dimmer switches turned down a little.

[Paul_led]

If folk are swapping 1 600hps for 2 x 300w Leds or one of the big 600w panel , yeah , no cheaper to run, but better quality bud, and personally 600w of true power led vs 600w of hps I believe you get more weight from led too

[Keeno]

480w LED is equivalent to 600w HPS in a 4 x 4 (1.2m x 1.2m) area. That's on the newer white LED type boards. You shouldn't need 600w LED to produce as much as a 600w HPS, a decent 600w LED would be closer to a 1000w HPS.

Now the ultra efficient LED panels are out its a game changer. 2nd test of the X bars is done and 300w of these LED is easily going to keep up 600w HPS.

It would be pointless imo to swap 600 for 600. Not just because of energy usage. I believe you will get as much return from a 4 x 4 area using a 480w modern style LED as you are going to get. I've been running high wattage LED in these spaces and its really not needed.

I use 4 x 4 in example as its a popular size tent and the base of what we as growers look at in lighting.

HPS:

1.2 x 1.2m tent, 600w HPS to flower. 400w to veg.
60 x 60cm 150w of HPS to flower, 100w to veg.

LED (modern panels):

1.2 x 1.2 tent 480w LED to flower
60 x 60cm 120w LED to flower

The difference is with LED you can veg much much lower thst HPS.

The new ultra efficient lights:

1.2m x 1.2m 300w LED to flower
60 x 60cm 75 LED flower

The thing with the X Bars or similar is price. Up until recently they were imo a toy for those wishing to grow as efficiently as possible, nit as a necessity, more just to be doing so. With the prices now and the fact they are set to rise, these lights have left the toy or fancy light category and are now a very real and cost effective option.

In the same way solar panels/systems ate know a real, cost effective idea when it comes to growing.

[Wrh]

480w LED is equivalent to 600w HPS in a 4 x 4 (1.2m x 1.2m) area. That's on the newer white LED type boards. You shouldn't need 600w LED to produce as much as a 600w HPS, a decent 600w LED would be closer to a 1000w HPS.

Now the ultra efficient LED panels are out its a game changer. 2nd test of the X bars is done and 300w of these LED is easily going to keep up 600w HPS.

It would be pointless imo to swap 600 for 600. Not just because of energy usage. I believe you will get as much return from a 4 x 4 area using a 480w modern style LED as you are going to get. I've been running high wattage LED in these spaces and its really not needed.

I use 4 x 4 in example as its a popular size tent and the base of what we as growers look at in lighting.

HPS:

1.2 x 1.2m tent, 600w HPS to flower. 400w to veg.
60 x 60cm 150w of HPS to flower, 100w to veg.

LED (modern panels):

1.2 x 1.2 tent 480w LED to flower
60 x 60cm 120w LED to flower

The difference is with LED you can veg much much lower thst HPS.

The new ultra efficient lights:

1.2m x 1.2m 300w LED to flower
60 x 60cm 75 LED flower

The thing with the X Bars or similar is price. Up until recently they were imo a toy for those wishing to grow as efficiently as possible, nit as a necessity, more just to be doing so. With the prices now and the fact they are set to rise, these lights have left the toy or fancy light category and are now a very real and cost effective option.

In the same way solar panels/systems ate know a real, cost effective idea when it comes to growing.

I live in the UK and I've been using leds for a couple of years and the wattages that work for flowering don't heat up the area enough on their own I'm currently using a 2 x 4 and I'm running 285 watts in there (100%) and my lights on temps are 25 tops usually about 23 so only just good enough I'm not going to grow indoors in summer from now on (autos in the garden) and probably go back to 400 hps in the winter in my 1m tent as I'm already running hps wattages practically anyway and at least I can get the temps to a decent amount

[Donks]

Whilst on this has anyone had the £150 council tax rebate back yet ? I've not myself, think i need to chase that one up

Nope, nothing as of yet. Had a summons from them though for failure to pay....we had paid but they hadn't recognised it, funny that how quickly they want our money

[Keeno]

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utili ... ar-panels/
Some interesting reading if considering solar panels

I get the impression from this article that all the figures are based on selling energy to the grid with a system that doesn't have a battery setup in place to use what you generate?
If you're using what you generate I think those numbers will change significantly. Why anyone would sell their excess for 12p (or much less) per kW while paying double that is beyond me. Considering battery storage is available that article is pointless unless it was sponsored by eon etc.

[Keeno]

A portable-style solar setup is looking like it will be making an appearance in my setup at some point.

[Treetrunk]

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utili ... ar-panels/
Some interesting reading if considering solar panels

I get the impression from this article that all the figures are based on selling energy to the grid with a system that doesn't have a battery setup in place to use what you generate?
If you're using what you generate I think those numbers will change significantly. Why anyone would sell their excess for 12p (or much less) per kW while paying double that is beyond me. Considering battery storage is available that article is pointless unless it was sponsored by eon etc.

Totally agree. The battery storage is a must it's not just the money paid out.
The whole point for me is being self sufficient.

[Marcus]

Was it @Marcus who's just had a system fitted? How's that going?