2kw in a 5x5 tent, anyone doing this?

[mtbazz]

Looking for feedback on this.

So I am running a 1kw HPS in a 5x5 grow tent, and now that I see it set up I know I would have been better off going with two 600 watts for better light distribution.

The 1kw is kicking ass, but I can definitely see how two lights would kick even more ass.

As a result I am thinking of adding another 1000 watts to my tent, I don't think heat is going to be an issue as even in the hottest part of the summer so far the most I reached was 75 dg F.

My only other concerns would be:

1) Electric usage, would running 2kw attract attention on my electric bill

2) Electrical safety. All my circuits are 10 amp and 15 amp circuits in that part of the house. Will these be able to handle the load of 2 1000 watt lamps safely?

 

[Dislexus]

Depends on how good your ventilation is..

I'm going 1 600 HPS (boostable/variable) and a 600 MH (boostable/variable) in a tent... expecting great results with air-cooling.

 

[mtbazz]

Depends on how good your ventilation is..

I'm going 1 600 HPS (boostable/variable) and a 600 MH (boostable/variable) in a tent... expecting great results with air-cooling.

I think my ventilation is pretty good. I have an intake coming direct from a household floor vent pumping A/C into the tent (lights off temp is often around 65 dg F), and have a squirrel cage fan drawing the hot air off the bulb.

Obviously I would probably need to get a larger exhaust fan if I am running 2kw, but based on my experience with the 1kw it seems doable.

What about electrical issues/high electric company bill?

 

[Dislexus]

Did you cut a hole in the floor of the tent? I havent found a reason yet to edit mine..

Electric company doesnt give a shit about 2kw if you're paying for it.

What I'm doing is cutting four holes into the ceiling. Just little 4-5 inch diameter holes, and keeping the circles to patch later if I feel the need lol.

Two holes are outside air in/out for the aircooled lights.. want to use tubes or something that I don't have to seal with tape.. completely on their own little circuit, very high air speed only running with the lights.

The third hole connecting to my bathroom fart fan vent for passive intake of fresh cool air.

The last hole is for the scrubbed air to be exhausted where the fart fan was previously attached, the rooftop exhaust. Air speed very low, maximizing the scrubber, running 24/7 creating negative pressure always..

And I'm going to add insulation layers to cover up the extra ducting in the attic.. just C.Y.A...

Also thinking about ditching the tent and going with 3 lights in a 5x9 space.

 

[organicterra]

You could put the light on a mover or get a bigger reflector. I have a 5x5 with the large adjust a wing and coverage is perfect with 1k. fwiw

 

[GoozMan]

Or go vertical with stacked 1k's hanging in the middle.

 

[farmdalefurr]

i think you would be all good if you cool the lights just by themselves. i run a 1k and a 600w cooled w/ just a cheap 6'' duct fan. works great. my temps stay at 77-79, no higher unless its crazy hot outside.

 

[MacGyver420]

..

 

[mtbazz]

just a heads up; its not safe to run 2 1000 watts on a 15 amp circuit;

15 amp circuit is maxed out at 1800 watts and you should not go above that.

i think your idea bout 2 600's is safer.


peace, and good luck.

Great! Been waiting for this answer...

Of course since this is my first run with a tent and 1kw before I change anything Im going to see what my yield is like..

 

[señorsloth]

2 1000 watters wouldn't give you the ideal footprint for a 5X5, at 80 watts per square foot you would definitely be pretty maxed on lumens but the footprint of 2 1000 watters would cover a 4X8 space much more efficiently...if you can keep the temps down though you shouldn't have any issues, and should yeild like crazy for that footprint, but i think your grams per watts will never be as high as they would with the same lights in a 4X8 space.

also 2k wont raise any eyebrows in a house, maybe an apartment...lol but that's like worrying that the people at super America are gonna turn you in for buying too many blunt wraps...you are their customer, and as long as you pay the bill they aren't going to start nosing into your business, unless you have like 30-40 k in a house or are stealing electricity, correct me if i am wrong, but the police have to first suspect you are growing, and then find probable cause to get a judge to grant them access to your billing records...the electric company doesn't give out customer info for fun, only when they are ordered to by the judicial system. then from that point the cops would have to be able to prove from your electrical bill that they have cause to get a warrent to enter your house, so you would have to have a large portion of your electricity usage cycling on and off every 12 hours or just a 75% jump in electricity usage overnight, like you went from a house with limited electronics to one that had a huge flat-screen in every room on full blast all the time, computers, space heaters or ac...which would seem very unlikely, as people tend to collect those things slowly overtime...