Energy Saving Ideas When Growing

[ncrypta.core]

I'll be converting to EC fans as part of my attempt to reduce costs. I've put together some numbers below of AC v EC fans to show you what got me excited about, especially with rising energy costs. Moving from 6 - 8 inch fans.

-----------------------------------------------------

6 inch AC fan

Power consumption: 59.6 Watts
Rated air-flow: 428 m3/hour

6 inch high powered AC fan

Power consumption: 109 Watts
Rated air-flow: 720 m3/hour


6 inch EC fan

Power consumption: 42w
Rated air-flow: 560 m3/hr

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8 inch AC fan

Power consumption: 104 Watts
Rated air-flow: 796 m3/hour

8 inch high powered AC fan

Power consumption: 153 Watts
Rated air-flow: 1008 m3/hour


8 inch EC fan

Power consumption: 90w
Rated air-flow: 1230 m3/hr

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Ive listed both high and low power AC fans to give some scope to the most important factor in my changing to EC.

I would say from years on forums that the most commonly used extraction fan size is 6 inch. The 6 inch EC fan is far better than the AC as you can see above. It doesn't move quite as much air as the high powered AC fan, but it runs as a much lower wattage.

I have instead jumped upped to 8 inch EC fans. I only need 6 inch as im sure the vast majority of members here would. But.. by running the 8 inch EC fan at half power you will be moving as much air as the low powered 6 inch AC fan, almost as much as much as the high powered AC fan. All while running at less than both in power draw. You will also have a much quieter system running fans at half power.

I'm doing a full write-up on this once I've got my new ec fans.

One reason I switch to ec bonus is if you go with a ac infinity and have the Bluetooth controller you can have it dynamic



I’m got a 4inch and avg around 3-6w power used as on 1 or 2


Otherwise run overnight should be abit cheaper as not peak time

[Keeno]

I'll be converting to EC fans as part of my attempt to reduce costs. I've put together some numbers below of AC v EC fans to show you what got me excited about, especially with rising energy costs. Moving from 6 - 8 inch fans.

-----------------------------------------------------

6 inch AC fan

Power consumption: 59.6 Watts
Rated air-flow: 428 m3/hour

6 inch high powered AC fan

Power consumption: 109 Watts
Rated air-flow: 720 m3/hour


6 inch EC fan

Power consumption: 42w
Rated air-flow: 560 m3/hr

-----------------------------------------------------

8 inch AC fan

Power consumption: 104 Watts
Rated air-flow: 796 m3/hour

8 inch high powered AC fan

Power consumption: 153 Watts
Rated air-flow: 1008 m3/hour


8 inch EC fan

Power consumption: 90w
Rated air-flow: 1230 m3/hr

-----------------------------------------------------

Ive listed both high and low power AC fans to give some scope to the most important factor in my changing to EC.

I would say from years on forums that the most commonly used extraction fan size is 6 inch. The 6 inch EC fan is far better than the AC as you can see above. It doesn't move quite as much air as the high powered AC fan, but it runs as a much lower wattage.

I have instead jumped upped to 8 inch EC fans. I only need 6 inch as im sure the vast majority of members here would. But.. by running the 8 inch EC fan at half power you will be moving as much air as the low powered 6 inch AC fan, almost as much as much as the high powered AC fan. All while running at less than both in power draw. You will also have a much quieter system running fans at half power.

I'm doing a full write-up on this once I've got my new ec fans.

One reason I switch to ec bonus is if you go with a ac infinity and have the Bluetooth controller you can have it dynamic



I’m got a 4inch and avg around 3-6w power used as on 1 or 2


Otherwise run overnight should be abit cheaper as not peak time

I've got similar using te ecotechnics controller but been lazy and not set it up since I've moved in. Running on 100%. I need to be smarter, especially once I put the ec fans in.

[IMO]

Here’s a thought I wonder would it be more efficient to have heat matts around or under the pots to keep the root zone warm and then run the room cooler without effecting growth much?

Dries the pot out though. I found pot on mats means roots won't go down far

I was thinking more of wrapping the pots in a heat blanket or mat rather than being underneath, surely pots will dry out the same if they are in a room at 26degrees or if only the pots are kept at 26degrees I don’t see how they can dry out differently?, also I seen a grow by build a soil in the US recently and they were using plastic sheeting as a mulch surely this would slow evaporation from the pots?

[GHO]

I'll see if I can dig a picture out . Plantsin 20L pots that were watered regularly. Roots only travelled down 3-4". Next attempt with pots raised on vented crates roots hit the bottom of the pot.

[GHO]

Not thorough but the only difference was contact with the pot.

[duke]

hi all nice thread @Keeno
my thoughts on the matter are,ditch tents as there not efficient go smaller using converted wardrobes and smaller light 250w mh/hps in my case and when weather permits i also employ a quantum led board from @Forest which uses a little less than the mh/hps.
imo the very best energy saving purchase one can make is a climate control system,dont need to be anything expensive or flash either as mine came from online seller geek for under a fiver and added a seperate box and a relay in a simple diy and cost less than £50 it controls both extraction and heater so both run at the most cost effective rate 24-7 and in a drobe a small 90w tube heater is perfect to control light out temps.
ditch autos in favour of short flowering type photoperiod genetic and ensure to clone them rather than growing plants from seed as cloned being more mature near always finish earlier,for example my drobes have 2 plants from seed at 80 odd days not ripe yet but the other drobe has a reveg vanilla kush fully ripe and 20% amber trichs in 67 days 12-12.
autos outside photos indoors and vegging under cheap to run diy cfl lamp at just 110w .
drobes are a piece of piss to insulate and keep stable microclimate for a cheapish healthy grow.
im sure to remember other things later and will have a think,peace all

[The Aspie Toker]

If you're like us and pay a set amount for your water per month, make a miniature watermill in your bath. It can then generate electricity for the house.

[GMO]

I'm squeezing light hours and intensity during flower. Stretch still 12/12 but from week 3 down to 11 hours lights on, week 6 or 7 reducing intensity from roughly 900 ppfd down to 500-700 and probably dropping hours lights on to 10 at this point too

Veg is now running about 26w for 1.2x1.2 about 350 ppfd

Lowering lights closer to the canopy and dimming extreme is my attempt to reduce costs... heating in the winter is gonna be the bitch tho

[IMO]

If you're like us and pay a set amount for your water per month, make a miniature watermill in your bath. It can then generate electricity for the house.

I like this idea , it’s something I’ve thought about abit

[IMO]

Great ideas coming here guys I like it