Changing light schedules

[sickzone]

So last winter the electricity bill was insane when I had to keep useing the 1500w heater .

This winter I would like to lower the bill by switching to 22/2 on really cold days instead of my usual 18/6.
Might even do some days at full 24h.

Does anyone else change light schedule frequently to deal with low temps when lights are off?

Any noticeable negative effects from changing schedule often?

 

[DCLXVI]

Are you growing in a tent? What part of the house is your tent located? I make the lights off in the middle of the day so the heat from the light helps at night when it's coldest. I'm sure you already do this. I also slip some of the foam insulation board underneath my tents to insulate them from the floor. Seems to help.

 

[Bruce Campbell]

As far as electricity costs, you'd probably end up using the same amount - you'd just be replacing the heat generated by the heater with heat generated by the light.

True, you'd at least be getting more light for the money spent - but you're probably better off first focusing on insulating the space, like DCLXVI mentioned.

 

[sickzone]

Are you growing in a tent? What part of the house is your tent located? I make the lights off in the middle of the day so the heat from the light helps at night when it's coldest. I'm sure you already do this. I also slip some of the foam insulation board underneath my tents to insulate them from the floor. Seems to help.

Got a 2x2x4 in a storage room that connects to the carport.
Last year I fully lined the outside of Tent with reflectix,as well as the roller door to the room.Have tent raised off the concrete.

 

[sickzone]

You'd probably end up using the same amount of electricity - you'd just be replacing the heat generated by the heater with heat generated by the light.

But, at least you'd be getting more light for the money spent...

I was thinking my ts1000 150w light would use a lot less than a 1500w heater.

Forgot I also used a 450w wall envy heater as well.
So around 2000w total was being used.
But this wasn't every day.

Just wondering if there is a negative to mixing up the light schedule .

 

[BII]

Running 2000 watts within a 2 x 2 x 4 tent seems excessive. In such a small tent, I'd be worried about fire hazards, overheating. Ignoring any heaters, even the most efficient lights at 2,000 watts would still be putting out significant heat. Are you running constant air exhaust/input (vs. using a thermostat) or what makes such a small tent need so much added power to keep warm?

Otherwise, insulation is what you want to reduce the need for adding heat.

Or try venting some or all of the warmed tent air back into the storage room it's in, using that as a 'lung room.' From there, it should be easier to control the air input/exhaust, temp, humidity, etc. of the room vs. the tent.

 

[CannabisMingus]

Any noticeable negative effects from changing schedule often?

If you could do it gradually i.e. over 3-4 days it may help reduce risk of hermie, etc. Probably also cultivar dependent.

 

[Bob's Auto's]

If you need to put so much energy into your grow I would do one of three things. And mind me, this is what I would do. I'm not telling you to do that

• Isolate the sh!t out of that grow space. Invest once in good isolation and recover that the coming years...
• If possible move the grow space to a warmer location inhouse.
• Change your schedule so you grow in the warm season and grow enough to make it through to winter, so to say.

 

[Bruce Campbell]

Do you vent the tent to outside (or to the carport), or directly to the lung room (i.e., the storage room the tent is in)?

Are the heaters inside the tent, or in the lung room (storage room)?

Do you run your tent exhaust fan continuously, or control it by temp/humidity? Is it usually temp or humidity that's higher / more of an issue for you?

 

[sickzone]

Running 2000 watts within a 2 x 2 x 4 tent seems excessive. In such a small tent, I'd be worried about fire hazards, overheating. Ignoring any heaters, even the most efficient lights at 2,000 watts would still be putting out significant heat. Are you running constant air exhaust/input (vs. using a thermostat) or what makes such a small tent need so much added power to keep warm?

Otherwise, insulation is what you want to reduce the need for adding heat.

Or try venting some or all of the warmed tent air back into the storage room it's in, using that as a 'lung room.' From there, it should be easier to control the air input/exhaust, temp, humidity, etc. of the room vs. the tent.

The heater is 6 feet outside the tent.
This room gets down to the 40's when there is an ice storm.
Think I might just buy extra layer of insulation for the tent.
Or make a grow box with double plywood and insulation in between.