Reasons Why Your Grow Room Should Start Using Solar Panels
For people who are living in areas that are too cold or too warm, the number of months required to cultivate plants might become a problem.
Since the duration for cultivation and harvest has a span of at least three months, planting marijuana and then experiencing heavy rains a month after will make your effort useless.
Fortunately, grow rooms are now available to make this process easier.
A grow room is an interior space or area that is designed for indoor gardening, specifically for cultivating and growing marijuana.
A grow room is equipped with several types of equipment to mimic the environment outdoors. Once used correctly, a grow room can ensure the quality and longevity of your plants regardless of weather conditions.
Can You Run Your Whole House On Solar Power
Yes, solar energy can power your entire home if you work with the right company to install your panels. The average home in the United States uses 10,400 kWh of electricity per year. If you installed a typical 250-watt solar panel, youd need 28-34 panels to generate enough energy to power your entire home. Hence, using solar power for running your home is an affordable option.
Kind Led K5 Series Xl1000 Grow Light
A mix of 320 three and five-watt diodes deliver a massive 720.25 PPFD at the height of 36. This allows for excellent penetration of the canopy, supplying the whole plant with the energy it needs.
The LEDs are intensified by secondary optical lenses making it equivalent to a 1000w HPS/MH system. The 12 band light spectrum is fully customizable and can be adapted to vegetative/bloom cycles or even towards your choice plant genus.
The light has an internal timer that can be controlled by remote, eliminating additional bulky equipment. The timer also includes a Mother Earth function, which mimics outdoor lighting by slowly activating the light in the morning and dimming the light gradually in the evening.
These stages can be customized to your desired duration and light spectrum. The included remote allows you to fiddle with light settings without putting fragile plants at risk of accidental damage. This light is for professional home growers or those with a sizeable expendable budget.
It is one of the best on the market but comes with a steep initial investment. The manufacturer, Power grow Systems, also offer a large selection of seeds, fertilizers, and other hydroponic accessories worth checking out .
Specs
Read Also: How Much Energy Does Solar Power Produce
Calculating Your Power Usage
Essentially, a standard 4X4 grow tent is going to require around 12,200 watts of power a day for twelve hours of light.
This equates to just over 200 kWh per month for lighting.
Keep in mind, this approximate cost is for a very basic setup. The demands are increased with each light setup or bulb.
To calculate your grow room light power needs, it is important to follow this simple formula.
Number of bulbs X Wattage = Total Wattage
12 hours of use X 30 days in the month=360 hours of usage
kW total X 360 hours of use per month=Total kW energy consumption
A significant portion of a growers electricity cost is based on energy consumption in kW.
Electricity rates vary according to the state and average around $0.12 per kW. In the state of California, rates go up as high as $0.24. The rates will vary significantly among different countries.
Opting For Solar Power
Using solar power is an excellent option when looking to grow off grid. Solar energy is found in abundance and involves converting the light emitted from the sun into electricity. The light and heat radiated by the sun can be utilised using modern pieces of technology such as photovoltaic panels.
It is no lie that the initial cost of a solar setup wont be on the cheap side of things. Growers will have to invest in numerous panels as well as batteries to store the energy produced. The bigger the indoor grow room the more panels will be needed and therefore the overall price of the project increases. Its more than likely the cost of powering a medium sized room is going to be within the tens of thousands of dollars.
Related ArticleCould Legalization Lead To A Better Environment?
Batteries alone come at quite a hefty price too, with Tesla powerwall units costing thousands. However, dont let such a large price put you off. If you are growing on a large scale and have the money to invest, after the initial purchase youll be spending very little to nothing on electricity. In fact, if you are growing on a large scale you may break even and then start to save money after only a few years. Whats more, if your setup starts to generate excess power, you can sell this back to the grid.
Recommended Reading: How To Write A Solid Cover Letter
Thermal Mass In Greenhouses
Thermal mass is a technique of storing heat energy in certain materials within the greenhouse. Most commonly used are water, stone, concrete, and cob. Installing thermal mass can be as simple as placing drums of water in your greenhouse. Its an essential practice for all greenhouses, but especially important in solar-electricity greenhouses.
How Many Solar Panels Are Needed To Power A Room
We estimate that a typical home requires between 20 and 25 solar panels to cover 100% of its electricity consumption. The actual number youll need to install is determined by factors such as your geographic location, panel efficiency, panel rated power, and personal energy consumption habits.
Related Topics:
Read Also: How Can I Get Solar Panels For Free
Greenhouses A Natural Solar Panel
Heres how a basic greenhouse works, even without electricity:
The glass or plastic in a greenhouses walls and roof let in lightsolar energy. That light gets absorbed by the soil and plants inside, then converted into heat energy as plants do their thing.
Some types of greenhouses do this process better than others though. If you havent yet raised your greenhouse, then consider giving this comparison of greenhouse types a read.
A greenhouse warms up because the heat energy cant escape through the glass or plastic exterior. Why? Heat waves are longer than light waves. Science!
Even at night, plants are still creating carbon dioxide, which helps keep the atmosphere of a greenhouse warm when the sun isnt shining. Compost in the greenhouse is also constantly putting out carbon dioxide and therefore heatremember that even after you remove it from your compost bin, microbes and worms and bugs are still digesting the organic material.
But often the natural or passive heat of a traditional greenhouse just isnt enough to keep plants alive in harsh winters. Winter demands an artificial heating system and chances are youre using fossil-fuel-based electricity to heat your greenhouse.
Ready to break away from gas or coal and create a totally renewable all-year growing paradise?
Grow Room Provides Security
As police and Federal DEA agents look for increased electricity bills and infrared heat signatures of houses, it is safer to use off-grid grow rooms. Off-grid grow rooms use less electricity and produce less of a heat signature. Also, if you have a solar off-grid system, you will be able to run for days without interruption in the event of a power outage. This is important because losing power can potentially stunt the growth of your indoor plants.
Recommended Reading: When Should Babies Eat Solid Food
What Is Solar Power Grow Room
A Solar Power Grow room is an area dedicated to indoor gardening, specifically cultivating and growing plants. It is outfitted with a variety of equipment to mimic the outdoor environment.
A grow room can ensure the quality of your plants regardless of the weather conditions. So, how does this room gets the energy to provide a suitable environment? Well, like the name Solar power Grow Room itself suggests, solar panels are used in this system.
Solar panels are made up of silicon which is a semiconductor material as it can absorb any incoming energy from sunlight. To create an electric field, these panels have negative and positive layers. Solar panels are cutting-edge devices that are designed to satisfy the desire for convenience and efficacy in growing plants.
Can Grow Lights Power Solar Panels
Its no secret that the amount of sunlight we receive yearly varies. So, its a natural concern of homeowners when installing solar panels are there alternative ways to charge them when daylight dwindles?
You probably know about grow lights if youre familiar with horticultural technology. Or, this term may pop up while searching for alternative ways to charge solar panels.
Well, its electrical energy that emits an artificial light source dedicated to stimulating plant growth. Solar energy is simulated by growing or plant lights when electromagnetic radiation is cast in a visible light spectrum. Keep reading to discover if this energy can power solar panels.
Contents
Recommended Reading: Can I Use My Solar Panels In A Blackout
Calculate How Much Electricity You Consume
First, you must identify how much electricity you will be able to consume for you to power the entire grow room. For instance, imagine that you have a set-up in one 4 feet by 4 feet tent with 4 cannabis plants, a centralized flooding and drainage system, an oscillating fan, 20 gallons of water, and one 600 Watts HPS bulb.
If you use a 24-hour lighting schedule in the vegetative stage in one month, the total power consumed will be about 14,400 watts per day, or about 400 kWh per month, just lighting alone. After the first month, the lighting needs will be reduced by half for two more months.
Because of this, the year-round grower will benefit because this setup will need about 7,000 watt-hours per day or 196 kWh per month.
If the plants inside the grow room will be on a standard feeding schedule, flooding the table can be done four times per day at about one hour each time. Owners should make sure that the pump can deliver water to the plants much quicker and that the plant will be able to make the most of the time for feeding and hydration. Additionally, for a 20-gallon container for nutrients, growers can choose a pump that is capable of producing about 130 gallons per hour.
For calculating the watts required to power up the pump, you should multiply the amps by the volts. So, for this basic beginner set-up in the example, the maximum rating will reach about 450 kWh per month for power to be supplied to the whole room.
Benefits Of Using A Solar Power Grow Room
Investing in an off-grid grow room can be the most effective way to ensure the quality of an indoor grow room. A solar-powered grow room could be ideal for you, whether you connect to the grid or prefer to keep a low profile with an off-grid system.
Below are some of the promising benefits of solar power grow room:
You May Like: How Long Can You Store Solar Energy
Determine The Power Rating
The west coast of the United States averages 2,400 hours of sunlight per year, or 6.5 hours per day. Depending on the location of your solar panel set-up and the amount of trees and shade obstructing the sun, lets assume you get five hours of direct sunlight per day.
To calculate the capacity of the solar panel set-up you need, divide your average daily kWh consumption by the hours of sunlight your panels are exposed to. Using this example and the numbers above, you would need a 3-kW system.
If you are brave enough to invest in a DIY solar set-up of this caliber, these can range anywhere from $5,000 – $15,000 brand new. And if you have it professionally installed, it may cost well above $15,000. You may be able to find a used one for substantially less, but make sure you do your homework before buying new or used.
Another way to save energy in the growroom is by using high-powered LED lights. Source: sharkyu/Shutterstock
Installation And Additional Purchase Considerations
When installing your new grow lights, you will need a way to hang the lights above your plants. You will also need a way to raise the fixtures as the plant grows in height.
This can be done with a pulley system, or a chain hung from the ceiling, allowing you to hang the light from different chain links as the plant grows.
It would be best if you considered purchasing a timer to control light cycles along with some form of ventilation to keep air moving. For a full solar light setup, youll need a solar panel to collect energy from the sun, and an MPPT controller to optimize amperage to the battery.
A deep cycle battery to store energy and prevent damage from excessive discharge, a power inverter to convert DC to AC, and of course, your grow light. Greenhouse LED grow lights can supplement sunshine for needy plants during short and cloudy winter days.
Read Also: How Long Will Solar Panels Last
Growing Cannabis Environmentally Friendly
Financial gain and saving money isnt the only benefit from switching to an off grid solar system or using wind energy. Its also a great option for the environment.
Its no secret that the worldwide abuse of fossil fuels, dirty energy, and nonrenewable resources is contributing to the damaging on the environment and massive levels of pollution. It is reported that growing just 1 kilo of cannabis produces 4.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This is a massive pay off for such a small amount of plant matter, so making this switch is contributing to the good of all.
Luke has worked as a cannabis journalist and health science researcher for the past seven years. Over this time, hes developed an advanced understanding of endocannabinoid system science, cannabis phytochemistry, and cultivation techniques.
How To Power A Grow Room With Solar System
Every avid gardener dreams of having a garden thats open 24/7/365. However, owning a grow room isnt just about having the physical space you also need adequate power to run it. Fortunately for hobby gardeners, many power technology and efficiency advancements have been made in recent years. Lets look at some things to consider when powering a grow room so you can do so without spending a fortune.More and more growers are choosing solar power for grow lights. This option, which involves using solar panels to draw energy to batteries for storage and then converting it to AC power with an inverter, has a number of advantages. A grow room solar energy system costs almost nothing to operate and protects you from utility rate increases because it can be operated off the grid. It also works independently of local electrical circuits so the room will stay powered up without affecting your home. Last but not least, it is far more environmentally friendly.
Then I will recommend some high quality solar panel of solar system.
- New Design: Smaller in size, same output, higher cells effciency compared to most other brands
- Leading warranty in PV industry.
- 25 year transferrable power output warranty: 10 years / 90%, 25 years / 80%
- 12 year material and workmanship warranty.
ECO Farm SG0603W Series Solar Lighting System
Description:
Well, that’s all of our topic today. If you have any questions, please contact us and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
Contact:
Don’t Miss: Solar Power For Pool Pump
How To Maintain Solar Grow Lights
Maintenance is a consideration but is not a crucial factor. Indoor growers will need to realize the cost of replacement.
The good news is, solar panels typically last for around twenty-five years, making them a substantial investment.
The panels themselves require very little maintenance. Occasionally, they need a light cleaning to remove dirt, leaves, and debris that could prevent the solar cells from absorbing energy from the sun.
Checking the panels once a month for cleaning issues should be sufficient.
How Does Solar Lighting Work
Since its invention in 1954, photovoltaic technology has transformed tremendously. Finally, solar energy has become a more viable solution for overcoming the rising environmental crisis of pollution.
The principles behind how solar energy works are fairly straightforward. Photovoltaics involves the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Some materials possess photoelectric properties.
This causes these materials to absorb photons of light and then release electrons. When the electrons are captured, they generate an electric current.
A photovoltaic cell or solar panel collects solar energy throughout the day, as long as the sun is shining.
The collected energy is stored in a gel cell battery that is rechargeable. The stored energy can then power grow lights.
Recommended Reading: Can I Change From A Sole Proprietorship To An Llc
Harbor Freight 100 Watt Solar Kit
- Amorphous silicon solar cells for maximum output in both bright and cloudy conditions.
- Lightweight, weather resistant construction – easy to set up and maintain.
- Blocking diode prevents panels from discharging your battery at night.
- Charge controller protects your battery from overcharge or discharge.
- USB port for charging smartphones and tablets.
How Much Electricity Does The Solar Grow Room Consumes
Firstly, you can calculate how much power the entire grow room consumes by a solar power calculator. Assume you have a grow room consisting of a 4-by-4-foot tent with four plants, an oscillating fan, 20 gallons of water, and a 600-watt HPS bulb.
Let say you use a 24-hour lighting schedule in the vegetative stage for one month. Then, the total power consumed will be approximately 14,400 watts per day, or approximately 400 kWh per month, just for lighting. After the first month, the lighting requirements will be cut in half for the next two months.
As a result, the year-round grower will benefit because this setup will require approximately 7,000 watt-hours per day or 196 kWh per month. To save more power, the owners should ensure that the pump can deliver water to the plants much more quickly. Hence, the plants will be able to make the most of the time for feeding and hydration.
To calculate the watts consume to power up the pump, multiply the amps by the volts. As a result, the maximum rating for this basic beginner set-up in the example will be around 450 kWh per month for power that you supply to the entire room. This power consumption is totally affordable.
Don’t Miss: How Much Power Can 1 Acre Of Solar Panels Produce
