For the ones who have 1000w HPS setups and more, how do you guys avoid the hydro company finding patterns in your electrical consumptions? I know the amount isnt really that significant, but what i'm more worried is that them seeing a pattern like for 18 hours the hydro goes up then down each day starting and ending at the same . Then later on it's 12/12 also at the same times of the day. Any inputs?
Security question: electricity usage pattern?
- Thread starter carlito
- Start date
solid shadow
Well-Known Member
The electric company is a business, and just like any other capitalist entity, they only want one thing: money. If your electricity useage spikes suddenly, just make sure you are paying your bill on time. As long as they're getting their money for the power you are consuming, they couldn't care any less what you're using it for.
Now, if there are other signs coming from your residence which indicate you are growing (smell, excessive heat being vented from the premesis, you told somebody you were growing, etc.) and law enforcement gets wind of it, they will undoubtedly subpeona your profile from the power company and use those spikes in useage as evidence against you.
Just make sure your grow is stealthy and you're paying your bills on time each month and you shouldn't have any problems.
Now, if there are other signs coming from your residence which indicate you are growing (smell, excessive heat being vented from the premesis, you told somebody you were growing, etc.) and law enforcement gets wind of it, they will undoubtedly subpeona your profile from the power company and use those spikes in useage as evidence against you.
Just make sure your grow is stealthy and you're paying your bills on time each month and you shouldn't have any problems.
greatwhitehunter
Active Member
well ill tell you this .
I was at the trial of a friend and they showed the 12/12 pattern of power usage and that was an important part of their case.
and this was provided by the power company way..............before any warrant was ever issued.!!!just so you know
I was at the trial of a friend and they showed the 12/12 pattern of power usage and that was an important part of their case.
and this was provided by the power company way..............before any warrant was ever issued.!!!just so you know
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
Hydro(electric) is the elec company. In other countries then USA (yes, there is a WHOLE other world outside of Amerika) it can have different names (think 'the tube' for subway, the loo for bathroom)
Not all electric companies are privatively owned. Some are even own by the local or central governments. Even in the US.
Plus, remember AT&T just letting the feds in to do their wire taping with no qualms?
Not all electric companies are privatively owned. Some are even own by the local or central governments. Even in the US.
Plus, remember AT&T just letting the feds in to do their wire taping with no qualms?
bigcuban
Active Member
You know, I've wanted to grow for the longest time. I have a house here with my best friend of 10 years, and we both would love to grow, but are severely paranoid about the whole raid situation. Obviously it's possible to grow large amounts at home safely, I just don't know how. I mean, i've been reading up on the GrowFaq and The Growers Bible, but I'm not sure how to protect myself against raids. I know you're not supposed to tell anyone but I know I can trust my friend, we've been in trouble together so many times lol. Does anyone have like a set of guidelines, or could you point me in the direction of some guidelines for grow security? Much appreciated.
thelastpirate
Well-Known Member
The only 100% sure fire way to avoid a raid is don't do it. Dont do ANYTHING that might attract the cops attention. Of course, that's a pretty boring lifestyle and still leaves you buying whatever generic schwag you can find to smoke, while we who do grow have connoisseur grade pot.
Your single biggest security risk will be your partner. You may THINK you can trust him 100%, but you can't. Facing time does weird things to peoples heads, and when faced with the old "Save yourself, tell us about him" routine, I can just about guarantee he'll sell you out in a heartbeat.
Power Co CAN see patterns of usage. But as long as you pay your bill and aren't stealing power, they could care less. If a cop gets wind of your grow, he can go to them to check your usage for more evidence, but they (the Hydro Co) will not generally rat you out on their own.
Your single biggest security risk will be your partner. You may THINK you can trust him 100%, but you can't. Facing time does weird things to peoples heads, and when faced with the old "Save yourself, tell us about him" routine, I can just about guarantee he'll sell you out in a heartbeat.
Power Co CAN see patterns of usage. But as long as you pay your bill and aren't stealing power, they could care less. If a cop gets wind of your grow, he can go to them to check your usage for more evidence, but they (the Hydro Co) will not generally rat you out on their own.
420weedman
Well-Known Member
this is why im seriously thinking of going solar or wind power
for just my 400w HID light...
leave my veg room on 24/7 .. theres no way to tell what i run all day .. computers most likely ...
and when i do 12/12 it will just be coming out of batteries
and the hole system would pay for it self within 2 years
for just my 400w HID light...
leave my veg room on 24/7 .. theres no way to tell what i run all day .. computers most likely ...
and when i do 12/12 it will just be coming out of batteries
and the hole system would pay for it self within 2 years
thelastpirate
Well-Known Member
this is why im seriously thinking of going solar or wind power
for just my 400w HID light...
leave my veg room on 24/7 .. theres no way to tell what i run all day .. computers most likely ...
and when i do 12/12 it will just be coming out of batteries
That aint a half bad idea. I looked at some solar power solutions, we really do wanna be off the power grid anyway. But as of last year, they were HIGH as hell for a decent solar panel system. I'd like to be able to run my house, about 3000w of HID, and still sell some back to TVA.
420weedman
Well-Known Member
start small
make it a reality !ive come up with these parts ..
kyocera 130w panel $ 600
2-4 AGM 6 volt batteries (wired in series) 240$ ea (2205 minutes(36hours) discharge @ 8amps for each battery !!)
my light draws less than 4 amps
600 w inverter -300 $
solar charge controller 200$
1580$ total
420weedman
Well-Known Member
what jew talkn bout willis ? if you need to post a bond your more fucked than just losing money and ...
figure it costs 700$ a year to run a light
in 5 years thats 3500 (major expensive!!!)you've spent and will continue spending ... until you stop growing
or
5 years with batteries ...
cost you $1580 and saves you 1920 !!!
it pays you 700$ each year after the first 2 years!!
any better ideas ?
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
start small
ive come up with these parts ..
kyocera 130w panel $ 600
2-4 AGM 6 volt batteries (wired in series) 240$ ea (2205 minutes(36hours) discharge @ 8amps for each battery !!)
my light draws less than 4 amps
600 w inverter -300 $
solar charge controller 200$
1580$ total
Even at a 12/12 with a 400W HPS, you will need at *least* 600w worth of panels. Cloudy days, shorter days in winter (and the sun is lower)
You will never get near 100% effeciency out of the system. The charger for the batteries will suck up power, the inverter will suck up power. 30% is typical for real world number (not the marketing numbers from the manufactures and dealers)
Doesn't mater what the batteries are rated for. If you suck more out of them then you are putting back into them it will fail/run dry.
Solar electric has a dismal ROI. Panel prices haven't come down in 20 years. And doubt that will change in the next 5 years.
Wind is an option if you are in a windy area. There is a 400W turbine for $600. But keep in mind the tower/mast generally costs as much as the turbine for wind. (sometimes more)
whatapothead
Well-Known Member
here i was getting all excited again... the bigbudballs put us all back to reality. solar panels are for the rich that wanna be "green" not for us small time growers that wanna be "transparent".
tusseltussel
Well-Known Member
Backup Power Source Solar Standby Power System with 4 Solar Panels, Model# BPS-3600-S | Complete Solar Packages | Northern Tool + Equipment i have to poop but check this out pay for itself in 3 pounds grown
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
I'm also not so sure how green they truly are. I'd be willing to bet that there are a BUNCH of nasty chemicals used to produce them.
Germany is BIG into solar.
tusseltussel :
Thats really only a 480W system. 4 120 panels. Its a back up system not a full time. And for $9k? But I do like that its an all-in-one kit.
Grid-tied is a lot cheaper. No batteries and no charger. But has its probs/drawbacks too.
So lets just say you are actually growing tomatoes and lettuce instead of dope. Would you give a rats ass if the power co saw 12on/12off usage from your house? If they ratted you out to the Po Po and they got a warrant and busted into your house do you think they would be embarrassed to say the least? Guess what? no Judge in his right mind is going to issue a search warrant because of power usage? It could be so many different things that cause that power usage. Remember that growing in a home affords you the Maximum protection from unlawful search and seizure. Your going to have to do some other things to get noticed and then you will be put under surveillance for a while before a warrant is coming .
420weedman
Well-Known Member
i know it should be at least 2 panels ... but 1 is a start
get this.... buy a battery charger ... most people already have them...charge em up when its not performing great
(until you get more panels)at least then there is no standard "hes growing pot .. look at this peak 400 watts ...for 18hours a day .. same time every day ... for 2 months then 12 hrs for another 2 ...."
at least it will be 1 day of different current charging and at least 3 days of nothing...how can they try to use that
---------------------------
but any way usually have decent wind here and i have alot of flat land around me... so i will probably go with wind.. but still use a batt charger if i need to
did i somewhat re inspire you whatapothead?
420weedman
Well-Known Member
i think they can take an embarrasment once in awhile as long as they are comn through with your plants... lets say there was 10 houses all had the same typical growing pattern ... they search each one ... how many you think are growing tomatoes ?
but ideally yea you should be watched first
and most importantly your not paying for electricty with batteries