Cranking up the watts !

Wohjew

Well-Known Member
hey all , ive got some plans coming up that ive been thinking about since summer started. i wanted to do a large grow starting this fall when the temps cool off approaching the winter season . i like having the weather on my side when its cool not like in summer when we need lots of ac to cool our 1000watters.The place is a 3bed room semi , 1600Sq Ft. yes its not a mansion i already run 3000w to flower and growing with 4x4 flood tables . my plan is to have two rooms one in the basement with 4k watts and one upstairs with 4k watts . so far i have 8x1000w hps and some misc. equipment. i wont be using a flip flop BUT !...i will be using the dryer plug in basement and stove plug upstairs becasue i already have the two timer boards so id like to use them . when room 1 goes off room 2 will turn on . hoping to mimic a flip flop . i already know my hydro consumption is going to be very high , i will only be doing 2 grows then its summer again and will be shutting down . is two rooms totaling 8000watts too much ? how about two rooms each using 6000w totaling 12,000watts? where do we draw the line ? i dont want to spark an investagtion . just looking for some opinions on my plan
 

3lions

New Member
With regards to the power consumption, in anything under a 7 bedroom villa fully occupied with large family at least, that is more than going to set off triggers I would imagine.

You have to kind of average what people around you would be using, anything doubling that and it is likely to hit an alert somewhere as it is suggested at least that there are procedures in place at the power companies for this very thing.

If you are using 3000w til now without issue then I would be very reluctant to raise it.
 

Wohjew

Well-Known Member
im in canada. no this wont be legal but where im from there is legal grows if that helps . ppl dont seem to get jail time for growing unless they decide to STEAL hydro or have a history with the law . atleast thats how it seems . Ppl usually get a conditional sentence i.e fines or house arrest ect . i dont like the idea of going to jail either . i would just like to do a large grow once or twice without getting in trouble . so if i use too much hydro that i pay for it will still raise an alarm? will they atleast call first and ask me whats up ? i herd they can call to see if theres a leak or whats going on . the highest in dollars my bill got was 375, i hear ppl say/type theyve had 1000$ hydro bills, makes me wonder
 

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
im in canada. no this wont be legal but where im from there is legal grows if that helps . ppl dont seem to get jail time for growing unless they decide to STEAL hydro or have a history with the law . atleast thats how it seems . Ppl usually get a conditional sentence i.e fines or house arrest ect . i dont like the idea of going to jail either . i would just like to do a large grow once or twice without getting in trouble . so if i use too much hydro that i pay for it will still raise an alarm? will they atleast call first and ask me whats up ? i herd they can call to see if theres a leak or whats going on . the highest in dollars my bill got was 375, i hear ppl say/type theyve had 1000$ hydro bills, makes me wonder
The only time the power company is gonna call you, is when you don't pay the bill. They will only come and investigate your consumption if you call them and ask them to do so. Unless power is being stolen of course. Their business is making money...I would even go as far to say, they wouldn't care if your consumption was 3-4x your neighbors...as long as their getting your money.

In short, there are no alarms except for the overdue account alarm.
 

3lions

New Member
Thumbs down...

The power company will call the cops which is common practice as discussed.
 

Spanishfly

Well-Known Member
Agreed, the power company don´t give a stuff, as long as you pay your bill.

BUT your electricity consumption figures are a matter of public record, accessible by LEO.
 

djruiner

Well-Known Member
Examination of power consumption records has become a common investigative tool since indoor cultivation relies heavily on electricity. If your use is high, the cops say that's probable cause. If your use is low, cops say that's probable cause, too, because you must be stealing the power. The problem is, if you steal the power, not only are you a thief, but power company employees easily detect it. In the course of lawfully searching for the power tap they will bring police with them and whatever you're growing will be discovered. The solution to this dilemma is simple: don't be greedy.In addition to questions regarding their probative value, police seizure of power records may raise constitutional and statutory issues. In Washington state, the Privacy Act prohibits seizure without a written statement of "articulable suspicion."There is an argument that such a seizure of power records is unconstitutional because it violates individual privacy rights. In an age where computer technology makes every small bit of recorded information available almost instantaneously, realistic protection of the fragile right of privacy requires that prior judicial approval precede search or seizure of information regarding matters occurring within a citizen's home. The seizure of power records is for the purpose of securing evidence of a crime; the evidence is of a nature which reflects the private activities of a citizen within his or her home, and about which the citizen has a reasonable expectation of privacy.An interesting side issue here comes from the fact that pot growers often divert (steal) power to keep high power bills from alerting the authorities. Where a diversion is suspected, power companies will install "comparator" meters, which show that not all power being used by a residence is flowing through the meter. Where this takes place, argue first that the comparator meter requires a warrant, and second, that probable cause to search for power theft does not constitute probable cause to search the entire house, since power is stolen outside the house, before the wires reach the meter.
 

redi jedi

Well-Known Member
Please remember, I'm talking about in CANADA....and in CANADA, your billing information (which includes consumption) is protected and considered confidential information. The police would need to have a warrant to retrieve this info from your utility.

A while back I did some time in a provincial jail....On the range I met a Vietnamese guy in for cultivation. He was running a 100 lights in a house and stealing the power. He went for two years before they finally kicked in the door!!!
 

assasinofyouth420

Well-Known Member
Electric companies operate to make money. Wouldnt they be shooting themselves in the foot if you get thrown in jail. Cops only look at your electric bill if you are already under suspicion of something. Pay your bills on time and dont let the electric man or cable guy or anybody see your shit and you should be good.

BTW what are you going to do with all that weed?
 

Wohjew

Well-Known Member
Please remember, I'm talking about in CANADA....and in CANADA, your billing information (which includes consumption) is protected and considered confidential information. The police would need to have a warrant to retrieve this info from your utility.

A while back I did some time in a provincial jail....On the range I met a Vietnamese guy in for cultivation. He was running a 100 lights in a house and stealing the power. He went for two years before they finally kicked in the door!!!
yea the busts i hear about are the ones that steal power , massive plant numbers . the ones who seem to get time are ppl who steal power . i guess keep the bill out of human hands and no one will know my consuption . ppl can rat , i wonder if you paid such a high bill say at the bank electonicaly , does a teller have to handle that trasaction or is it automatic ? anyone ?
 

Wohjew

Well-Known Member
Examination of power consumption records has become a common investigative tool since indoor cultivation relies heavily on electricity. If your use is high, the cops say that's probable cause. If your use is low, cops say that's probable cause, too, because you must be stealing the power. The problem is, if you steal the power, not only are you a thief, but power company employees easily detect it. In the course of lawfully searching for the power tap they will bring police with them and whatever you're growing will be discovered. The solution to this dilemma is simple: don't be greedy.In addition to questions regarding their probative value, police seizure of power records may raise constitutional and statutory issues. In Washington state, the Privacy Act prohibits seizure without a written statement of "articulable suspicion."There is an argument that such a seizure of power records is unconstitutional because it violates individual privacy rights. In an age where computer technology makes every small bit of recorded information available almost instantaneously, realistic protection of the fragile right of privacy requires that prior judicial approval precede search or seizure of information regarding matters occurring within a citizen's home. The seizure of power records is for the purpose of securing evidence of a crime; the evidence is of a nature which reflects the private activities of a citizen within his or her home, and about which the citizen has a reasonable expectation of privacy.An interesting side issue here comes from the fact that pot growers often divert (steal) power to keep high power bills from alerting the authorities. Where a diversion is suspected, power companies will install "comparator" meters, which show that not all power being used by a residence is flowing through the meter. Where this takes place, argue first that the comparator meter requires a warrant, and second, that probable cause to search for power theft does not constitute probable cause to search the entire house, since power is stolen outside the house, before the wires reach the meter.
very interesting post . i know in B.c records are handeled different also
 

Wohjew

Well-Known Member
Electric companies operate to make money. Wouldnt they be shooting themselves in the foot if you get thrown in jail. Cops only look at your electric bill if you are already under suspicion of something. Pay your bills on time and dont let the electric man or cable guy or anybody see your shit and you should be good.

BTW what are you going to do with all that weed?
Keep it :mrgreen:
 

Wohjew

Well-Known Member
Electric companies operate to make money. Wouldnt they be shooting themselves in the foot if you get thrown in jail. Cops only look at your electric bill if you are already under suspicion of something. Pay your bills on time and dont let the electric man or cable guy or anybody see your shit and you should be good.

BTW what are you going to do with all that weed?
smoke it in one joint
 

djruiner

Well-Known Member
very interesting post . i know in B.c records are handeled different also
yeah..that post was for us few disillusioned people that still call the USA home.
not sure about the country/state laws elsewhere....tend to forget that its not just people in the states on here
 

notpatient

Well-Known Member
Here in illinois I know a few people running 6k and better and have been for many many moons and I myself have 8k and never heard a thing from any company as long as you pay you will never here from them.
I think what you have to ask yourself is "how big are your balls"
 

Hebrew

Active Member
yeah..that post was for us few disillusioned people that still call the USA home.
not sure about the country/state laws elsewhere....tend to forget that its not just people in the states on here
its ok, Pantera dude. I hail from the states, and I am apparently stoned because I'm writing this silly post. Keep it Green!!! :)
 
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