Power Consumption and the cops, How it is!

[harris7]

There is always a lot of talk about this. I thought I would clear some things up and give out some important info I just found out about.

Power consumption IS used to catch growers!!!

-I just found this out: In Surrey BC and soon to be in Richmond and others, the electricity company By Law must give info on consumers using 3X or more the average power consumption to the Cops

-This may or may not be true were you live. But, you now have an idea of how much power you must use to put up alarms

This means that huge commercial grows need to worry.

As well most people are below the average, this is because the average is inflated by a few people (few thousand) who use ridiculously large amounts of power.

Its kinda like if you have a room of 100 people who all make 15000 a year. Very low. then Bill Gates walks in the room and the average jumps up million+ a year. When in fact all but one person are below the average. (gotta watch out for this shit, its how politicians and corporations lie)

If you are worried calculate your ops consumption. KWh = ([# of watts] x [hours used per month]) /1000.
Then look on your bill to see how much you use. You might be surprised how little your op uses.

All reduction measures are pretty much only for financial or sustainability reasons for Most growers on here.

I hope this eases some peoples nerves.

Things like smell are what you should be worryin about

[stinkyattic]

Thanks Harris.
Another thing that I believe raises an alarm is when your power consumption triples from what is had been previously.
And a rule of thumb is that your kW/hour usage kind of depends on the siz e of your home... you can get away with 1000w per bedroom that your home is listed as.

[harris7]

Thanks Harris.
Another thing that I believe raises an alarm is when your power consumption triples from what is had been previously.
And a rule of thumb is that your kW/hour usage kind of depends on the siz e of your home... you can get away with 1000w per bedroom that your home is listed as.

Yes sorry, it is Average per sq foot.

sometimes peoples houses are listed to BC hydro as 1000sqft when in reality they are 4000sq ft. and they get raided

I think that proportion of power bill is a good measure. if your op is half your total consumption its becoming a big deal for you.

(itâ??s always been pretty obvious they did it this way. Itâ??s the only practical way they could use power consumption)

[Garden Knowm]

http://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/2122-possiblefor-police.html

[harris7]

holy crap someone on there looks just like you.

in BC i dont know about other places. We use power meters in the house which measure the amount of power one uses. They come every 3 months and look at the meter. Big grow ops hire someone or have someone that bypasses this device so they get free power. This is because the only measure of the consumption is at house level.

They have no way of detecting when you use the power, they only know the average use over the period.

If they could detect when you are using power then they could detect when peoples use doesn’t match the meter (bypassing). So the big ops wouldn’t get by.

Isn’t there a device that regulates spikes, if so. Why do people have them?

[Garden Knowm]

holy crap someone on there looks just like you.



LOL

[Mary Stokes]

Hi , my power bill is normally £100 per month [ nearly $200 ] and thats without growlights an i dont get any problems with anyone commin round buggin me with wot i am usin it for .

i only got 2 bedrooms :rasta:

[harris7]

well you use a lot of power!

[JackdaWack]

haha no one in my house even realized that there was something going on lol. and i dont pay the electricity. some one else in the house does.

[Garden Knowm]

HARRIS... where did you get the info about SURREY, BC?

cheers

[JackdaWack]

they do the same thing in the states, well i dont know about changing the meter readout, but the electric companys go to ur house or home to check ur power consumption, one 1000wtt light maybe 2 inst gonna raise a brow anywhere so i would worry if u have that or under the amount. above it might be allittle suspicious but even then what they gonna do..? unless your entire house is dedicated to growing lol that would be insane.

[harris7]

HARRIS... where did you get the info about SURREY, BC?

cheers

it is a law and I read about it in the paper.

Otherwise they would need a warrent to get your personal information for the power company. And companies cannot just give away your information without a warrent or similar.

[Whos Carl]

If I had a 1kw HPS or MH in my house it would ring alarm bells. It would make my electricity bill sky rocket. If its was used 18 hours during the veg stage then 12 hours for flower thats 18kw a day for a month or 2 then 12kw for another 2 months. I found out that my house uses about 20kw a day which is pretty much nothng. So adding a grow light would go up and might start ringing alarm bells.

[StankyGreenBush]

Bypassing your meter is a great way to get the electric company and other authorities very interested in what you're doing.

Do you have a link to the article or name of paper and the date? I gotta let some folks know about this but I would like to be able to tell them where they can read about it. Every time I warn someone about power usage they claim I'm falling prey to rumors. Thanks in advance.

[harris7]

i'll look into it but you can definetly find articles online. i've read so many in the news papers

give me a bit i'll get back to you

[harris7]

hmm i took a quick look and couldn't find the exact article. i'll keep looking
but it's not hard to find other articles

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n465/a07.html

heres one, havent read it though

[Garden Knowm]

thanks HARRIS...

[Psycho4Bud]

Bypassing your meter is a great way to get the electric company and other authorities very interested in what you're doing.

Not to mention that is a felony offense in quite a few states.

Have a good grow!:thumbsup:

[MisterE]

I'm sure a closet grower is not on the radar unless they're insane, lol.

New computers today have 1000 Watt power supplies available, with dual graphics cards etc etc etc.. so they really can pull near the full capacity with normal use (by a gamer or video editor).

My whole house has been on CFL's for years already, because I believe in them. I love using 15 watts to light a room instead of 60 :) Also if you have a big tv, remember that sometimes "standby" power draws far more watts than you probably think. So physically get up and turn it fully OFF.
Got a electric hot water heater without insulation? Why? Do you REALLY need the heat up so high on your water? Turn if down a few degrees. It's just a knob. Is your fridge mostly empty? Put lots of stuff in there. A full fridge/freezer is far more efficient than one full of air!

Etc etc.. For the small personal grower I think you can more than offset a single light fixture, even if it's on our radar as something to be concerned about.

[StankyGreenBush]

hmm i took a quick look and couldn't find the exact article. i'll keep looking
but it's not hard to find other articles

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n465/a07.html

heres one, havent read it though

Here's a decent one http://www.surrey.ca/Whats+New/News+Releases/Current/April/New+Legislation+Set+to+Drive+Out+Marijuana+Grow+Op s.htm and this article just mentions unusual power consumption which I guess could mean checking for large power draws on a timer.

It's a strange perspective. I would think by scaring people about power consumption that they are pushing people to much more dangerous jerry rigged wiring to power sources


Thanks Harris

[harris7]

I'm sure a closet grower is not on the radar unless they're insane, lol.

New computers today have 1000 Watt power supplies available, with dual graphics cards etc etc etc.. so they really can pull near the full capacity with normal use (by a gamer or video editor).

.

Very much agreed, itâ??s not that they arenâ??t crazy. But they would get to many false positives if the consumption level was too low. It needs to be so high that very very few normal people would use that much power.


now think of a rich family. 3 kids, each with computers, stereos, ipods, tv's, dvd players. and the parents with a big ass tv and surround system.

all that shit uses a lot of power. even when it's off it adds up

[Garden Knowm]

Hey HArris.. Can you tell me what the famous BUD growing capital..Surrey, BC is like?

COffe shops? COllege kids? parks? tolerant police, weather, etc..

thanks

[harris7]

you will be amazed!!! Don’t be too upset

Surrey is the largest municipality in BC, and thus it has a large deviation in property value and well everything. Some areas in surrey (south surrey) have among the highest property value in the province. While others have lots of shootings. (north Surrey)

Growing is almost 100% indoors in surrey as there are very few large parks or forests. It may well be the grow op capital of the world. As it certainly is for Canada

I don’t know why it has so many, maybe it is because the cops are focused on other crime and the property value is low.

Use of cannabis is highest in BC than anywere else in Canada. So it’s pretty chill everywhere but there are few cultural outlets in the burbs.

Vancouver on the other hand is were the culture resonates. We actually have cannabis café’s must like in Holland but without the sales, as the ones who try to are quickly shut down. We also have had several Vape bars which I do not know if they have these in Holland. Both kinds of cafes come and go as they often start dealing, or they get busted with a bunch of product in the back. One that has been around for ever is the “Amsterdam Café” which is on the “Pot Block” with the BC Marijuana Party Bookstore
Which is owned by Marc Emery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Emery

Funny enough there are stores who actually deal, as there only operation. I know of two: one operates in an apartment near a café and is owned by the Hells Angels (allegedly), and the other is one of Marc Emery’s associates

Vancouver has a large student population: 45 000 at UBC and also Vancouver CC, Langara College, Simon Fraser University is close, several art and music schools.

Generally you can openly smoke cannabis on the streets of Downtown. They can fine you, but never heard of anyone having a problem.

Coffee is very big on the west coast and this remains true here too. Although starbucks is very prevalent they do not make up 50% of the market, as there are many privet quirky shops around.

Vancouver has lots and lots of parks, you can check that out on google map. If you visit I recommend hitting up Stanly Park. It’s huge and kinda like an island that is barley joined to the downtown.

Police are very tolerant of weed. A friend knows a cop that acutely grows!! (not in van)
They realize they have better things to do.

I know a lot of Americans that come here and they just love it.

Maybe you should

oh
ps- the weather is fucking crazy. it must be climate change

all summer literally No rain at all. None
September comes, Huge rain storm for a few days coupled with a big ass wind storm. Cutting out power to like 300 000 people for 2-4 days

then that goes away, Snow storm Covering us with about 1.5-2 feet of snow.

it doesn’t snow here usually. and if it does it's later and like 1 inch for a day

[Garden Knowm]

WOW HARRIS..

Thanks

GREAT info.. I am eager to come up for a visit!!

cheers

[MaryLane]

Going by power consumption is retarded. I used to keep marine reef aquariums and I had 500w of MH power over it for 16 hours a day, and this was a small tank. I know people with 2000w - 5000w and more over their tanks. This doesn't take into account the very, very high draw water pumps etc. What are they gonna do? Come into someone's house who is breeding corals?

The whole idea of pot being illegal just pisses me off. The stupid measures that are used to try to catch harmless people who just wanna grow some herb and not hurt anyone piss me off just as much.

Next thing you know you're going to find some random guy in your backyard with a German sheperd "sniffing" around just to see what they could find because you've got a wheelbarrow and some potting soil in plain view.

Fucking lame.

[madeline]

Harris, perhaps you know of "Bongblaster", from Surrey? I met him years ago through Emery's HBC site then later flew up and met in person a couple times but have since lost contact with him. He had an excellent seed connection there with strains not found on the open market (Sticky #3 comes to mind) and have been trying to seek him out again. Same for Vic High, from the island. I haven't been back there since '02 but would love to come up again and hook up with old friends and meet new ones. I usually do this trip in January or February and have already got my plane tickets and made reservations at the downtown Holiday Inn, so time is short and any help you can give me is greatly appreciated!

[Garden Knowm]

madeline and Harris..

how is Surrey with tourists and Americans..? pretty friendly?

How about RVing... You think it would be easy to find places to park the RV (new 2003) without being hassled by the cops?

cheers

[harris7]

tourists are fine, but it is more expensive than it once was. I dont know anything about RVing

[crazywill]

:rasta: Hi everybody,
Reading this thread and watching the news here.In orlando fl they busted a grow house in a nice subdivisonThey had been watching this house for sometime.They traced it back to New Jersey,they get illegal immigrants and buy houses for them to grow in.They pay the utiltys and pay the immigrants a pay check to grow for them.they grow it in every room in the house.After 2 years they give the house to the immigrants.They can keep the house or sell it or keep on growing in the house.The cops said they watch the house and had dogs sniffing around and checking on how many poeple come and go and live there.They had to get a warrenit to look at the utilty bills.And they can not use infrared imageing to bust you here.But you know cops they do it any way.And find something to bust you for ,so can use all of it to get you.
I know a few poeple that grow here and they have been at it for a few years they dont have cops coming around or checking the ele. bill.If you are using 1 to 4 lights and all the fans ect. as long as you pay the bill on time and in full you DONT HAVE TO WORRY about the ele.company calling the cops.They are capalist all they want is the money.The house they busted had a 150 lbs of cure pot and 1100 plants growing at the time it was busted.So one light or two just pay the bill and dont tell anybody what you are doing and you will be fine. well that's my two cents. Peice:weedpoke: :stoned:

[Garden Knowm]

The house they busted had a 150 lbs of cure pot and 1100 plants growing at the time it was busted.So one light or two just pay the bill and dont tell anybody what you are doing and you will be fine. well that's my two cents. Peice:weedpoke: :stoned:

LOL

I wonder what they used for odor control...

[Splifted]

LOL

I wonder what they used for odor control...

Didn't you read, it happened in Florida, where old ppl go go retire. Really old people smell funny. Therefore, its not odd to have a strange pungent aroma coming from a house down there. Haha, actually I'm really high atm, don't listen to me.

[Garden Knowm]

LOL

[TheGreenFog]

TheKnowmhatesme :(




Why GK, why?



LOL


:dance::dance::dance::dance:


:rastasmoke:

TGF

iloveyou

[Garden Knowm]

UG.. mr fog.. that is soooo NOT TRUE.. iloveyou

please forgive me for misrepresenting myself.. I only have LOVE for YOU

:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

back at ya BRO!!!

:)

[harris7]

Bump.
Just keeping the info at the top to spread it to the new members

[harris7]

Should this be moved to the new lighting section?

[Mrs. Greenjeans]

We've got 6 computers in our house, 2 of which are high powered gaming/media machines. We've got an xbox, an xbox 360, and 2 PS2s. 5 televisions. Oh, yeah, a bigass server that runs continually. 4 kids, each with various personal electronics. On the weekends, all 4 gaming systems and at least 3 computers are running at any given time.

My 400w hps is the least of my worries. :)

[dajamma]

hey there,
No need to worry kiddies, atleast not in the states.
rule 1.......pay your bill on time
rule 2.......no spikes don't go from 50 a month to 500.....in May!
rule 3.......don't steal the juice! that will get you caught quicker than anything!!
The power companies know how much power goes out, and the amount of bills paid coming in should match. If it doesn't, there must be a leak, and then my friends, THEY come looking. They come with a truck full of detection equipment, a backhoe AND the police......... believe me.


daJamma

[HighSeekerz]

Good information... Especially in that last post...

Lets say I live in a regular 1500-1800 square foot house, and I want to run 4 lights 430HPS for flower and 400MH conversion bulbs for veg.

I am pretty frugal on my other electricity, BUT, I will just be moving in... So I dont know what the former tenant may have used regularly...

Also, should I put my cabinets in places where a large TV would be? To make it look like a TV for those heat seekers?

[ninfan77]

In the USA, it depends on the electric co. Many dont care about usage, only that you aren't stealing it, and pay your bill.

My old house, we used on average $300 a month, i forget how many kwh this was, but its ALOT. Hell, in the winter it spikes with 2 - 2500w heaters. Nobody ever cared.

[harris7]

Good information... Especially in that last post...

Lets say I live in a regular 1500-1800 square foot house, and I want to run 4 lights 430HPS for flower and 400MH conversion bulbs for veg.

I am pretty frugal on my other electricity, BUT, I will just be moving in... So I dont know what the former tenant may have used regularly...

Also, should I put my cabinets in places where a large TV would be? To make it look like a TV for those heat seekers?

They cant "scan" your house and tey woulnd't have done it to the house b4

[madeline]

It's simple, just call or go to the offices of your local electric company and ask them for last year's usage chart. Most companies include them on the monthly bill and some of those are also online so you can view it there. And if you just show up and ask they'll have all of the info for you.

I keep an old electric kiln in my garage in case I have to explain what my 4 1kw lights down in the basement are eating up.




Good information... Especially in that last post...

Lets say I live in a regular 1500-1800 square foot house, and I want to run 4 lights 430HPS for flower and 400MH conversion bulbs for veg.

I am pretty frugal on my other electricity, BUT, I will just be moving in... So I dont know what the former tenant may have used regularly...

Also, should I put my cabinets in places where a large TV would be? To make it look like a TV for those heat seekers?

[sleepless]

shit, now im getting paranoid. ive always been quite economical with the electric, the only things i have running full time are the fridge freezer, an alarm clock and my stereo on standby. i use my computer most days [when its on its on for at least 8 hours] and i usually only have one light going at a time. in theory, if someone were to set up a cfl lit growroom utilising 450w should they expect trouble or should they expect a rozzer powered jackboot through the door?

[harris7]

are you seriously asking if 450W will get your op busted?

if so, please read the first post

[Gatekeeper777]

Its winter time and i purchased a few electric space heaters. Its summer time and i have 3 air conditioners.
I pay my bill and I am a legit customer, when i STOP paying my bill then question me, till then stop harrasing me.
CLICK!
If the popo shows up make sure they have a warent before you let em in no matter what!!!
If they have the warent and they dont find nothng, tell them your goona sue for harrasment.

[harris7]

hey there,
No need to worry kiddies, atleast not in the states.
rule 1.......pay your bill on time
rule 2.......no spikes don't go from 50 a month to 500.....in May!
rule 3.......don't steal the juice! that will get you caught quicker than anything!!
The power companies know how much power goes out, and the amount of bills paid coming in should match. If it doesn't, there must be a leak, and then my friends, THEY come looking. They come with a truck full of detection equipment, a backhoe AND the police......... believe me.


daJamma


whats funny is my parents House's bill just spiked. a month or so ago there power bill was 3x + the normal amount. it was accutal a miss read of the meter. But No problems...

[Harry Pot Head]

This is an interresting thread

I can understand the concerns using power usage. :stoned:

This winter the first winter in this house the furnice took a dump.(landlords a jackass)

So since im into stage sound and lighting. I ended up using one of the distros .
I normaly use for testing equipment. There were 4 1500w heaters and 1 4800w heater pluged in for a total load of 10,800 and thats not including testing dimmer pacs etc. 12 x 1000 watts.

Needless to say i have a dimmer pack or 2 with 6 or more 1000w par 64s kicking around for testing and party's ....hate to think what the computers (6) and my audio load is :p

We must have a real hi load compared to the last people that rented here.

We also installed CFL'S everywere as well

Yes we keep our hydro bill paided :jointsmile:

just a foot note.
if you install a hot tub it eats 6000w give or take 2000w of power and about another 1000 or more for the pump.

my 2 watts :abduct:

[whitestalkslongwalks]

all the folks talking about 6-computers and hot tubs got to realize some of us might be living in a studio appt. there's no hot tubs, there's probably one person, heat is often paid separately (is for me, in gas bill); there just aren't THAT many high-energy items you can put in a little appt. i still don't think you'd need to worry much, but there's a difference between a $300 bill in a house and a $300 in a small appartment; a big difference

[harris7]

yes, valid point.

the "averages" i spoke about in the first few posts are by Sq footage