thermal imaging/ heat signatures

[timmywilson]

The grow is on the main floor in a utility/laundry/mudroom. The air will be filtered and expelled through ducting and outside through the dryer vent. There is a door and a window nearby the totally enclosed growing closet/tent. The grow area is only 3 feet by 3 feet by 6.5 feet tall. 400watt lighting. Do I need to be real paranoid about heat signatures or thermal imaging in this scenario ?

timmywilson Reviewed by timmywilson on 11-26-2006. thermal imaging/ heat signatures The grow is on the main floor in a utility/laundry/mudroom. The air will be filtered and expelled through ducting and outside through the dryer vent. There is a door and a window nearby the totally enclosed growing closet/tent. The grow area is only 3 feet by 3 feet by 6.5 feet tall. 400watt lighting. Do I need to be real paranoid about heat signatures or thermal imaging in this scenario ? Rating: 5

[Shovelhandle]

As far as heat evidence, the location would be unsuspicious. If your filtering works you should have no problems. Who will be using this door and window?

I am a thermographer with imaging equipment.

Shov

[timmywilson]

No one will be using the window, it has drapes and blinds and is in the adjacent kitchen. The door also has a window with blinds and drapes over it and it is the door to my backyard but it is rarely used, and no one could really see in the way I have things set up. I haven't begun the grow yet, and I want to make sure that this project is secure. The only loose ends thus far have been a little mail order action. I have told no one and will tell no one and I felt like heat escape and odor concerns were the last security issues facing me.

Inside of the grow tent will be an exhaust fan that pulls stale air from the space into a carbon filter and then I have the ducting going from the filter to the dryer vent where it will be expelled. I was curious as to whether this would create an image on a thermo-image. Also, I was concerned about heat signatures escaping through other crevices that might exist.

Are grows busted with thermal imaging because the grower has a large operation or is the heat signature unique to any size of cannabis grow operation ? I have read that the US Supreme court has ruled that thermal imaging without a warrant is unconstitutional. What evidence would be needed before a warrant is obtained to do a thermal imaging ?

I appreciate your input. I want to do this correctly and a HUGE part of doing it right means staying free and undetected.

[Shovelhandle]

Think of evidence of a lot of heat from a suspicious location, such as an unfinished attic area or an apparently vacant building. The amount of heat from one 400watt lamp would not be enough to look suspicious from the outside of a inhabited dwelling.

Shov

[timmywilson]

Thanks shovelhandle. You have instilled a huge boost of confidence and security to an otherwise reluctant but eager gardener.

[faithless]

Interesting. I would have thought it strange though, if they would bother about the equivalent of 7 ordinary household lightbulbs.

[timmywilson]

I never thought of it that way, I knew of course that it used only 400 watts, I just wasn't sure about exactly what technology the imaging equipment used with respect to detection of specific kinds of bulbs or lighting. I am rookie and have some cold feet. I have been to jail for a night a couple times long ago and have no interest in returning. Of course, there is a risk, but I want to minimize it to the point where I have a better chance at winning the lottery then I do at being detected.

[xcrispi]

not even something to be worried about man ,
i could see if you had the firepower humboldt has going 44,000 watts lol . but a 400 on the mainfloor isn't a prob .
crispi

[Perp]

The dryer probably gets hotter than that 400 watter so I wouldn't give it another thought. They'll just probably think you're doing laundry.

[BONG0]

Im on the Top floor of an apartment building, my grow is in a converted walkin closet, the back room only has 1 ventalation spot anyway and can heat up without any lights on, u think i have anything to worry about? im using Florows and one 70 watt Metal Halide, ill be adding a 400 watt HPS soon for Flowering.

It never gets hotter than 25 degrees Celcius with the lights all on, if the room stays that cool is there any chance of detection?