how do the police bust hydroponic grows ?

[allhailthebud]

hey folks,

 

im very interested in setting up a sea of green flood and drain setup where i get a harvest every 2 weeks, i want to have 2 x 1000w HPS lights.

 

BUT - ive heard about cop helicopters with some infared shit that picks out the HPS/MH lights,

 

i was also wondering, for e.g, my electricity bill is $250 a 1/4.. if i ran 2 x 1000w lights it would bump up huge, do police check electricity bills and check the trippleing in the bills ?

 

let me know

 

cheers

[WantDaChronic]

most indoor growers get busted for 1 of 3 reasons or a combination of them. first and foremost stealing power is a big no-no that will undoubtably result in you getting raided. it probably wouldnt happen for a few months or even years, but it is definately going to happen eventually. next up is having too many people know about your grow and then having them lag you in which can happen for too many reasons to list in detail like falling out with friends, family, etc. so the fewer people who know about the grow the better. last up is not keeping everything hidden from prying eyes and ears, eg. seal up any light leaks, reduce the noise levels, etc. and sure as shit dont sell buds in an area that can get you busted because that can give the police a reason to apply for a warrent

 

im not sure what the laws are regarding the use of infrared technologies by the police, but i know for a fact energy australia couldnt give a rats arse how much power you use just so long as you pay for it. the worst that you'll get from them is a phamplet giving you ideas on how to reduce your power consumption no kidding you can even ring them up and say that your house isnt able to pull the amount of power you want to use and while you might have to pay for it, they'll gladly send someone out to rewire your house so you can pull as much power as you need

 

if you want to grow safely indoors, dont tell anyone at all that you are growing, take every stealth technique for growing into consideration and use what is applicable to your needs and dont put yourself in a position that could get you busted like openly selling or something stupid like that. follow that advice and you should be able to grow pounds of buds without any risk what so ever

 

PS: i would go 3 or 4 600w lights over a couple of 1000w lights. the 1000s put out far too much heat and you'll get much better light coverage using 600s as there will be more sources of light

[Dallas]

Especially the part that WDC said about the fewer people that know the better..and who you trust...

 

Thats what fucked up my last grow..trusted the wrong person..

[leafy]

mistake EDITED Edited December 12, 2007 by leafy

[Dallas]

You took the words right out of my mouth leafy

 

cum on 420th post...

[DownUnderDoper]

hey folks,

 

im very interested in setting up a sea of green flood and drain setup where i get a harvest every 2 weeks, i want to have 2 x 1000w HPS lights.

 

If you are thinking of using a flood and drain table, then you will likely run into problems, in order to harvest every 2 weeks you are going to need to have plants in at least 4 different stages of flowering, if you are growing all in one table then the roots are going to get intertwined, it's going to be impossible to flush the plants that are nearly ready without starving the ones that are supposed to be putting on weight.. basically problems out your wahzoo!

 

You could do individual flood and drain pots and run separate reservoirs, one for first & second stages of flowering, one for plain water to flush for instance.

 

If you're really set on 2 week harvests then I would recommend you go with DWC buckets rather than flood and drain, as each bucket is it's own reservoir, you can fine tune nutrient needs for the individual plants.

 

Personally tho I'd probably go with 4 week harvests and just set up a separate flowering area under each light, that way it doesn't really matter what system you use as all the plants under each light would be at the same stage of flowering.

 

BUT - ive heard about cop helicopters with some infared shit that picks out the HPS/MH lights,

 

If you're particularly worried about that, then insulate your grow room.

 

i was also wondering, for e.g, my electricity bill is $250 a 1/4.. if i ran 2 x 1000w lights it would bump up huge, do police check electricity bills and check the trippleing in the bills ?

 

let me know

 

cheers

 

As long as you pay your bills on time the power company is very unlikely to do or say anything, if you were installing 15 or 20k of lights then maybe you'd get a visit from a technician to check your meter, but 2000w is not that huge an amount. The police can only get access to your power bills with a warrant, meaning they are already on to you by some other means.

[sunnycoaststoner]

wdc is right on the mark, i'd go for 600's over 1000watters too. a 600w hps only uses about an extra $70 a qtr and generate a lot less heat. try a pot in pot recirc system over the flood and drain and a light for each pot so you can have them all turned at different stages. see albfuct's thread on harvest every 2 weeks i think from memory, it will give you a few ideas.

[ruthless]

main one is never tell anyone

 

regard the electricty bill i don't think it should make a big difference. I remember reading on another forum they compared computer Watts with growing lights. A computer power supply is 500watts and a household has more then one computer.

 

Hope that helps

[DrDee]

Much good advice here. A couple things I do: Try and reduce you electrical consumption in other areas if possible. I had to replace my water heater and put a smaller one in. Also I have a 40am timer on my water heater so it only comes on two hours a day. I timed it so it's nice and warm when I shower. CFI light bulbs, turn lights off, Reduce AC use if possible (that's a big one) unless absolutely needed.

Ever see that old SF movie Soylent Green? The two main characters lived in a little basement room and their only power was from a bicycle powered generator. I'd do that if I could to reduce my power. Not that I'm that paranoid but I'm a cheapskate and hate to pay those high bills. <grin>

 

Be sure to put air cooled lights on the grow so you can disapate the heat by blowing it into another room.

 

Really be careful of smell. I know my UPS guy smelled my garden before I had a carbon scrubber. Now I'm super careful with that.

 

Good luck,

Dee

[melbournes/eboy]

in my fairly qualified position to comment having lived around this type of soiety for over 20 years, i beleive that the HUMBLE hydro grower has practically nothing to worry about from the police if hydro growing is the ONLY thing they are doing. helicopters being used to suss us out is simply a paranoid assumtion. what do you guess the cost of an operation like that would cost..... just to bust growers, come on... i doubt it seriously.

the police often get information from "dogs" about growers, but prefer to not act unless the nominee has brought attention to themselves in other ways also (regular assualts, and general trouble making with neighbors, etc.), or has relations or dealings with someone or something far more sinister (eg. amphetamines, smuggling, prostitution, murder). the police only have limited time and resources, and better things to take care of, and they know it. the cost, and effort required to arrange conducting a search of your premesis is well and truly not worth it for police.

the only time the electricity company will report you, is if you steal power from them. if the power you use exceeds what the housing wiring can pass safely, then they MIGHT send an electrician out to make sure there is no fault, but they will call you firstly and ask what items you use (just tell em small electric fan heaters, and portable air conditioning, is good reason for high power consumption. so basically, you are safe in this area also, provided you do the right thing.

mind you... if they (police) accidently smell fresh weed whilst at you front door, maybee asking people about something that happened in your neighborhood as they sometimes do, you are totally screwed . they will just push you aside, walk in and bust your ass legally. nice and cheap too .

 

overall, in my opinion, if you grow, and are a total saint, and your neighbor like you, and you mask the smell, you should never have to worry.

Edited December 31, 2007 by melbournes/eboy