[SOTF420]

Out of respect for the topic which is smart meters I don't want to change this into an LED discussion about what they can or can't do. They are certainly capable of growing large plants although there may be less total intensity than large HID fixtures which as mentioned before LED or HID both have their pro's and con's.

This however does not mean it's not a viable technology and that you cannot have outstanding results. The plants I normally grow under LED are around 3 to 4 feet tall and I have no issues with penetration provided the plants are not crowded. This is one of the benefits of using an LED light with 5 watt chips as opposed to the less total intensity 1 watt LED's. While it is true that the 1 watt chips may be more efficient on paper they still lack the total intensity per square inch below of the larger more powerful 5 watt LED chips much like a 600 watt HPS is more efficient than a 1000 HPS in lumen production but in real world application does match the intensity of a 1000 watt in the same area.

Penetration may be a problem with "smaller units" But it's not a real issue with the ones I use they are very bright well made professional units designed for greenhouses and even used by the USDA for growing test crops indoors. So back to smart meters!

[poindexterous]

I thought a flip-flop/flip-box would provide better security under smart metering just by providing an overall/more or less continuous 24 hour load vs a 12hr on/12hr off pattern aside from the spike issue.....wouldn't it?

Smart metering is coming to where I am soon so I thought I better split my 4K room into two 2K rooms on opposite 12hr cycles. Kind of a pain to do and I'd rather not but is it a good idea for safety???

[Strainhunter]

I addressed your points in the original post and I am repeating them here for you:

A Flip Flop will NOT provide any security.

It does NOT avoid a spike.

An average household has TONS of spikes all day long every day.

EXCESSIVE (unusual high) usage of electricity is the giveaway, a Flip Flop will not camouflage your usage.

Originally Posted by poindexterous

I thought a flip-flop/flip-box would provide better security under smart metering just by providing an overall/more or less continuous 24 hour load vs a 12hr on/12hr off pattern aside from the spike issue.....wouldn't it?

........

[ItGrows]

Originally Posted by Strainhunter

Electricity companies in @ least one of the states I used to live in (FL) actually have BATF trained employees for recognizing potential indoor pot growing ops.

And of course it makes no sense from a business stand point.
But so don't many other "legal" things related to growing pot.

After all it's a game.

Where is the proof electric companies are training employees with the ATF?

[Strainhunter]

Originally Posted by ItGrows

Where is the proof electric companies are training employees with the ATF?

Give me a minute and let me get one of them make his statement on here.

What a stupid question are you asking me there???

[ItGrows]

Originally Posted by Strainhunter

Give me a minute and let me get one of them make his statement on here.

What a stupid question are you asking me there???

HUH?

[ItGrows]

Originally Posted by ItGrows

Where is the proof electric companies are training employees with the ATF?

Originally Posted by Strainhunter

Give me a minute and let me get one of them make his statement on here.

What a stupid question are you asking me there???

I guess it just sounds like paranoia from you. You said you knew Florida is doing this... I was just wondering the source of that information. Is that more clear for you?

[poindexterous]

Originally Posted by Strainhunter

I addressed your points in the original post and I am repeating them here for you:

A Flip Flop will NOT provide any security.

It does NOT avoid a spike.

An average household has TONS of spikes all day long every day.

EXCESSIVE (unusual high) usage of electricity is the giveaway, a Flip Flop will not camouflage your usage.

No I understand and agree that spikes are of no importance and happen all the time from many things. I'm not concerned over spikes.

I just thought maybe my use jumping up 4kw for 12hrs a day and then back down for the other 12hrs a day every day may look suspicious, vs 2kw running 24hrs a day all the time. So are you saying that's not true and they don't look at 12hr cycles at all but only total kwh at the end of each month?

Thanks

[Strainhunter]

Originally Posted by poindexterous

No I understand and agree that spikes are of no importance and happen all the time from many things. I'm not concerned over spikes.

I just thought maybe my use jumping up 4kw for 12hrs a day and then back down for the other 12hrs a day every day may look suspicious, vs 2kw running 24hrs a day all the time. So are you saying that's not true and they don't look at 12hr cycles at all but only total kwh at the end of each month?

Thanks

Good way of thinking although not how they do it.

First of all keep in mind it depends on who your electricity provider is.
Although I may have listed one or the other throughout this thread that does not mean they have not changed their policy.

Specifically in Florida there is @ least one electric provider who is "in bed" with the administration in charge of pursuing growing pot.
That company is actively participating in training exercises how to recognize "unusual" power consumption.
The above is valid as of today.

Now what does this have to do with your question?

If you are running a 4kw setup you are going through anywhere between a few hundred bucks in electricity a month up to 7 or 800 dollars (assuming 1kw costs the rough average of 11 cents/hour, much higher in Cali for example).
All depending on if your hoods are vented or not, if you have an AC & how much it is running, whether you have a dehumidifier - or not.
Those are the major power users.

Every time especially an inductive electricity user turns on you will have a power spike. Whether that be your fridge, your dish washer, your water heater, your TV, your house AC etc. blah blah.

If you are running 2kw on one set of bulbs for 12 hours and switch to another set after 12 hours...you still will have a spike firing up that second set of bulbs.
That spike will be xyz high depending on the ballasts (magnetic or not) and their efficiency, the wattage of the bulbs used and a few more factors.
In other words (and I am sure you have realized that yourself by now) what ever spikes your grow is creating they will be a very minor "giveaway" for your growing operation.

Your "12 hour cycle" is being "interrupted" by PLENTY spikes throughout the day and night.

On the good side:
You have been running your set-up without getting caught hence you have been paying your bill so just keep doing the same thing Smart Meter or not.
Depending on the type of Smart Meter you are going to get it might not even be programmed to be one of those "tricked out" units causing the electricity user "letting his pants down" about his/her usage.

Not that you have much of a choice in first place.....

[Strainhunter]

Originally Posted by ItGrows

I guess it just sounds like paranoia from you. You said you knew Florida is doing this... I was just wondering the source of that information. Is that more clear for you?

I already stated previously I will NOT disclose my exact source of information although I hinted quiet a bit of it.

Is that clear enough for you!?

Take it for what it is, or don't.