| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
Travis 
Guest
Joined: September 23 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 621
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Electricity Usage
Posted: July 08 2004 at 2:32pm |
Has anyone ever figured out what their tanks are costing in electricity monthly?? I figured between two tanks it's costing me $60.73 a month in electricity  ... assuming a 1.0 power factor.
Edited by Travis
|
 |
peregrinus
Guest
Joined: July 06 2003
Location: Clearfield
Status: Offline
Points: 645
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 08 2004 at 2:50pm |
|
i did it once when i found a conversion chart.scared me too.. lol
|
|
In Clearfield
Quantum mechanics the dreams stuff is made of.
|
|
coreyk
Guest
Joined: July 31 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1756
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 08 2004 at 4:33pm |
i've been meaning to do figure out my usage ... now i'm wondering if i *really* do. LOL 
|
|
jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 08 2004 at 5:02pm |
I've never been to Wyoming when the wind wasn't blowing... have you considered a windmill?
|
|
|
|
Travis
Guest
Joined: September 23 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 621
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 08 2004 at 6:32pm |
lol, that's why they just put in a windmill farm on the Sisters... my wife and I actually look into getting a windmill. We live in town but up on a hill and the wind is always blowing, A couple problems... one, it would take about 28years to pay for itself and I don't think my neighbors would like it ... not to mention zoning issues.
I forgot one 9.5w powerhead in the 110g... so that adds another 228watts...
|
|
Shane H
Presidency
Joined: March 09 2003
Location: Brigham City
Status: Offline
Points: 7921
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 09 2004 at 9:40am |
Hey - lets build another hydro-electric dam on the Colorado! That should reduce the cost of electricity.  (please - no Sierra Club responses). I'm only ...kinda...joking!
|
|
Adam Blundell
Presidency
Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
Status: Offline
Points: 18526
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 26 2005 at 11:36am |
Jon- (or anyone else)
Any input on these figures. I know Jon has calculated his power consumption as well. I'd like to get some more info and data on the electrical costs of tanks.
Adam
|
|
Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
|
|
clismi
Guest
Joined: February 25 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 53
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 26 2005 at 6:08pm |
Did you measure the power consumption or just use the power consumption printed on the equipment?
I'm assuming you measured it since the "1.0 power factor" sounds smart.
How did you do it? I see some things on the internet called Kill A Watt power consumption meters. Funny huh?
Don't let my wife read this thread!
Edited by clismi
|
|
Clifford Smith
Logan, UT
|
|
Travis
Guest
Joined: September 23 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 621
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 26 2005 at 6:09pm |
|
I tested my MHs (M59) and they are pulling 3.8A at 118V... 448watts each. Not to bad IMO.
|
|
Travis
Guest
Joined: September 23 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 621
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 26 2005 at 6:11pm |
clismi, no, all ratings are name plate ratings...
|
|
clismi
Guest
Joined: February 25 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 53
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 26 2005 at 6:16pm |
Oh, good! Because if you are using nameplate ratings then you aren't really spending that much money on electricity.
Or are you? I don't work for underwriter's laboratory or anything and don't want to sound like a know it all. Each year I learn that I know less than I thought I did!
Edited by clismi
|
|
Clifford Smith
Logan, UT
|
|
scubadave
Guest
Joined: October 10 2004
Location: Tremonton, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 244
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 26 2005 at 8:31pm |
 clismi wrote:
Each year I learn that I know less than I thought I did!
|
I know exactly what you mean LMAO
|
|
My Tank
220 Reef
4-400 watt metal halides
2- 72� V.H.O.
2- 1200 GPH Pumps
My Pride & Joy
Tremonton,Utah
|
|
Travis
Guest
Joined: September 23 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 621
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 26 2005 at 9:13pm |
Oh, good! Because if you are using nameplate ratings then you aren't really spending that much money on electricity.
I would say I'm spending more... like with the 400w MH it actually uses 448w. I can test a few things but I'm sure most of the equipment uses more than what they list.
|
|
Travis
Guest
Joined: September 23 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 621
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 27 2005 at 7:30pm |
Here's a updated spreadsheet. A few items changed... but for the most part it's the same. The wattage was measured by getting a inline amp reading using a Fluke 87 multimeter.
|
|
bugzme
Guest
Joined: May 22 2004
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 4815
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 27 2005 at 7:45pm |
|
I don't want to know how much my hobby costs! I just want to see my corals grow. right now I am spending about $90.00 a month to run everything and I'm still adding!
|
|
Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
Rum drinker, Carbon User
I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
|
|
clismi
Guest
Joined: February 25 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 53
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 28 2005 at 8:38am |
I'll bet you were happier before I asked my question.
I'm sorry! It is a great hobby though.
|
|
Clifford Smith
Logan, UT
|
|
Travis
Guest
Joined: September 23 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 621
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 28 2005 at 8:50am |
lol, no this is something I've wanted to do for a while... just a curiosity thing.
|
|
jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 28 2005 at 9:28am |
FWIW, power factor is almost a non-factor in single phase electricity (residential power). Power factor is very important in three phase supply (industrial power). But I've never seen a power factor greater then 1, it's always somewhere less then that. So power at the meter (what you pay for) is actually greater then what the motor used.
I've used an amp meter on my tank to measure the power draw of the various components. The actual draw was very close to the nameplate data on pumps and ballasts.
Hey adam, do you want to me bring home an amp meter again and systematical measure the draw on all the various components in my system?
|
|
|
|
Adam Blundell
Presidency
Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
Status: Offline
Points: 18526
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 28 2005 at 10:57am |
Jon- YES YES YES! In fact I may be bringing my conductivity meter and my multi meter to your house this weekend. I'll be at Jeff's on Sunday afternoon, maybe your house afterward.
Thanks
Adam
|
|
Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
|
|
Travis
Guest
Joined: September 23 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 621
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 28 2005 at 11:43am |
A power factor can not be greater than 1. A PF of 1 means Apparent Power = True Power. Power factors do exist in residential power and in single phase motors. I do agree it's not worth looking at though.
Jon, didn't you report an MH ballast that was testing way high?? What became of that??
|
|
