electric bill - please help

[merredeth]

Originally Posted by Agent707
Just take the "wattage" from each device and add them up, just as you would the light bulbs. Above calculator will do fine.
The formula it uses is simple. Take the 4 input values and multiply them all together and multiply that by .00001.
(watts)*($./KwH)*(Hrs)*(30)*.00001 = $monthly cost.
Say e.g. Heater is 300 watts. Figure it runs about half the amount of time your lights do, so add that to.
Heater 300/2 = 150 watts
Lights 750 watts
Pumps of all sorts, 200 watts all day would be 400 watts 12 hours.
750+150+400 = 1300 watts.
Plug 1300 watts into the calcultor with the other parameters to get your total approx cost of your aquarium per month.
Yes, it is expensive. $25 per month is very believable for a 100+ gal tank.
That's super and my thanks to you once again!
One thing I should clarify in his arguement is that he stated the lighting ONLY was costing that much. I knew it couldn't. However, it does explain multiple tanks and the increase we have seen in our electric bill.
But, like I told my husband this hobby is NOT a place to EVER cut expenses. There is so much excess in the typical household that is running unnecessarily that one should begin with an energy audit and look at EVERYTING that is plugged into outlets or hard wired.
Again, many thanks!
Denise M.

 

[yimmy]

yeah...my 95gal FOWLR w/ 130w lights, only added 4$ to our electric bill...my parents love me. THere were expecting at least 100$

 

[agent707]

Sorry, I just noticed your total KWH usage for 1 month. 2055! Looks like they hit you hard for usage over the maximum daily usage by .10 per KwH. Ouch.
Get GAS Heat is all I can tell ya.

 

[merredeth]

Originally Posted by Agent707
Sorry, I just noticed your total KWH usage for 1 month. 2055! Looks like they hit you hard for usage over the maximum daily usage by .10 per KwH. Ouch.
Get GAS Heat is all I can tell ya.
Unless he lives in the Sonora area I just can't see needing heat in California. I live in Iowa, and believe me - you need all the heat you can get when you have over thirty windows in your house and glass walls of windows at that!
I close my four season sunroom off for the winter and reduced propane usage by just under half this year!
You can bet as much as I love my sunroom as a santuary as long as the price of propane is as high as it is there will be no winters with the sunroom open.
The Munchkin boiler system is 97 percent efficient and I am so glad I purchased it rather than a middle of the road brand. I don't even want to imagine what my heating costs would have been this year. :scared:
Denise M.

 

[fishy7]

Our house is all electric. Based on the rates of natural gas, I am happy about it. I did an audit on energy consumption and here is what I found/did.
1) Changed all bulbs to energy efficient.
2) Timers on regualr used lights(outside)
3) Dimmers on lights used inside.
4) Know your big hogs- a/c/heat, water heater, oven and try to save in this area.
5) Looking into instant hotwater heaters....want to do away with water heater.

Hope this helps.

 

[calirob]

OK, Guys, I have gas heat and even that hasent been on. We have a few computers on all day. and some recessed lighting. House is 1400sf
Back to the ballast...Is this my problem? If I get electric ballast will the cost of electricty be much different? I have core ballast now

 

[pfitz44]

yes. The magnetic ballasts are very inificient compared to the electronic ones. To give you an idea, there should be a nameplate on it somewere with a % impeadance. This value is how much waste electricity there is just heating up the core of the ballast.

 

[moneyman]

HQI ballast draws much more power than standard ballast. What is the manufacture of your ballast? PFO? Who makes your bulb?
I say your ballast draws about 350 watts per bulb.

 

[misfit]

what name brand ballast do you have now? I would suggest getting an Icecap ballast part number IC-250-MH-125V. We have these same light wattage and ballast and we dont find that it increased our electic bill that much.

 

[fishy7]

Originally Posted by PFitz44
yes. To give you an idea, there should be a nameplate on it somewere with a % impeadance. This value is how much waste electricity there is just heating up the core of the ballast.
I take it, larger the number = more waste? PF do you know what a good number is to shoot for when shopping?

 

[pfitz44]

0 :hilarious
But in all seriousness, get an electronic one... there are far more efficient.... shoot me an email patrickfitzgerald@azz.com

 

[fishy7]

Originally Posted by PFitz44
0 :hilarious
But in all seriousness, get an electronic one... there are far more efficient.... shoot me an email patrickfitzgerald@azz.com
sent

 

[calirob]

Here is my light set up..I got it on another website..-
Question is, Can I use these bulbs with a different ballast?
What kind is this..? And is it possible that the ballast pulls 300watts and then add the bulb at 250? Please explain
This unit is Amazing! Plug and Play ready to go upon arrival!
Unit Comes with 2 - 20,000 hr. German Style Reef Grow bulbs- 10k or 20k - Please specify the color bulbs you would like in your payment or you will be sent bulb of our choice.
Curved spider reflector makes unit 99% more reflective than normal reflectors- life with out a good reflector is very dark in your tank!
Unit Shows 2 Reflectors - You will Receive 3
Long German Polished Aluminum reflector included as well a 36 inch or 48 inch reflector- Please specify size reflector you would like in your payment and you will receive - If not specified we will send size of our choice.
Comes with 5 year warranty m58 advanced ballast- enclosed in aluminum box that is 12 inches wide and 8 inches long.
8 foot metal halide quick disconnect chords are included.
Unit is made in the United States by Catalina Aquarium - The entire unit has a 1 year warranty.
Power chord is 8 feet long- can be lengthened per custom request.

 

[moneyman]

Originally Posted by calirob
What kind is this..? And is it possible that the ballast pulls 300watts and then add the bulb at 250? Please explain
I cant explain... probably has to do with power factor of AC circuit.
But, google "Sanjay's Reef Lighting Info Pages" to see some power inputs on different ballasts and bulbs.

 

[calirob]

anyone? thanks in advance

 

[nytrillium]

yes. every time you convert elctricity there is the potential for loss. It looks like that is an electronic ballast and that is far more efficient. Core & coil ballasts are horribly inefficient and can use almost double the wattage of the bulb you are trying to light.
Those are HQI bulbs and no you acnt use them with any ballast other than a 250 watt ballast. You have to match the ballast with the bulbs.

 

[agent707]

What do you mean, it "looks like"....? You can't tell. It's incased! :hilarious
They make incasings like that for every type of ballast out there.

 

[nytrillium]

I say looks like because of the relative size. The transformers for the Core & coil are larger... I dont know for sure...

 

[pfitz44]

That size could be anything....
On the wattage thing, what ever the ballast states, is what the light will operate at. Your ballast may say 300W, but that is because it is also measuring the power loss that goes into heating the core, and leakage currents.
NY, i definitly wouldnt say twice the wattage. thats a little excissive...

 

[misfit]

I looked on the web site which is kind of poor.does not really give a descripton on the product at all.
Did the equipment come with and manual explaning anything.Look for electrical specifications of something to that area.maybe it might say it on the box if it is a electronic ballast or coil.Or open the box and take a look in side and post a pick.
Im running 3 x 250 HQI with Icecap ballasts and that added about 25 extra a month.
IMO If you are a 100% sure thats your electrical bill problem Sell off the light kit on ---- and buy electronic ballasts.If you want to email me Ill give you a place thats pretty cheap which might be close to you (menlo park?) sanderson416@comcast.net