Slightly Blue Dalmation Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 any suggestions on calculating power usage and cost of running tanks? just out of interest and to assure flatmates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Find out how many cents per kW and its easy, except for heater cost(which is the main one) because you cant be sure how long its running for. You can also get power meters from jaycar and warehouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slightly Blue Dalmation Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 well my 5 tanks came to approx $20 a month haha so it not me making the power bills big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 All my tanks come to about $50-80 i think :-? I dont pay any of it though... Yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slightly Blue Dalmation Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 how many tanks you got? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 3 3foots setup,2 2foot,1jeboR338,2 30L, 1 25L. Our house doesnt really have much in the way of insulation. And the heat goes straight out the 8 thin windows upstairs :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slightly Blue Dalmation Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 ah yup, power sounds about right by looks of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 And soon to setup a 4foot with about 150-180W of lighting and 2 200W heaters :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Im going to try cut down to: 4foot South american/Discus tank-Planted so heaps of light 3foot South american tank-unplanted so wont need good light 3foot Axolotl tank-only got 23W of lights and no heater 100L discus growout tank-Will be turned into Lelupi or Jullie tank afterwards. And a couple small 'Breeding tanks" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slightly Blue Dalmation Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 my big tank has 120W light and 300W heater and with filter approx 64kw month so not too bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Argh thats not cutting down!!! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slightly Blue Dalmation Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 power approx 17c a kw so go from there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlid7 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 i think it costs about 50 a month for all my tanks currently about 35 tanks 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Ours is 16c 8) I dont know how many hours to count for the heaters :-? How did you work it out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 i think it costs about 50 a month for all my tanks currently about 35 tanks But your really only heating your biggest tanks,cause youve got insulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 When i drop off the angels im going to steal your insulation :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slightly Blue Dalmation Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 our lounge is quite warm so i approximated like 6 hours a day heating as all my tanks have lids so less air contact for cooling. if your worried about insulation just get some old poly boxes and cut them out and stick to tank surfaces that dont matter if cant see through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlid7 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 the discus tanks are being heated and the big tanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 My new 4foot is going in my room and that romm gets so insanely hot,il have to sleep with my window open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlid7 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 When i drop off the angels im going to steal your insulation :lol: there is alot of it lol pink batts polystyrene polythene the fishroom stays between 26 and 29 so its quite good really gopint to take the 550L tank out soon so not sure whats going to happen then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 The powerbill will go up! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Go to the warehouse, they have a meter that you plug in to find out how much power is being used. It's like $15. Buy it, use it, do a little math. It's easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 power approx 17c a kw so go from there thats not including gst is it? meridian is cheapest here in CHCH if ur flatmates complain , work out and tell them how much their 2kw fan and oilcolumn heaters (without thermostats) are using i think they will be shocked also in flats ovens use up to 8kw so if all up u are doin a lot of cooking that wont help. As for power meter if u buy the cheap multimeter type from tthe warehouse u will need to make a mini extension cord up and cut some insulation off the flexx as the clamp type meter will only work when when u are clamping 1 conductor clamping both cancels it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 As for power meter if u buy the cheap multimeter type from tthe warehouse u will need to make a mini extension cord up and cut some insulation off the flexx as the clamp type meter will only work when when u are clamping 1 conductor clamping both cancels it out You don't need any extension cord or cutting any insulation. You're just plain doing it wrong and need to smoke something a bit less mind altering if you are. Not the exact type the warehouse has but similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 You don't need any extension cord or cutting any insulation. You're just plain doing it wrong and need to smoke something a bit less mind altering if you are. Not the exact type the warehouse has but similar. i didnt know u could get those! i was talking about doiin it the old skool way using a clip-on ammeter and using power = voltage xcurrent converting it into Kwh and x the cost per unit, so these gadgets work out the Kwh or the rough amount in money that the appliances use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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