SteveA Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 After about a month running off one, then two, seperate household circuits and without anything much on the safety side, I now have my tank running of its new, dedicated, power supply. We ran a 6mm cable from the upstairs meterboard though a 30Amp circuit breaker (both fuse and cable capable of powering a domestic oven) then through a check meter and down to a sub board just outside the room with the tank. This board has three 20Amp RCDs with circuits terminating just below the board. So I now have safety, increased redundency and will be able to tell exactly how much power the tank is consuming. Luckily, the only power issues I have had prior to this was the tank cutting out for a few hours, caused by some MHs coming on, when I initially had everything on just one household circuit. The next step is to line the wall, with ply since the sump will eventually go against it, then move most of the control and lighting equipment out from round the tank. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 How much did the check Meter cost you? and what are you using at the moment on a daily basis? I am tempted by a meter, but i can get a clamp meter off trademe for about $80 and my sparkie tells me they are as good as a fluke for domestic stuff..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 How much did the check Meter cost you? and what are you using at the moment on a daily basis? Meter cost about $150 I think (haven't got the bill yet). It is a wall mounted meter in its own small enclosure and has a rotating number wheel KWh readout just like the normal domestic supply meter. Don't know answer to 2nd question yet, as it all only went live last night about 18:00. I guess I will get my first idea when I get home tonight. Luckily the electrician who did the install job was my sisters partner, so I only have to pay for the parts. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 be interesting to see the $$$$ that gets spent on the power for the fish's (kindof depressing too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 be interesting to see the $$$$ that gets spent on the power for the fish's (kindof depressing too) I definitely expect depressing. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 i notice the americans complaining about the electric bill alot, i thought they got power alot cheaper than we do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 this trademe trader has GREAT prices on Electrical bits! http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/show_member_listings.asp?member=2082 his distribution boards and RCD's breakers etc are a good price..... my spare room is full of bits for the fish room, its going to have to be built soon so i can get my house back.... Tax man will want proff of power use.. may need meter after all according to my accountant.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeveus Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 Good idea, will be quite interesting once your bill arrives to see what kind of power your tanks are using. I myself has always wondered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 Tax man will want proff of power use.. may need meter after all according to my accountant.... Precisely the reason I installed one. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeveus Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 I take it you guys sell fish for a living and want to write off a percentage of your powerbill? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 i notice the americans complaining about the electric bill alot, i thought they got power alot cheaper than we do Nah, We're around what $.14nz per kilowatt hour? A lot of places in the US are paying $.20 US per kilowatt hour or more, I think. So, that's about $.28nz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 i thought that nuclear power was supposed to be cheaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 It probably would be if it wasn't for the hippies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 Depends where you are in the US, if you're in most parts of California, your screwed. There's not enough power to go around, so prices are sky high. Other places are dirt cheap compared to NZ. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 oklahoma here i come Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drifty Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 my brother got a meter from genisis power that plugs onto the main wire into the house. Its a digital readout that gives him the kilowatts being used currently in the house. He can tell exactly how much power he is using at any given time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 so what did that cost him?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 centameter - they're about $160, cheaper through some power companies apparently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 people who are affraid of the power bill shouldn't have big tanks or get a part time job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 Why waste $160 dollars knowing your spending too much on power. Ignorance is bliss (+ I can buy a few corals for $160). Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 Yeah, that $160 would be better spent on paying for the electricity your tank would use for a month or maybe two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 or maybe two how do i do that??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 Since when I got home last night the power was off to the entire area, and had been since about 13:30 (finally came back on just after midnight) I was only able to get an idea of how much power the tank used in the 20ish hours between strarting on the new circuits and the power going off. Even this makes sobering reading as it was 24 units, or $3.85. My next power bill will be interesting, as it will cover the first full month with the tank in operation. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 21, 2005 Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 That will only be $60-$80 a month, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted June 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2005 That will only be $60-$80 a month, According to my calcs it comes out at $115 for 30 days, and that was without extrapolating the 3.85 out from a 20 to a 24 hour period. Also note that the 4 hours it was off before I took the reading was a period when all the lights would normally have been on. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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