SAFFABOY Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Does anyone know how to work out what total electricity consumption you are using a month on your tanks .Also how that equation can help you work out cost of your tank a month in electricity bills. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 List down every piece of electrical equipment in the tank(s) - If you have a spreadsheet it makes this easier. Then beside each item list the wattage of the item. Then calculate how long each is on per day - remember things like heaters only on about 1/4 of the time even tho continuously plugged in. You then can multiply the watts by the hours per day and then multiply that by 30 - days in the month - divide this answer by 1000 to get back to Kilowatts which is what the power is billed in. Then you need to multiply that by the rate your power coy charge you per kilowatt - continuous useage rate - easy ( ( appliance watts * hours used per day * 30 (days in month) )/ 1000 ) * Kw rate charged by the power company. Heater 300w 300 * 6 hours * 30 = 54000 / 1000 = 54 Kw * 17cents = $9.18 per month average Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluetom Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 the problem with that is 300w uses less power to heat 250L than 300L. I think someone made a snazzy device that your can use on single wires or on a fuse in the fuse box that tells you the power consumption. You can also put in the cost leave it for a month and it will tell you what the cost was. Only prob is all your tanks have to run of one or two fuses, or a single plug. I think the energy comission or someone has them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 I'd like to find an inexpensive power meter that plugs straight into an outlet then you plug the tank into it. I usually use 1 watt continuous per 2 liters of water for the heating. So for my 440 I'd call that 220 watts. Probably isn't quite that much and definitely a lot less in the summer, but then I don't have to worry about things like lighting actually using more power than the wattage of the bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Have a look at your power bill. :roll: If you remember the time in the dim dark past, when you weren't infected with the fish-bug, what your power bill was then. Deduct that off what you have now and then hide from the missus. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Just made for your query http://www.algone.com/energy_consumption_pf.htm Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Grant was going to write me an article on this very subject! Thanks for the link Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 thankfully heating this winter cost more than my little reef tank i can now justify having a bigger reef tank wife and children will just have to go cold next winter (that or find a more economical way of heating the house) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhindry Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I have one of these.... http://www.centameter.co.nz/ Have had it connected to the phase wire feeding the fuse that powers my tanks etc. It gives you total current draw, wattage being used. Temperature and Humidity of room. It also allows you to put in the current price of power and it will tell you, how much power you are using. The transmitter and Receiver are wireless so you can mount it somewhere you can see it Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 wife and children will just have to go cold next winter (that or find a more economical way of heating the house) maybe you could keep fishtanks under the beds and chairs as a new and original central heating idea :lol: :lol: Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 thankfully heating this winter cost more than my little reef tank i can now justify having a bigger reef tank wife and children will just have to go cold next winter (that or find a more economical way of heating the house) They could always just hug the nice big reef tank?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Just made for your query http://www.algone.com/energy_consumption_pf.htm Alan 104 The Formula Watts x hours x kWh cost x 30 = monthly electrical cost of the aquarium The formula is incorrect - You need to convert the watts to Kw by dividing by 1000 - or you'll be forecasting an enormous power bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAFFABOY Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Thanks for the replies guys. TANKSMAN- i figured that,that equation was wrong.Worked it out though quickly.Good for others though. Hey Brian,if you reading this...WHAT'S YOUR BILL..HEY HEY???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 200 in winter 80 in summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Sounds like time to invest in pink batts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 So this:- Watts x hours x kWh cost x 30 = monthly electrical cost of the aquarium . Should read this?? Watts/1000 x hours x kWh cost x 30 = monthly electrical cost of the aquarium . Thanks for that Tanksman. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 No Sweat Alan - Good site though presenting the information clearly. Recently been through the exercise myself in response to monthly power bill skyrocketing - Turned out was the oil cloumn heaters we have all over the house - combine that with leaving windows open for the cats and :evil: . Never Mind - At least it wasn't the aquarium's - They come in at $40 a month - and bound to get worse over the coming winters. :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhindry Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Maybe a good excuse to purchase a nice outdoor spa pool and install a heat exchanger for the fish tanks to keep them warm Only have to pay to keep the spa pool running now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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