Feelers Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 They are all required to take your reading, if you question it(at least thats what I remember from Target ). Definately look into it, thats quite a big bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 same topic http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/how-much-is-your-power-bill-vp105573.html#105573 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 About $300 I had one month in winter of $500 not good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Got mine today. $201 Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted February 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2006 I bought a centameter off trademe a couple days ago, should get it tomorrow hopefully. Im going to hook it up to the RCD circuit that runs the sump room and main tank (the only thing not on that circuit is the closed loop but could probably guesstimate that cost) will keep ya'll posted, will be interesting to see what the ongoing cost to this little hobby is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted February 27, 2006 Report Share Posted February 27, 2006 Nice one 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickyboi Posted February 27, 2006 Report Share Posted February 27, 2006 Mine is free, the thief I caught stealing my fish last year has been chained up to a bicycle that generates power through my little home made generator. I suppose the only cost is the odd case of Red Bull when he's tired. I hate power bills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted February 27, 2006 Report Share Posted February 27, 2006 $180.00+ a month estimate, total power bill $400.00 a month. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted February 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 I got the Centameter tonight, what a cool device!!! Even happier coz I got it for $50 on Trademe, usually around $140 new The main display is a "cent/hour" costing on your power. Right now (with the dryer on) its showing 42.8 cents/hour (that's based on 11.9cents per kw - this is what Genesis charge during the day and about 9 cents per kw at night. You can only specify a single per kw $ rate so I opted for the day rate since thats when most of the power is used) Incidentally, I turned the Dryer off and it drops to 21 cents/hour! Thats 20 cents/hour to run a dryer (and the toaster is about 10 cents per hour!) Funny these figures dont seem much, but when you start adding it up it costs quite a bit over a month. Anyways, I did a test on the tank. At 10pm when the halides went off (3 x 150W), it dropped by 7 cents/hr. Halides are on for 10 hours a day so thats 70 cents a day or $21 a month (however I still have to add 4 x T5's at 52W each so would guesstimate another $10 a month on top of that) I did the same for the sump room plus closed loop and streams and it dropped by around 6 cents/hr. At 24 hours a day thats $1.44 a day or $43.20 a month. So far a total (including T5's when they go in) of about $74 a month. This price does not take into account the chiller or heaters (they are currently off as the tank temp is stable at 25 degrees) It also does not take into account things like the lighting over the refugium (currently on), topup pump and also the zeovit pump (which alternates on 3hrs, off 3hrs - not even sure whether it was on or off when i did the test) The other thing to look at is the way power companies charge you - they usually do a "per unit" + "per day" costing. For example, 11.9cents per kw at day, 9.0 cents per kw at night and 100 cents (roughly) a day. The day rate is charged no matter what, so you can argue you have to pay this anyway and should not be included in the overall tank power cost. The Centameter is definately a cool device and its very interesting to see what consumes the most power. I've been turning different devices on and off all night to see what effects it has The TV takes up bugger all power which I was surprised at. As usual, heating type devices cost most such as toaster, dryer and when shower goes on, hot water cylinder heats up cents/hr usage goes up quite a bit. Oh, and it also shows you temperature, humidity, kW's currently being used, Amps currently being used and greenhouse gases emitted (if you're into that sort of thing ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Your power is cheap. Mine costs $0.16 per unit. I think I might need to research power company rates. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 My rate is the same as yours Steve 0.16 hr. Has been fixed at that for the last year or so. Thought i was getting a good rate. Mind you they do give a early pay discount as well. Chimera turn on your oven if it is electric then watch the jump in price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted February 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Your power is cheap. Mine costs $0.16 per unit. I think I might need to research power company rates. check how much your daily rate is - maybe thats low? or maybe its just a wellies thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveA Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Maybe you have a special deal. I have been onto the interweb and it (govt site) showed pretty much the same current price for AK and WN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feelers Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 It's 0.13 here in Chch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 I was looking at a switched on gardener catalog yesterday and see they sell light moving rails, motors, controllers, etc. Currently I have three lights each running for 6-7 hours starting at one end of the tank and switch on/off as they go. Seeing the moving light got me thinking, is there any reason I couldnt just use 1 light and have it move across the tank, I figure each coral would get a similar amount of light hours I just wouldn't have the whole tank lit at once, and I would save 2/3 power and replacement bulbs etc, this would soon pay for the $600 odd to set up the moving light?? Even if I upgraded the light from 250w to 400w it would still be far less power than the 750w (3x250) I currently use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 I've looked at those rails too. I don't know if you would want to drop to 1 bulb, but certainly could be done by going to 2, which would have a saving and also make coral colour better as the hot spot would move accross the tank! Do it! Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted February 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 hell yeah! do it and document it on this site so we can all learn from your mistakes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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