In terms of electricity calculation: Heaters?

[JLAudio]

Im trying to estimate my tanks cost in electricity per month. Con ed just told me a Killowatt Hr. is at 10cents per hour, but im struggling to figure out how to gage them. They often run at a high wattage. In mt 125 I have 2 150 watt (300 total).

How many hours should I put it in for to get a decent estimation?

Thanks All!

 

[JLAudio]

Any thoughts guys? Sorry I got calculator and trying estimate tank usage

 

[Domboski]

Are you asking how long you need to leave the heaters on to get an estimation on usage with a Kill-a-Watt meter?

I would leave them on normally and measure the wattage used over a week period. Use the average daily use to calculate monthy usage. Remember that your average use will go down in the summer for your heater.

 

[hijinks]

I think smaller tanks cool down quicker then larger tanks.. so it really depends on a lot of factors.. size of tank.. room temp.. probably equipment used.

 

[JLAudio]

The reef tank calculator on reefcentral has the heater and chiller preset for 12 hrs. and was surprised how many watts they draw. At that rate the heater is more than my lighting system

 

[hijinks]

my electricity bill jumped about $40 a month for my 46g.. here is what i have that is major drawing power

1/10 chiller.. hardly ever comes on..
250 watt heater
150w MH with dual 96w
pumps/powerheads.. total maybe 120w

my MH are on around 6 hours a day.. others 10..

I keep my room around 65 when we are home.. heat is off when we are out of the house.

 

[prattreef]

I don't think Con Ed charges 10 cents per killowatt hour. I think it is closer to 20 cents if not higher.

 

[prattreef]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11182008/news/regionalnews/con_ed_price_slice_139283.htm

 

[Domboski]

Our calculator is a little more flexible: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/calculators

Your heater is not going to run 12 hrs straight (obviously). You are better off buying a watt meter from newegg.com (I think they are around $10) and measure your usage over a week. The alternative is guessing how many hours your heater is actually on per day. I doubt yours is on 12 hours straight.

What is your usually tank temperature versus your room temp?

 

[Wes]

it varies tank to tank... i found that my heater never turns on, but the chiller kicks on a few times a day.

 

[JLAudio]

I don't think Con Ed charges 10 cents per killowatt hour. I think it is closer to 20 cents if not higher.

I just talked to employee today and thats what he told me, the number is 1800 775 6633, I really hope the guy wasnt just giving me a blind figure. Ive always heard it was closer to 20 but Hope it is the 10 rate I got today

 

[Wes]

I just talked to employee today and thats what he told me, the number is 1800 775 6633, I really hope the guy wasnt just giving me a blind figure. Ive always heard it was closer to 20 but Hope it is the 10 rate I got today

there are tiers based on usage...

the bottom tier could be 10 cents but when you get into tiers 2 and 3 it goes up alot.

 

[JLAudio]

I do find that my tank tends to get into the low 80's if I keep both heaters in but will drop to 76 or so when I unplug second one, so Im having trouble stabilizing it and trying not to run chiller till I need it

 

[Killerdrgn]

it may be 10 for just electricity but then they add in transmission fees and taxes and other miscellaneous charges.

 

[JLAudio]

Ok so my estimated calculation doesnt seem to have any validity with all these variables (i.e tier level, killowatt hr. controversy etc) well I guess Ill see what im looking at, Id love to see 50-75 for the whole apt by myself but I think $100+ is more realistic

 

[ming]

it may be 10 for just electricity but then they add in transmission fees and taxes and other miscellaneous charges.

yeah, there's a delivery fee per kwh which pushes it up over 20 cents per kwh