Power usage

reeferfoxx · Jul 18, 2016

Isn't it true though, if something is plugged in, despite being turned on or not, that device still is using energy? If I'm right, and I'm confident that I am, it is silly to say your heater or dual heats only work X amount of time per year? It would be true that they using max wattage part of the year, but the off times are still using small amounts. That is why they say to unplug your devices to conserve energy. That said, nobody will unplug their heaters lol

TheEngineer · Jul 18, 2016

Anything electronic will always use some amount of energy, yes. It would depend on the type of thermostat used by the heater too. Let's just assume it is electronic. Most of these kinds of circuits draw milliamps while in this standby mode. Let's just pull a random number and say that it uses a watt of power (it shouldn't be anywhere near that, but I like round numbers). If it uses 1 watt continuously, 365 days a year that will be 8.76 kWh/year. At my rates that equates to about $0.96.

That said, it is good practice to unplug things that aren't in use. If everyone reduced their power draw my a few kWh per year, we'd make an impact.

domination2580 · Jul 18, 2016

ngvu1 said:
How big is the "holding tank for curing rock"? 800W running 24/7 could really do some damage. I don't see how the heaters are connected at this time of the year. What is your temperature nowadays?....Anyway, I runs $35 for my 85 gallon tank and that is about 300KWatts a month for the tank alone.

Just a half of a 55 gallon barrel. Amd is not in ac so it stays warm easily amd heater is barely on.

domination2580 · Jul 18, 2016

Modost said:
did you plug in air conditioners the same time? if the room is cold the heaters will be working over time plus the cost of the ac's going

Only one tank is in ac. Ac is set to 70. Tank is set to i believe the same

domination2580 · Jul 18, 2016

I'm thinking its the ac. It's a central air unit that keeps the house 70 and we have had some hot days of 90+

morpheas · Jul 18, 2016

If you have an increase in your electrical bill at any given time HVAC is the number one source, especially if your setpoint is not achievable (which might cause harm to the system as well). Don't look at the tank... The AC is like the big elephant in the room ;)

AZDesertRat · Jul 18, 2016

Go to Home Depot or Lowe's or even some WalMarts and get a Kill A Watt meter. One of the best $25-$30 you will ever spend.
I cut my power bill $75 a month by getting rid of MH and VHO lighting in favor of AI Sol Blue LEDs, dumping the chiller and going to more efficient pumps and powerheads. The meter doesn't lie and it can be used on anything 120v.

AZDesertRat · Jul 18, 2016

Go to Home Depot or Lowe's or even some WalMarts and get a Kill A Watt meter. One of the best $25-$30 you will ever spend.
I cut my power bill $75 a month by getting rid of MH and VHO lighting in favor of AI Sol Blue LEDs, dumping the chiller and going to more efficient pumps and powerheads. The meter doesn't lie and it can be used on anything 120v.

Scubabum · Jul 18, 2016

I was getting killed on Electric bill, from tank, hot tub, etc.. I switched over to SunRun Solar and cut my bill to less than half.

domination2580 · Jul 18, 2016

Converting over to solar is costly here. So i dont think is an option. Also i wish people would get the fact that 98% of the time of you run a hvac your going to see an increase of electric....is pretty plain amd simple to me and most common sense people...

domination2580 · Jul 18, 2016

AZDesertRat said:
Go to Home Depot or Lowe's or even some WalMarts and get a Kill A Watt meter. One of the best $25-$30 you will ever spend.
I cut my power bill $75 a month by getting rid of MH and VHO lighting in favor of AI Sol Blue LEDs, dumping the chiller and going to more efficient pumps and powerheads. The meter doesn't lie and it can be used on anything 120v.

That's what I'm looking into right now. But i dont want to come off as a jerk to the person who has blamed me for the increase by showering what I'm actually consuming and how little is actually costing.

Modost · Jul 18, 2016

them central ac's will hike the bill up if used a lot if its running 10hours a day that'd add another $150 a month easy think they're around 3500watts

AZDesertRat · Jul 18, 2016

One thing that surprised me were the parasitic power draws on electronic equipment that was turned off but still plugged in. I bought several outlet strips and plugged things around the house into them that wouldn't lose memory if the power were really off, it added up.

IdahoReefMafia · Jul 19, 2016

210 DT, 65 gallon frag, 20 gallon refugium, 45 gallon custom sump, 900W worth ofheaters, vectra L1 pump, 3 Radion XR30W gen3, 2 Gyre 150, 4 bulb t5, tuna sun kessle. I think im around 60$ a month for power total bill last month was 180 but thats with cooling a 3000 square foot house and i have 2 refrigerators and a large freezer.

Pat924 · Jul 19, 2016

I have a. 90 gal a 75 gal and a 120
2 300 watt heaters
A 1/3rd hp chiller a reeflo baracuda a 24 mag drive
3 30 gyre 1 50 gyre a mp 40 3 tunze 6045
3 kessil 360 a quad t5 ho 5' a 4'double t5 2 50 watt led flood lights
An apex witth a bunch of extras
My bill is 175 a month total with my 1800 Sq ft house
You sir have a voltage leak or something

domination2580 · Jul 19, 2016

I found out the problem which had nothing to do with electricity itself but to make sure i have a gf after this post I'm going to leave it as problem solved