Induction and Increase in Electric Bill?
Colleen T
4 years ago
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Reducing electric bill by increasing power factor?
Comments (40)Brickeyee, I do know how much power I consumed on the days the testing occurred. I am one of those anal folk who keep a daily log (generally at 6:30 a.m. give or take 15 minutes) of power consumption. The first day of testing was Saturday October 11. 24 hours later the meter showed I consumed 46 KWH of power. The second day of testing was Sunday October 12. 24 hours later the meter showed I once again consumed 46 KWH of power. Similar temps. My results, therefore, are not meaningless. The unit works. That was the second tme I had done the test as recorded on the Tree Hugger forums, but only the first time I had published them. The first time I simply took the readings. The second time (published) I was carefult to record everything that was on/off, temps, times, etc. Short of taking the house into a laboratory, it doesn't get any better for real world testing. For those who utilize inductive motors such as found on heat pumps, hot tubs, freezers, refrigerators (no, they don't have to be old, either), this unit works well. If you don't have these types of units, don't buy one. You won't really get the benefit. The results are what they are. Sorry if you are one of those people who refuse to accept results that may run counter to your theory....See Moregas furnace usage equals rediculous electric bill?
Comments (22)"@snidely, during the heating months, how many hours is the heater on? I can say that my average usage per day is probably 1.5-2hours. Which leads me to think the usage is excessive." Yes, maybe 1 - 3 hours of actual running per day depending on the weather. Less on weekdays, more on weekends and when entertaining. Most Bay Area houses, other than new and carefully constructed ones. aren't particularly airtight nor well insulated. Older ones can be very wasteful to heat. The good news is that it doesn't get too cold. I've been here a long while and have concluded than other than being sure a good job is done when repair or replacement of equipment is needed, it's a waste of good thinking time to worry about trying to get significantly more efficient. The payback period for any major retrofits is very long. If you have double paned windows and check for big air leaks (like in ductwork), there's little else to do that'll show you any payback besides turning down the temp setting on your thermostat. THAT can make a noticeable difference....See MoreCan adjusting t-stat swing save on electric bill?
Comments (5)Actually, I can easily measure on and off times, because I work from a home office with a vent near my desk, so I arrived at my figures by looking at the clock on the computer when it would start blowing, and when it stopped. The times I quoted were for an average summer day here. (temps between 88-92 degrees) The run time is a bit longer on excessively hot days,(94+)and the off times a bit shorter, and during the hottest part of the afternoon, (4pm-6pm)but for the most part, what i quoted was fairly average. We're actually quite pleased with the new system. Even though our new home is only several years old, we replaced the existing 2.5 ton unit because it was just too small, and would run the entire time it was turned on, except during the evening when it cooled off below 83 outside, just to keep the house at 79. The resulting electric bills were horrific, so we rarely used it unless it was brutally hot outside. We actually enjoy the Florida weather, we moved here because we like to be warm, it's just that the humidity here on the coast (70-90% in summer) can get tiresome. This way, we get a break from the humidity, keep our house cooler than outside, but not so cool that we get climate shock when we go outdoors, and don't get an electric bill we cant handle. Many evenings, we'll turn off the AC and open windows when it gets down into the 70's at night, and turn it back on around 10 o clock the next morning when it starts getting warm again. Those evenings when there is little breeze, or when it's just super muggy, I have found we can still turn the AC off before we go to bed, and keep all the windows closed, and the house will only get 1 or 2 degrees warmer overnight. I heard that tip on an energy saving forum... so far, so good. I don't mind paying an extra 35-40 bucks a month to be comfortable all summer. The months when we only use the AC some of the days during the month, it dosen't cost us more than $20 as compared to the months when we have to use no heat or AC. Not to mention if everyone used their air conditioning more responsibly, it would go a long way towards lessening our carbon footprint, and place much less strain on the nation's already overburdened power grids. Dave...See MoreLarge increase in electric, gas rate-Green Plug user feedback?
Comments (15)As a resident of the Great, Benighted North-east ... let me ask ... anyone for conservation of energy? When my power went off - I went to my provincial gov't. rep's office to give him H-E double toothpicks. Due to traffic tie-up arrived 5 min. after closing (I think) but they were open. Couldn't afford to give him too much of a piece of my mind - conservation of mental capacity, don't you know. En route home, directed traffic for a while at substantial intersection in rush hour. Several said, "Thanks" or waved - one said, "Get off the street"! Several civilians in Toronto did likewise, we're told. Visited 87 yr. old uncle living alone after recent death of wife who, despite painful back, hip, leg insists on keeping some beef cattle, got candles out for him, showed him how to use battery radio (that he didn't know he had - I'd stayed with him for a while after his wife died last year). Glad I recently bought batteries for my $1.00-at-garage-sale radio. National broadcaster ran advice about need to turn everything off that we could, to reduce surge when reconnecting, and province-wide phone-in to share ideas. I pulled fuses from water heater connection - haven't replaced them yet, as they say we need severe conservation measures, at present, to avoid rolling blackouts. Shaved in reasonably hot water Sat. morning. Haven't bathed since - imagine I smell by now (but I live alone). Hope I don't suffer blackout right now, or I lose all my writing here. A guy called about 10:30 to cry about 400 lb. of meat that he had (perhaps fresh? which would mean that his window of opportunity to save it would be reduced over if it were frozen). I began calling with suggestions for him, in dark for a while until power returned about 11 - I was without for 7 hours only - plus a short interruption later. Line busy til 4 a.m. I suggested he find a van or pickup, load his freezer, put meat in, take substantial lunch, head for nearest rural area, go door-to-door asking for generator. I was sure he wouldn't go three miles till found farmer willing to fire up generator, freeze his meat. Lunch so he could stick around for repeat every half day or so, as needed, till power returned at his home. Lunch optional - most (traditional) farmers wouldn't see him go hungry. Twice in recent years I took portable generators to areas blacked out due to ice storm - once 500 miles away. I goofed Thursday evening - didn't get on phone to friends seeking generator. When I did, Fr. morning, couldn't locate one. Think I should try to compile database of generators possibly available and persons with major freezer stock - homeowners, small stores, etc. not hard-wired, with 220 volt systems, etc. in preparation for such an eventuality in future. One generator can travel from site to site to serve possibly a couple of dozen freezers - perhaps half an hour each, twice daily or less, depending on outside temp. Invite those of you with time, energy available in your area to do likewise. We've been asked to shut down all unnecessary power consuming systems, e.g. signage, billboards. Local grocery in plaza shut down lights in parking lot. Many non-essential govt offices told to stay closed and asking factories and commerce to try to keep consumption to half of normal usage for about a week. Can't understand how Times Square figures it should be lit as usual. Do they want to be shut down - again? They say that it's to be hotter and more humid during the next few days. Hope you don't suffer Benightedhood too often! joyful guy...See MoreColleen T
4 years agoSt561 W
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4 years agoSt561 W
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