alpha010

I know the formula for cost of electricity and gass operated heaters rated by BTU's. Now, what if the heater is only rated by wattage? Nothing mentioning the BTU output. Also, roughly, how expensive would it be to run metal halide bulbs and such in my basement all year round?

I'm asking this because I want to try my hand at year-round indoor gardening and tropicals that are sub-8 foot tall range and my wife would kill me if our electric bill went up more than 10 bucks a month.

Thanx!
Shaggy

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JoeReal

Shaggy,

It is more complex to estimate. The best way is to measure your consumption with a device that you can buy from Best Buy. It is a plug-in device that goes into the outlet, and then you plug your devices unto it, and it will measure the amount of electricity consumed and the cost, if you know the unit cost.

The simplest formula would be to get your total wattage multiplied by the typical cummulative hours they are turned on each month, then divide by 1000, you'll get the kWH. Multiply the kWH by the unit cost, depending on your new tier level.

The 600 Watt MH lamps doubles as a heater, so let us say you use that 6 hours each day, so you'll get additional 108 kWH each month. Over here in California, at my current tier level of $0.35/kWH that would be $37.80/month just for the lamp alone. If you are in the $0.10/kWH level, that would be a reasonable $10.80/month additional.

I used to grow bananas in my garage during the winter, and it cost me more than $500 for additional electricity during the winter, and for what? Only growing two to three additional leaves. It is cheaper to buy replacement banana plants.

lorax

Shaggy, it may end up being more economical to build a passive solar atrium than to purchase heaters etc etc. If you've got a good south face, you can let the sun and your regular ambient heating do the work.

alpha010

Good info Joe, Thanks! I'll have to go check my unit prices.

Lorax, any sites, pics or build info you can point me towards?

NOW, what If I wanted to go Solar panels or Wind generators to run my lighting and heating for plants? Any one think that in the long run it will be very economical ( not to mention environmmentally helpful) to use those alternatives?

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lorax

I can photograph the plans in the passive solar architecture book I've got. If you're at all handy, it's a good summer DIY project, and it will also help reduce your heating bills.

If you've got the option, I'd go with wind over solar - panels are very costly at the outset and aren't the greatest efficiency-wise.

alpha010

That would be awesome lorax. I'm one of those guys that can and will do just about anything. And, as a bonus on that, my wife would be thrilled to lower our heating costs, especially during the winter when our use gets up to $400 a month!

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lorax

Geez, $400 a month! You're an ideal candidate for passive solar.

saltydad

Just want to second the motion to stay away from MH if you don't want higher bills. My 75 gal reef tank had 2 -400w MH, and my bill shot sky high. It was necessary, but in your case I'd def go with solar.

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alpha010

Yes, lorax, $400 a month for gas in my area is normal from october thru march. then in the summer its only like 35-50 bucks a month.

Thanks for the info Howard, I'll probably go flouresents. The twisty type bulbs actually put off a decent amount of heat AND now come in party colors!! Lol, I'm going to try the blue and red ones out in conjunction with my 4 foot fixture to see how well it does this year.

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Dalmatiansoap

I suggest flourescent light if U dont need heat for your plants. But ask wich ones cause these lamps are made for few very different reasons and they have wide light spectar.

P.S.
The most important here is that you allways pays for kWh and not for lumens, lux, volts, etc.Going on solar gives you good supply in summertime but in winter?

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TomK

Word of caution - both solar and wind are highly dependant on your location, wind especially. Doesn't make sense to plunk down $$$ on a windmill to not get enough wind.

alpha010

Oh I have zero problem with wind, no trees within 100 yards of me and a nice flat area about 30 feet higher that is a freeway that the wind just loves to pour over. In the winter, I can go outside for a half an hour and look like I have sunburn when in actuality it is windburn. If I were to measure it properly I would venture out on a limb and say at any given time in the day the wind is at least on average about 5-10 mph. And thats a calm day. So, if I pay (for arguements sake) $500 for a wind generator that can power at least 2 rooms or my entire basement fixturing, It would probably pay itself in roughly 3 years using normal incandescent bulbs and doing things like I normally do. If I go a bit greener and micro-adjust all my appliances, never use my central air, use flourescent bulbs everywhere and unplug anything that doesn't get used daily, I might please my financier (aka wifey) over time but the immediate cost would put her through the roof. Time to talk to wifey!

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Dalmatiansoap

Hmm. I bolive that for that money your windmill can have enough power for smaller fridge and maybe cellphone. U cannot just connect windmill on wiering you need a complete station.

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JoeReal

Excellent resource info for Do It Yourself Solar projects:
BuildItSolar: Solar energy projects for Do It Yourselfers to save money and reduce pollution

Solar Heater Designs
New and experimental solar projects and concepts* for do it yourselfers

alpha010

i would have to do some very heavy research on the wind aspect. But a buddy of mine has 3 of the mills themselves still sitting in the boxes in his garage, may hafta see if he is willing to part with one and experiment..........

thanx joe for the links!

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frog7994

is this just a on line subscription The Banana Quarterly?

lorax

Nope. This is a separate DIY project.

frog7994

well purchased a subscription and not received my magazine yet. Do you know how long will it will be?

alpha010

ummm.....james......wrong thread man.....

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