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Thread: q/t heating cost.
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16-12-2018, 10:16 AM #1
q/t heating cost.
I have a 500 watt heater in my 400gal tank controlled by an Elitec thermostat,it is well insulated but takes ages to heat up when the temp drops.
The Elitec is set to have 0.5 deg drop difference,if i had 1kw heater in there ok it uses more electric and shouldnt be on as long but would it cost a lot more to run?
Dont really want to up my electric bill but would i benefit cost wise useing a bigger heater?
John
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16-12-2018, 12:05 PM #2
The specific heat capacity of water is
4.186 KJ/KG/degree C.
This means it takes a set amount of energy to heat the water to what you want, using the formulae this can be calculated.
So it all comes down to heat losses, if the current heater is always on and struggling to keep up a bigger one will be capable of using more energy, costing more, but the tank will be heated to what you want.
Insulation is the important detail. If it's not lost it doesn't need to be reheated. If it's just for a faster initial warm up period and then it turns of then in theory the bigger unit will cost the same to run.
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16-12-2018, 01:35 PM #3
Thats what i was wondering Simon,if i doubled the wattage it doubles the cost but balances out in the long run.
John
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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16-12-2018, 03:33 PM #4
bigger heater wont cost any more to run at all, because it will be on a lot less, as said its all about insulation really.
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16-12-2018, 08:16 PM #5
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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17-12-2018, 11:13 PM #6
John
My 3 KW is hardly ever on in my 900L IBC. It clicks on for a few mins and goes off again and is off for ages. My tank, as yet is not insulated, but it is in a heated room. However the theory is the same, power consumption makes no difference regarding the size of the heater if its thermostatically controlled. If its putting in less power Its just on longer.
Steve,.
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18-12-2018, 01:15 AM #7
Simon fish is 100% correct.
Alex
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18-12-2018, 08:12 AM #8
Thanks all,logically to think that it would cost the same but just wanted it verified,it holds the temp a good while it is just when it drops it takes ages to catch up again.
Insulated as best i can.John
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