Power Consuption - Somthing is out of wack

b_james · #1 09-28-2007, 09:07 PM

I have been having some power issues for a while now. Back last spring I had Epcor come to the house on many occasions to run an analyzer on my meter as I was experiencing weird power problems. There report reveiled surprising results. There were momentary power draws of aprox 80 amps lasting for only a second or so. Epcor concluded that they could see anything adnormal. My power bills always seemed a bit high considering its only me in the house. My monthly power consuption has been about 40KWh / day. I calculated my aquarium should be drawing about 20KWh / day according to the nameplate info. There is NO WAY that I could be consuming 20 KWh/ day using a few lights, furnace fan and microwave twice a day for about 1.5 minutes. Is it possible that my aquarium is drawing WAY more power that what the published rating shows or could there be other factors contributing to this such as power leaking into the water? BTW I do have a grounding probe.

Sorry for the longwinded post... Its just if my power bill goes much higher than it is now, I may have to decommission my tank due to funds drying up.

fencer · #2 09-28-2007, 09:11 PM

I assume you cycle you lights. You should take some reading on your power meter just after the main tank lights go off and just before they go on. And the same when your mains are on.

b_james · #3 09-28-2007, 09:13 PM

What do you mean by cycle the lights? I do have them on a staggard timer.

fencer · #4 09-28-2007, 09:18 PM

I am assuming you turn your lights off on the tank for the night. and then have the fuge lights on.

b_james · #5 09-28-2007, 09:25 PM

The fuge light is on 24/7 I found when I turned off the light during the day, my macro algea deminished. I still think the pods in my tank are eating all the macro. not sure where its going.

mark · #6 09-28-2007, 10:00 PM

Insist that they replace your meter and 80 amp spikes, that sounds a little flaky.

Delphinus · #7 09-28-2007, 11:00 PM

What I would do is see about getting one of these Kill-A-Watt meters, and then testing every piece of equipment on the aquarium:
http://the-gadgeteer.com/review/kill..._usage_monitor

Once you have that info, you'll have a better idea if your bill is wrong.

I'm not sure where you can pick up one of these Kill-A-Watt meters. I did a search at canadiantire.ca and came up empty. Maybe Home Depot or Rona, or Home Hardware type places.

Or you can check out ebay, about $20 for one that way:
http://search.ebay.ca/search/search....att&category0=

andestang · #8 09-29-2007, 12:39 AM

I got mine from Home Hardware $29.00. After we moved my power bill doubled. Nothing changed from one house to the other.

fencer · #9 09-29-2007, 04:00 AM

I spoke to one of our electricians and the first thing he said is the meter out of whack or someone has tapped into your power(little paraniod on that one)

DanG · #10 09-29-2007, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

What I would do is see about getting one of these Kill-A-Watt meters, and then testing every piece of equipment on the aquarium:
http://the-gadgeteer.com/review/kill..._usage_monitor

Once you have that info, you'll have a better idea if your bill is wrong.

I'm not sure where you can pick up one of these Kill-A-Watt meters. I did a search at canadiantire.ca and came up empty. Maybe Home Depot or Rona, or Home Hardware type places.

Or you can check out ebay, about $20 for one that way:
http://search.ebay.ca/search/search....att&category0=

Problem with canadian tire, they only have a small portion of their actual product available on their website. I know I've seen them there before.