house electric question

JDgreen227 · Jan 29, 2005

Going to toss in my nickle...we had a 900 square foot house with an electric water heater, during the winter months our electric bill was usually about $80 per month...that cost included operating a well pump and 3 outdoor security lights (sodium, and very efficient). We built on an additional 1450 square feet with a second furnace and converted to a gas water heater...even with all the additional lighting our electric bill stayed pretty stable. Most electric heaters are a MAJOR part of the total use...I estimate ours accounted for at least a third of our total bill when we had it.

Get this, I am the one who pays the electric bill at our house, and my wife is the one who always gripes about me leaving lights on. Of course, it's okay if she turns on the TV and leaves it on the entire day, even when not watching it. About three years ago we were discussing ways we could cut back the electric use, I had this brochure from our utility company, and it said using the overhead garage door opener twice a day cost about 50 cents a month at the current electric price per kw/h. I told her maybe she could start opening and closing the door by hand so we could save two cents a day.

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Know what she said...next time you use the toaster maybe you could put four slices of bread into two slots and then you would save the same two cents a day.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

geneP · Jan 29, 2005

"I estimate ours accounted for at least a third of our total bill when we had it"

I was a serviceman for a power company when our two kids were teen agers. I put a meter on my water heater for a year. With all the showers, clothes washing, etc, the heater accounted for 60% of the kwh usage in that time.

I agree with some of the other comments. The unnecessary use of any energy, be it a light bulb or under-utlilized gas-guzzling vehicles, is pure waste. I'm not a tree hugger or other fanatic, but all these small extravagances put together are drain on our natural resources.

Inspector507 · Jan 29, 2005

as for the bend radius i was never aware of any spec on this 

On single conductors pulled through conduit, you're correct, the restriction is on the conduit bends. And yes it for pulling, but also to prebvent damage during the whole time the conductor is in there under load.
But, there is a restriction on the radius on every type of cable assembly. Such as NM cable (Romex) can only be bent( radius) to 5 times the diameter of the cable. ANd that's after it's been pulled through what ever.

johnday · Jan 29, 2005

Scott; My first MIL was thrifty [cheap] herself. She'd go as far as removing bulbs from multilight fixtures to save money. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif That was pretty aggravating considering some of those lights were mine. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif One day I had a brainstorm. I told her that removing bulbs like that would leak "lecturk" all over the house, and could cause cancer. She immediatly replaced all the missing bulbs. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Junkman · Jan 29, 2005

Guess that she wasn't the brightest bulb either.....LOL.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

mrcaptainbob · Jan 30, 2005

When we lived in S.E. Michigan we had the separate meter with the lower rate on the water heater. That usually was about 20 bucks a month. The rest of the house was usually around 120. My wife, too, is a lights on fanatic. As many tv's on as possible, too. Here's the down side. SHe leaves the drawers open about an inch or two! I had to retire to just keep up with the turning off the lights and tv's all day! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

AndyM · Jan 30, 2005

SHe leaves the drawers open about an inch or two! 

We have a dog who goes around the house closing any drawers that are open. We have to show off her ability when company comes over.
Now if I could just teach her how to turn off the lights...

Junkman · Jan 30, 2005

The wife or the dog???????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

AndyM · Jan 30, 2005

The wife or the dog???????? 

The dog goes around closing drawers.
I generally don't have a problem with the wife leaving lights on, but I would love to teach the dog that trick too. The wife's issue is changing my setting on the thermostat. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif