Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Electrical question amp calculations

When measuring amp usage with a clamp around amp meter I get same reading on the hot leg and the neutral leg of 2.2 amps each leg, So would the total amp draw be 4.4 the 2 totaled or would it be the 2.2

reason for asking is I am chasing down high usage appliance to see what is causing my high electric bill. I have 2 full size fridges and a small one for the cold beverages in the shop and 2 full size freezer 1 packed full and the other I noticed had a single bag of ice in it?

My aerator is using 1.0 amps 24 hrs a day I guess that =24 amps in a 24 hour period I dont think it would cut much cost to run it only at night what do you guys think.

I was told by my meter reader that they read the meter from right to left and round down to the nearest number. If so I think it was mis read last month or estimated because it was unseasonably cool and we only ran the ac for 1 week and it ended up being higher then the last month but I didn't remember to catch it until the next day. So now I am on a mission.

Just 2.2 Amps. Even the Electric Company only charges you once for each circuit.

Misread or estimated meter readings are no surprise.

If you don't want to empty out the basically unused deep freeze, fill it up with jugs of water and leave just the portion you want for food/popsicles/relatives waiting on reduced funeral costs. The bulk ice makes "thermal mass" which will reduce the freezer's electric usage.

the 2.2 was just 1 freezer that was running so the usage would only be calculated at 2.2 and not 4.4

Even in the winter I have around a 150-200 dollar bill and I heat with propane and wood heat

In the summer I leave the stat at 70 and use a small window unit in the bedroom and turn it on in the evening to cool down upstairs.

Guy I work with leaves his house stat at 68 and his bill is 90 bucks a month. I realize my house is bigger and older but dang.

How do I figure cost on the amps used I have seen this question before but I cant find it right now.

Billing is by "kilowatt-hours". One KW-H is 1000 watts running for a 1 hour duration. Power (wattage) is Voltage times Current (volts*amps); you 2.2 amps on 120 Vac = 2.2*120 = 2640 watts or 2.64 KW. This load (if constant) for 24 hours would be 2.64*24 = 63.36 KW-H.

IIRC $0.11 per KW-H is in the ball park for typical electrical billing, but it should list a figure on your electric bill.

Thank you,
Looks like they bill me @ .099 right now per kwh but since I am a good paying customer they are going to raise it 16% sep. 1, basically 10 cents per kwh use Tack on a customer charge of 9.89 and a Fuel adjustment clause or FAC of 9.93. I am not complaining because I know lots of folks that pay more then I do, just looking for the useless energy wasters. Hey for somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 bucks a month I will keep the beer fridge operating.

Looks like Theo slipped a digit on you. 2.2 amps X 120 volts = 264 watts not 2,640 watts. This is .264 KW per hour. On a monthly basis, that is X 24 hours/day X 30 days/ month or = 190 KW hours per month if it runs 100% of the time. This would cost $19 per month, but it should run less that that.

Looks like your beer is safe. Cheers

Take it from any engineer - being off by a decimal place doesn't count as an error.

I was wondering why that refrigerator was costing $37.50 a day to run.

You can always improve efficiency for the refrig by not opening the door as much. Grab 2 at a time.