Please Advise

Magentasue

I'd forget about how much it's costing - well, no, you can't forget it - and think in terms of kwh used. You can change your tariff/supplier to pay less but you need to find out why you're using so much.

How about turning everything off for a day (preferably when you're out!) and meter reading so you can see how many units your fridges and freezers use and come up with a daily figure? Then the next day, just put your fish tanks on for a few hours and work out the hourly usage.

You'll then know your 'background' usage. You have to time these things over hours because their energy draw fluctuates. I don't know how long it has to be to make it meaningful - that's where these plug in monitors are useful.

espresso

Magentasue wrote: »

How about turning everything off for a day (preferably when you're out!) and meter reading so you can see how many units your fridges and freezers use and come up with a daily figure? Then the next day, just put your fish tanks on for a few hours and work out the hourly usage.

Wouldn't be any point, if the fish were already dead.

:eek:

whatatwit

Do you have an Aldi nearby, they are selling the energy monitors for £6.99 (thanks espresso) They are the ones that plug in to the socket and you plug the appliance through them.
Whilst it would take over a week, you could use one of these over 24 hours on your fishtanks and your freezers and try and see what is consuming the electric.

brysiewysie

My suspicion would be around how much the fish tanks are taking. I've no experience of fish tanks but I'd get the maplins (or similar) plug and put it on the fish tank plug(s) for 24 hours and see what the cost is.

If you religiously use this 'maplins' plug testing what all appliances draw even when they seem to be turned off you will find some suprises.

If you can get one of the maplin type plugs I'm sure it will pay for itself within 12 months, if not much quicker.

Magentasue

espresso wrote: »

Wouldn't be any point, if the fish were already dead.

:eek:

Very true! I misread OP, thinking they were turned off at night. Shows what I know about fish! I'm assuming they need to be on 24/7? Shan't be getting any of those then!

BOJANGLES_4

brysiewysie wrote: »

My suspicion would be around how much the fish tanks are taking. I've no experience of fish tanks but I'd get the maplins (or similar) plug and put it on the fish tank plug(s) for 24 hours and see what the cost is.

have just asked a proffessional fishkeeper how much it cost to run 3 foot tank- he says about £2.20 a month , so i dont hink its the tanks ,cos we had this problem before we had tanks aswell

Magentasue

BOJANGLES wrote: »

have just asked a proffessional fishkeeper how much it cost to run 3 foot tank- he says about £2.20 a month , so i dont hink its the tanks ,cos we had this problem before we had tanks aswell

Aha! I've found the very thing:

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/electrical_costs.php

Let us know! I'd still worry more about the immersion heater.

BOJANGLES_4

just checked meter and we have used £2.03 overnight , and the immersion didnt come on at all all we had on was our tv and shawns tv watching football ,

brysiewysie

BOJANGLES wrote: »

just checked meter and we have used £2.03 overnight , and the immersion didnt come on at all all we had on was our tv and shawns tv watching football ,

Which if that was all at the night rate is the equivilent of over 40Kwh. I use approx half that it a day (4 bed, 5 occupants - 4 of which are adults). Even if the standing charge has been taken in that £2.03 that's a lot of power overnight, even taking into account some will be at day rate (and therefore a lot under 40kwh)

KimYeovil

I think the CID should be informed about the freezers.