Electric Heater Costs

anewloginapparently

Because I'm moving out next week I guess... 

macman

It's very simple. Each kwh rating on your electric heaters will cost your tariff kWh rate per hour. So, if your rate is 11p per kWh, your 1kW heater will cost 11p per hour to run, until such time as the 'stat cuts it out. Your 2kWh heater will cost 22p per hour, your 3kW heater 33p per hour, and so on. Every electrical device has a rating plate telling you how many watts it draws.

Verdigris

macman said:

It's very simple. Each kwh rating on your electric heaters will cost your tariff kWh rate per hour. So, if your rate is 11p per kWh, your 1kW heater will cost 11p per hour to run, until such time as the 'stat cuts it out. Your 2kWh heater will cost 22p per hour, your 3kW heater 33p per hour, and so on. Every electrical device has a rating plate telling you how many watts it draws.

Except it isn't as simple as that.

Gerry1

Verdigris said:

macman said:

It's very simple. Each kwh rating on your electric heaters will cost your tariff kWh rate per hour. So, if your rate is 11p per kWh, your 1kW heater will cost 11p per hour to run, until such time as the 'stat cuts it out. Your 2kWh heater will cost 22p per hour, your 3kW heater 33p per hour, and so on. Every electrical device has a rating plate telling you how many watts it draws.

Except it isn't as simple as that.

Please explain !

Verdigris

Electricity converts to heat at about 100% efficiency. (heat pumps excepted, where a COP of 3 or more is achieved) However, it depends on many factors, including the behaviour of the inhabitants, whether it is most cost-efficient to convert the electricity into convected or radiant heat, or a mixture of the two. It is very difficult to advise accurately without construction plans and an extensive questionnaire regarding personal habits etc.

The most efficient system would probably be padded overalls heated by a battery pack. Unfortunately it tends to play havoc with your love-life in the colder months.

tim_p

Verdigris said:

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The most efficient system would probably be padded overalls heated by a battery pack. Unfortunately it tends to play havoc with your love-life in the colder months.

Oh, I dunno, you could always interconnect your ‘batteries’!

Verdigris

Just don't mix up the polarity!

Gerry1

Verdigris said:

 (heat pumps excepted, where a COP of 3 or more is achieved)

 (heat pumps excepted, where a COP of 3 or less is achieved)

FTFY !

Reed_Richards

Verdigris said:

The most efficient system would probably be padded overalls heated by a battery pack. 

I have an idea for converting rooms into giant microwave ovens.  You can then cook the occupants very gently, just enough to keep them warm and they can be anywhere in the room.  I got the idea from infra-red panel heaters which are sometimes mis-sold on the basis that they can magically operate in this way - but they can't.