Invigor
04-20-2005, 06:19 PM
After seeing justin's post, i decided to do some quick research for the ballasts and bulbs I have and found this:
M80 ballast draws 336w or 3.06 amps to power 1 sun aquatics 10000k bulb.
that's to run 1 bulb. so 336x2 = 672w/h (heh, 172watts wasted to heat)
Then I went to saskpower.com: (http://www.saskpower.com/services/calculator/calculator.php?CatID=7&SubCatID=58&ApplID=114#)
and punched in my numbers, running for (average) 8 hours per day for 30 days: 8x30 = 240 hours.
the cost is $16.85 per month just for lights.
now say I'm running 8 t5s. on a tank shallow like mine (20") there shouldn't be that much loss in intensity as long as I have good reflectors and have the lights as close to the water as possible.
a workhorse 7 ballast will power 4 t5s, so I'll need two. the WH7 draws a maximum 1.85 amps. la di da that out and you've got ~213 watts. for 2 ballasts you get 426 watts. Punch that in at saskpower.com (http://www.saskpower.com/services/calculator/calculator.php?CatID=7&SubCatID=57#) and you get $8.55 per month.
so tally these up.
2x250w hqi MH = $202.20/year
8x54w 48" t5 = $102.60/year
so for MH, we'll pretend you're using good bulbs at $100 each. That's $250/yr if you keep up with proper light changes (added $50 for shipping and tax) so totalling $452.
for the t5s they're $35/bulb = $280. say $330 after shipping and tax. total works out to $432. so you save $20 a year!
*scratches head* I was looking for better results than that...maybe because it's all theoretical and not "actual".. maybe the light output of the 8 t5s is higher?? I must learn!
ah well, if none else, we all know now how much money we really waste on lights.
M80 ballast draws 336w or 3.06 amps to power 1 sun aquatics 10000k bulb.
that's to run 1 bulb. so 336x2 = 672w/h (heh, 172watts wasted to heat)
Then I went to saskpower.com: (http://www.saskpower.com/services/calculator/calculator.php?CatID=7&SubCatID=58&ApplID=114#)
and punched in my numbers, running for (average) 8 hours per day for 30 days: 8x30 = 240 hours.
the cost is $16.85 per month just for lights.
now say I'm running 8 t5s. on a tank shallow like mine (20") there shouldn't be that much loss in intensity as long as I have good reflectors and have the lights as close to the water as possible.
a workhorse 7 ballast will power 4 t5s, so I'll need two. the WH7 draws a maximum 1.85 amps. la di da that out and you've got ~213 watts. for 2 ballasts you get 426 watts. Punch that in at saskpower.com (http://www.saskpower.com/services/calculator/calculator.php?CatID=7&SubCatID=57#) and you get $8.55 per month.
so tally these up.
2x250w hqi MH = $202.20/year
8x54w 48" t5 = $102.60/year
so for MH, we'll pretend you're using good bulbs at $100 each. That's $250/yr if you keep up with proper light changes (added $50 for shipping and tax) so totalling $452.
for the t5s they're $35/bulb = $280. say $330 after shipping and tax. total works out to $432. so you save $20 a year!
*scratches head* I was looking for better results than that...maybe because it's all theoretical and not "actual".. maybe the light output of the 8 t5s is higher?? I must learn!
ah well, if none else, we all know now how much money we really waste on lights.