Do I save $$ on electricity using a 250w MH and not a 400w?

Purple Reef · 02/27/2006, 08:08 PM

I currently have a PFO HDMI 400w MH ballast, and I'm considering down grading to a 250w ballast and bulb since I dont kneed that much light.

Do I save $$ on electricity downgrading?

Will I have enough light at the bottom of a 30" deep tank, for mushrooms, leather...?

Sh0gun · 02/27/2006, 08:14 PM

I don't know for sure about the savings, but I would imagine that would still be plenty of light for mushrooms and leathers.

Steelslinger75 · 02/27/2006, 08:42 PM

Yes you will save on electricity. Running at 120V the 400W setup requires 3.3A to operate. The 250W setup requires 2.1A to operate.

The 250W setup wil be plenty for shrroms and leathers

Purple Reef · 02/27/2006, 08:44 PM

Ignorant me, is 1.2 amps a month (in FL) a noticeble diference?

Chad-Man · 02/27/2006, 08:52 PM

Well for me it's 6 to 7 cents per kilowatt hour, so the switch might lower it enough to buy a cup of coffee or two.

Alaskan Reefer · 02/27/2006, 08:55 PM

Yes

and

Yes

mcegelsk · 02/27/2006, 09:08 PM

Currently the cost of a kwh from Florida Power and light is 3.8 cents.

So if you use the 400W -250W=150W.

So of you have your lights on for say 12 hours then the difference in power will be:
150W x 12hrs= 1800Whrs.

And we do this everyday so we multiply by 30 (average) per month.

So we get:
1800Whrs x 30 days = 54000Whrs per month

So from there we need to convert it into cost to us:

54000whrs x (1kw/1000w)= 54kwh

54kwh x $.038= $2.05

So for each bulb you have you spend $2.05 more each month than you would if you had 250W.

Which equates to $2.05 x 12 months = $24.60 difference a year.

Personally I'd just wait till this bulb burns out. Then switch if you want. Good luck. ~Matt

Purple Reef · 02/27/2006, 09:17 PM

mcegelsk Thank you very much, that breaks it down for me!

A new 250w ballast would be $120 in Icecap, so it would take several years to make up hte difference even if I sold my current PFO 400w ballast used.

I'll purchase a new bulb (20k to get some blue since the HQI burns brighter), and turn of the Actinics (300w) when the MH is on. That should save me some electricity cost.

Thanks to all.

Jon · 02/27/2006, 09:31 PM

Good thing you don't up here in the North East (Philadelphia), it's about $0.14 / kWh or $7.56 per month or about a $90 savings a year which would quickly justify going to 250w.

FWIW Jon.........

Anemonebuff · 02/27/2006, 09:36 PM

No doubt. I pay $0.18 a KWH and the Ba$tiches even hit me with a monthly "Increase Fuel Cost Charge"(there is now a class action suit against the power authority due to this charge).

supertech3 · 02/27/2006, 09:40 PM

I agree you should wait until you need to replace the bulb unless you can find a buyer for your set-up ballasts and bulbs (if you did not know ballasts must change)

Anemonebuff · 02/27/2006, 09:42 PM

For that minimal savings I would keep the 400 watter. If you want to save money cut back the VHO some or remove them all together.

02/27/2006, 08:08 PM	#1
Purple Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 423	Do I save $$ on electricity using a 250w MH and not a 400w? I currently have a PFO HDMI 400w MH ballast, and I'm considering down grading to a 250w ballast and bulb since I dont kneed that much light. Do I save $$ on electricity downgrading? Will I have enough light at the bottom of a 30" deep tank, for mushrooms, leather...? __________________ Present tank is a custom made Acrylic 70gl. (30"H x 30"L x 18"D) With canopy and stand its all 7' tall. Lighting consist of: 4 24" VHO Actinic 03 (300w) & 1 MH Hamilton 14k (400w) = 700w Current Tank Info: 30"x18"x30" Custom Acrylic

02/27/2006, 08:14 PM	#2
Sh0gun Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 218	I don't know for sure about the savings, but I would imagine that would still be plenty of light for mushrooms and leathers. __________________ We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. - the Buddha Current Tank Info: 29 gallon

02/27/2006, 08:44 PM	#4
Purple Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 423	Ignorant me, is 1.2 amps a month (in FL) a noticeble diference? __________________ Present tank is a custom made Acrylic 70gl. (30"H x 30"L x 18"D) With canopy and stand its all 7' tall. Lighting consist of: 4 24" VHO Actinic 03 (300w) & 1 MH Hamilton 14k (400w) = 700w Current Tank Info: 30"x18"x30" Custom Acrylic

02/27/2006, 08:52 PM	#5
Chad-Man Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 180	Well for me it's 6 to 7 cents per kilowatt hour, so the switch might lower it enough to buy a cup of coffee or two. __________________ Chad Current Tank Info: 24 Gal Nano ... 125 Gal. Oceanic Reef Tank

02/27/2006, 08:55 PM	#6
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	Yes and Yes __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

02/27/2006, 08:42 PM	#3
Steelslinger75 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Amherst, OH Posts: 371	Yes you will save on electricity. Running at 120V the 400W setup requires 3.3A to operate. The 250W setup requires 2.1A to operate. The 250W setup wil be plenty for shrroms and leathers

02/27/2006, 09:08 PM	#7
mcegelsk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 305	Currently the cost of a kwh from Florida Power and light is 3.8 cents. So if you use the 400W -250W=150W. So of you have your lights on for say 12 hours then the difference in power will be: 150W x 12hrs= 1800Whrs. And we do this everyday so we multiply by 30 (average) per month. So we get: 1800Whrs x 30 days = 54000Whrs per month So from there we need to convert it into cost to us: 54000whrs x (1kw/1000w)= 54kwh 54kwh x $.038= $2.05 So for each bulb you have you spend $2.05 more each month than you would if you had 250W. Which equates to $2.05 x 12 months = $24.60 difference a year. Personally I'd just wait till this bulb burns out. Then switch if you want. Good luck. ~Matt __________________ http://mattcegelske.com Current Tank Info: Hiatus

02/27/2006, 09:17 PM	#8
Purple Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 423	mcegelsk Thank you very much, that breaks it down for me! A new 250w ballast would be $120 in Icecap, so it would take several years to make up hte difference even if I sold my current PFO 400w ballast used. I'll purchase a new bulb (20k to get some blue since the HQI burns brighter), and turn of the Actinics (300w) when the MH is on. That should save me some electricity cost. Thanks to all. __________________ Present tank is a custom made Acrylic 70gl. (30"H x 30"L x 18"D) With canopy and stand its all 7' tall. Lighting consist of: 4 24" VHO Actinic 03 (300w) & 1 MH Hamilton 14k (400w) = 700w Current Tank Info: 30"x18"x30" Custom Acrylic

02/27/2006, 09:31 PM	#9
Jon Got CaCO3... Join Date: May 2001 Location: Philadelphia Area Posts: 394	Good thing you don't up here in the North East (Philadelphia), it's about $0.14 / kWh or $7.56 per month or about a $90 savings a year which would quickly justify going to 250w. FWIW Jon......... __________________ Laugh-a while you can, monkey-boy... Current Tank Info: 250g Starphire In-Wall

02/27/2006, 09:36 PM	#10
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	No doubt. I pay $0.18 a KWH and the Ba$tiches even hit me with a monthly "Increase Fuel Cost Charge"(there is now a class action suit against the power authority due to this charge).

02/27/2006, 09:40 PM	#11
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	I agree you should wait until you need to replace the bulb unless you can find a buyer for your set-up ballasts and bulbs (if you did not know ballasts must change)

02/27/2006, 09:42 PM	#12
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	For that minimal savings I would keep the 400 watter. If you want to save money cut back the VHO some or remove them all together.