Computing cost of kiln use
 

I am trying to figure out the cost of running my kiln.
I have an Arrow Springs AF-99.
I think it is around 1680 watts. Divide by 1000 = 1.68 kilowatts
1.68 kilowatts times 8 hours = 13.44 kw/h
My electric rate = $ .0073 kw/h
So my daily usage would be approximately $.098 a day?
That is 10 cents a day?
That seems low to me.
Is this right?

Yes you numbers are good.. as you have worked them out...

Actually cost maybe less.... You have to actually record "on" time when kiln in actually drawing power to heat elements during run up process to what ever temp you are holding at, kiln may cycle and be OFF 30-40% of "time"while climbing to anneal/garaging temperatures. Once kiln has reached hold temperature kiln may actually be "off" as much as 60-70% of "time" ...

If you have pilot lamp that flashes off/on as relay energizes elements you will see it may be actually see it may be off more than it is on...

Disclaimer here is your on/off time will vary according to program and kiln efficiencies...

You may actually be spending less that you have calculated... To really prove this though you need a "chart recorder" or some other "time recorder" to actually log time kiln is "on" vs. how long "kiln hours" are from time you start a anneal cycle to when cycle ends and kiln is off for the day...

OF course this is excluding the power drawn by controller which is so minor that it may cost you 10¢ a month if controller runs a full kiln cycle every day of the month...

Dale

Thanks for the reply Dale.
I had figured it was really only on 3/4 of the time and that 8 hours was a high estimate.

As others have mentioned, your kiln is drawing power less then half the time it's on.....BUT....it appears you have misplaced a decimal point in your electric rate. If you're paying .0072 you're getting the cheapest electricity anywhere in your country. I suspect you should be calculating at .072/kwhr.

My figures for your use are:
1.68 kw x 8 hr x 40% = 5.38 kw x $ .072/kwhr = 38.7 cents a day.

It's early and I'm still on my first cup of coffee so I wouldn't bet big bucks on my calculations. Maybe somebody else can check?

Dennis...

I think you may be right on decimal point...

Just looked at my electric bill and I'm at $0.114 per kw/h ( Central Calif.).... So $0.073 is probable a more reliable rate for Jami...

Dale

No, unbelievably, the rate is right.
http://www.kcpl.com/about/ECA_KS2008.html

I'm wondering if they have it wrong on their web site? I mean, great for you if they don't! But here in Rock Hill, SC our standard residential rate is $0.08944 per kwh.

I just checked my last months bill and I paid .00682

YAY KC here we come.
G.

Yeah, any houses for sale in your neck of the woods?

Yea! Come on to tornado alley!!
We can set up a glass commune!

Hmmm, on second thought, maybe not! As an aside, I was reminded how hilly my area is (relatively speaking) until I went to KCMO for the Gathering. It also reminded me of when I drove to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 about ten years ago. Everything looked so vulnerable to me, like it was waiting to be taken out. My friend, who was from Indy, said being in my area (Columbia, SC at the time) made him feel claustrophobic, like everything was rising up around him. But when I was in his neck of the woods I wanted to lean against something for support!

Pretty much the only tornadoes I've lived through were thrown off by hurricanes (like Hugo), although a "rogue" tornado did take out our last drive-in theatre in the early '70s. For some reason, a tornado by itself scares me more than a hurricane. Maybe because you know a hurricane is coming well in advance...

Yea, I get scared in the mountains cause I think I'm going to fall off!
There is no fear quite as primal and encompassing as a tornado.
I've had two very close calls in my 40 some years and hope that is all I have!

On another tandem, I'm getting a M-15 soon and I figure:
600 watts = .6 kw x 8 hours = 4.8 kw/h x .0073 = $.04 a day (rounded up)

If your electricity rate was that low, your bill for an entire year (even with full electric heat all winter and extensive air conditioning all summer) would be about $300 (less then $30/month).

If you are paying .0682/kwhr, you're getting the cheapest electricity in the USA. I believe your .00682 figure is per 100 watts. Even power companies buying from other power companies pay more then .00682/kilo watt hour.

Hi Jami, You know, I just checked my electric bill and we are paying 3.405 cents per kwh - that's .03405. The estimated cost of my kiln use per day by a master electrician is approximately 10 cents. I don't find your estimate to be far off at all. My kiln is generally "on" for 8 hrs. a day - same kiln, by the way.

Anyone have a clue what the wattage use for the AIM Kilns model 84BD is? I think I'd like to know how much my kiln is running me too. I just can't seem to find the info anywhere.

Should be on the "nomenclature tag" on the kiln.... Most appliances have some sort if "tag" stating voltage and watts and model numbers...

Dale

The AIM 84BD is 1680 watts (14 amps x 120 volts)

Okay, I think Dale is right.
The chart link to the rates I posted are ECA rates which is an additional fee KCPL charges. Their website lacks actual rate information and so does my bill.
I took my current bill and divided the kWh used by the energy charge which turned out to be .0700 per kwh. I then have to add the ECA charge of .00682
So I am paying .07682 per kwh.
So with that new information. My kiln costs $1.03 a day.
That sounds about right to me. I was giddy over the 10 cents a day but knew that seemed very low.

I did a quick Google on USA residential electricity rates:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/rep/

It's reasonable to assume that if prices have changed since 2006, they've gone up. The web link shows average costs for each state:
Here's the costs shown:

Average US .104/kwhr
Kansas .0825/kwhr

Thanks Dennis.
Very fascinating!

Thank you.

According to the US government statistics, you're paying almost 4 times that much.

I suppose, then, that government stats are not always correct.

I know that government stats are often incorrect.
I also know that you are not getting electricity for $.034 per kilowatt hour. If the people where you live were getting electricity for half the price everyone else everywhere in the USA was paying, it would be national news.

Here's a list of average electricity costs per kilowatt hour, by state, from a year ago:

http://www.ppinys.org/reports/jtf/electricprices.html

Sorry for my confusion, but I think part of it was the fact that my bill gave a rate that was not the actual rate paid but an additional rate called ECA rate.
The ECA kwh charge is
An energy cost adjustment (ECA) is a method of billing costs incurred in producing and purchasing electricity. This cost is offset by the sale of electricity to other utilities during times of low customer demand. Prior to January 1, 2008, this cost was included in the Energy Charge portion of the bill.
So when you see the ECA Kwh rate on your bill that is not your actual rate, it is an additional rate. If your electric company is like mine, the actual rate paid is hard to find. To figure it, take your energy charge (before fees & taxes and ECA) and divide it by the actual kwh's used. Then add the ECA rate to that number.
That will be the rate per kwh.

i bet your electric rate is $0.073 kw/h so you are a factor of 10 off so it would be more like $1/day

here is a link for background

http://www.neo.ne.gov/statshtml/115.htm

The other posts in this thread have already thoroughly explained the reasons for the misunderstanding.