New PowerSaving Tests and Discussions

A

alanB

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Hi

Just to let you guys know we have completed our Geyser Blanket test:
http://www.powersaving.co.za/index.php?q=con,71, misc

We also have some interesting new articles and papers.

Aerated water nozzle discussion:
http://www.powersaving.co.za/index.php?q=con,73, Power Saving

Paper discussing three ways to reduce geyser electricity consumption presented at the Domestic Use of Energy Conference held at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2006:
http://www.savingpower.co.za/?q=con,72,Three Ways to Improve Geyser Efficiency
 
I moved into a new house with 63 downlighters. All were 50watt halogen globes. That means that if all downlighters were iluminated at same time, lights alone would consume 3.15kw/hr. Even if just 50% of the downlighters were used, it still would gobble 1.57kw/hr.

I replaced all the downlighters with LED - sourced from a local manufacturer in Cape Town. Each LED uses only 1.4watt - thus reducing my total consumption from 3.15kw/hr to only 88.2watt/hr. That is very close to a 99.97% saving!

The LEDs are expected to last for 20 000hrs. They were also cheaper than the Osram version, and they sport 28 LEDs, providing sufficient light.

I see this as a strategic power saving initiative. A small capital outlay now, with a significant monthy saving in electricity costs over the medium to long term.

And, above all, I do not feel guilty anymore if the kids leave the lights on.....
 
JungleRumble said:
I moved into a new house with 63 downlighters. All were 50watt halogen globes. That means that if all downlighters were iluminated at same time, lights alone would consume 3.15kw/hr. Even if just 50% of the downlighters were used, it still would gobble 1.57kw/hr.

I replaced all the downlighters with LED - sourced from a local manufacturer in Cape Town. Each LED uses only 1.4watt - thus reducing my total consumption from 3.15kw/hr to only 88.2watt/hr. That is very close to a 99.97% saving!

The LEDs are expected to last for 20 000hrs. They were also cheaper than the Osram version, and they sport 28 LEDs, providing sufficient light.

I see this as a strategic power saving initiative. A small capital outlay now, with a significant monthy saving in electricity costs over the medium to long term.

And, above all, I do not feel guilty anymore if the kids leave the lights on.....
Click to expand...


I also have downlighters, mostly conected to dimmer switches. Will leds work with a dimmer switch?
 
alanB said:
Hi

Just to let you guys know we have completed our Geyser Blanket test:
http://www.powersaving.co.za/index.php?q=con,71, misc

We also have some interesting new articles and papers.

Aerated water nozzle discussion:
http://www.powersaving.co.za/index.php?q=con,73, Power Saving

Paper discussing three ways to reduce geyser electricity consumption presented at the Domestic Use of Energy Conference held at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2006:
http://www.savingpower.co.za/?q=con,72,Three Ways to Improve Geyser Efficiency
Click to expand...

How long before one recovers the cost of the blanket in terms of power savings?
 
PJS said:
I also have downlighters, mostly conected to dimmer switches. Will leds work with a dimmer switch?
Click to expand...

I have had some conflicting info regarding dimmers and LEDs. The supplier mentioned in my post claims that the 12V versions can be dimmed, but the 220v versions not.

Must say - the light is soft, yet sufficient. Especially the "warm white" ones. No real need for dimmers.
 
My LEDs work with the dimmer switches although we dont have conventional dimmers. Our lights basically have three settings - low, normal and off. Not sure if they work the same as dimmers...
 
-Install the geyser vertically instead of horizontally
-Install a geyser blanket and pipe insulation
-And most interestingly - he proposes the installation of a dual element (two elements triggered at slightly different temperatures) to off-set the negative effects of small withdrawals of hot water.
Click to expand...

point number 1 is very interesting, does he mean with the outlett at the top or othe bottom ? I'm very interested in this idea as it might save me some space.
The other too points are good but i'm not sure how easy it is to install dual elements.
 
Nerfherder said:
point number 1 is very interesting, does he mean with the outlett at the top or othe bottom ? I'm very interested in this idea as it might save me some space.
The other too points are good but i'm not sure how easy it is to install dual elements.
Click to expand...

Probably with the outlet at or near the top - that way the hot water (that will be at the top) should be a little less affected by cold water coming in at the bottom.

Question is though, will the element be at the bottom then? (Can't quite remember what my geyser looks like!)
 
PJS said:
I also have downlighters, mostly conected to dimmer switches. Will leds work with a dimmer switch?
Click to expand...

I predict that they will work, but will not have such a wide range - they will dim somewhat, then sharp off.
 
How long before one recovers the cost of the blanket in terms of power savings?
Click to expand...

At the current price of approx R0.44 per kWh about 3-5 years. But one must remember that the price of electricity in SA is artificially low (the gov. has allowed Eskom only very low annual increases for far too long). In any event its not reasonable to have a country in which electricty supply cannot meet demand and yet still have the cheapest electricity in the world. At a more market related rate it would pay off sooner.

The other too points are good but i'm not sure how easy it is to install dual elements.
Click to expand...

As far as I understand these dual elements are designed to fit into the same single hole as a standard element. It would simply be removal of the one and the insertion of the other.
 
Every thread?

Frankie said:
Why repeat this in every thread?
Click to expand...

Curious.................
Under the "Eskom & electricity" forum there are 21 pages.
20 full pages with 21 threads:
20 x 21 = 420
page 21 only has 10 threads:
total 430 threads.

I only posted on 10 threads.

420 threads to go,
thanks for pointing me in that direction
Frankie
 
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