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[Ridgekid]

By now, most of you who have been following my threads, and know I bought the CB 5036 to replace a woodburning stove. The woodburning stove was to reduce electric use of our heatpump. The addition of the DHWX was also to reduce my electric load.

What you didn't know was that my house was an electric hog! Other than the telephone it's the only utility I have to pay for. I average $200 a month.

My electric load (Pre OWB) consists of The Well, Sand Mound pump (Septic system) , Street light, sump pump, 2 Fridges, one freezer, Dryer, HWH, Stove/Oven, heatpump, lights, TV's Ect. I was using 74 kWh a day!

During the last month I changed the load. Added the OWB and DHWX. Removed one fridge and downsized the freezer (Both were over 20 years old)  from a 16 cu ft to a 7 cu ft. They read my meter on the first of each month, so until I get the electric bill I could not see what I was saving. I know now! I take the current meter reading, subtract what I was billed and divide by number of days used. I'm down to 22 kWh a day!

I'm going to miss winter when I shut down the OWB. 

I added insulation to the attic in November raising the R factor from R19 to R40. Hopefully I'll see some savings when the AC gets turned on. It won't be as mush as with the OWB, but at least our summers are short here in the mountains of PA. And of course the HWH will be on electric again., but at least it's on a timer.

[MTJAG]

That is amazing!  You are saving 52kwh way more than half of what you were using.  Those dollars will definitely come in handy elsewhere.  Congratuations.

[Bill G]

     Good deal Ridgekid!!

     Up date for you on whats happening in my neck o the woods....Sunday, big day coming for me.  Got the urecon pipe and mini-excavator lined up for Sunday.  Big hammer drill for poured foundation. 

     That pipe sure ain't the most flexible stuff, for sure.  Should be fun to work with.  Need to get some conduit for electric yet.

     You are really seeing the fruits of your labor, making it a most worth-while project.  Wish I had the "coin" sooner for my install, but better late than never!  My propane bill was higher per mo. than your electric!  My shack was built in 2000 and is well insulated.  2800 sq ft, excluding basement. 

     I do prefer winter, but am looking forward to a break.  Summer was slow in coming this year.  Can't wait to get my garden in!  One project at a time, though....

     Take care.    Bill

[Ridgekid]

MTJAG-

If I only could keep the daily use the same until June 1st. My electric company would have a heart attack when they sent me my $80 electric bill! (I have a rate sheet as I have been reading my own meter for the last 18 years. This bill is only the second since they installed the AMR meters. AMR= Automatic Meter readers)

Bill-

Oh yes the black snake!. It took four of us to get the final 15 degree turn to push it through the wall of the basement!. When installing by the OWB we made a wide turn and went deep to make the next turn up to the foundation. Have fun with that!

For conduit I used that 3/4" black water pipe. If for some reason I ever have to replace the wire I won't have to dig it up. It pulls through really easy.

My shack was built in 1992, 2000 sq ft, 2700 sq ft with the basement.

TAKE PICTURES! We always enjoy looking at new installs! (I also think it helps others prepare for thier installations)

[kjw58]

 Just wondering if any of you guys know how much your electric company is charging you per kwh.  I live in s.e.mich and they are charging me 12cents per kwh and I am averaging 31-32 kwh per day.  I am just curious how much the rates vary around the country ?

On a related note I thought I would see a big reduction in my electric bill when I shut off the breaker to my hot water heater and started heating my dhw with my owb. I really havn't noticed much difference if any.  I guess the circulator pumps (2) running 24/7 and the combustion blower running occasionally and the circulating pump on my radiant floor running must use more juice than advertised.   

[Ridgekid]

I'm on REA Energy which is a co-op. My current rate is .083600 per kWh.  This is the discounted rate when paid in full before the due date.

To futher break it down:
Generation & trans= kWh x .061666
Distribution=kWh x .020898
Service Charge $21.85/month

[Bill G]

     Was curious too, with 2 circ pumps 24/7, (one from owb, one to existing LP boiler). 

     Guess we'll soon find out.  Most everyone I asked about hook up said that is the best/easiest way to set-up.  Will put enough valves and 2  y-strainers and pipe for fill in basement.  Open for suggestions. 

Bill

[yoderheating]

Bill G, are you getting your hot water off of the LP boiler? If not I don't understand why that pump would run 24/7. If you look on the pumps you should see what kind of power they pull. I often use a three speed pump so customers can try them on the low speed (60w) and see if it works. 60w isn't all that much, it would be like leaving one light on 24/7. 

[Ridgekid]

How about the new Grundfos Alpha pumps. MTJAG is using them and seems to be very happy with it. Pics in his gallery.

http://www.us.grundfos.com/web/download.nsf/Pages/4A21BE19B465E75E882575A50057B02E/$File/L-AL-SL-001.pdf

[Bill G]

Mr. Yoder,

     Glad you chimed in so I now can pick your brain!!

     Hot water baseboard and DHW comes off LP boiler.  Have that Weil/mclain holding tank set-up for DHW.  So, I only need the one pump out at OWB and one inside to keep LP boiler happy.  Looking at 70 plate W to W HX.  Maybe overkill?

     I think you are going to suggest a 3 sp pump and aquastat for inside LP boiler?  If you could maybe give me some guidance as to how that inside should be rigged? 

     Have that 1" (32mm) urecon pipe on hand and maybe recommend what size pumps and such?

     2800 sq ft plus basement.  Set on that P&M opt 250 OWB.

     Thank-you for your time and I'd certainly hire you for a few hrs if you were closer to NE PA.

Bill

[RSI]

Just wondering if any of you guys know how much your electric company is charging you per kwh.  I live in s.e.mich and they are charging me 12cents per kwh and I am averaging 31-32 kwh per day.  I am just curious how much the rates vary around the country ?

On a related note I thought I would see a big reduction in my electric bill when I shut off the breaker to my hot water heater and started heating my dhw with my owb. I really havn't noticed much difference if any.  I guess the circulator pumps (2) running 24/7 and the combustion blower running occasionally and the circulating pump on my radiant floor running must use more juice than advertised.   

Around here they only read the meter every few months and average it. If you were using much hot water it should make a big difference. Every 5 gallons of water you use is about 1 KWH not figuring what is used from loss in the tank.

[MattyNH]

Im on New Hampshire Electric Co-op... Heres what they charge for per KWH: (this is current since I just got the bill lol)

Member service charge: $22.35
Delivery charge: KWH x .03437
Stranded cost charge: KWH x .01032
System benfit charge: KWH x .00330
NH comsumption & bet taxes: KWH x .00082
Regional access charge: KWH x .01884
Co-op Power: KWH x .07831
For the month of April used  464 KWH..Bill $90.09

[jackel440]

I don't have the numbers as I let the wife pay the bills .I know she said we dropped about 200 off our bill.No more electric heat.I am on REMC co-op in indiana.

[Bull]

I am on REMC here in Indiana also and dropped about $200 a month off my bill also.

[Ridgekid]

With the OWB secured for the summer my kWh usage is slowly creeping back up. As of today I'm up to 27 kWh/day. If I can maintain this rate our next bill sill still be under $100.

We were definetly spoiled with the OWB. Wife was cold last night as I have the thermostat for the heatpump set at 70 F. I reminded her the daytime temps are in the 70 F+ so she shouldn't leave the windows open past dusk. (it was 48F this morning)

Of course the smaller Freezer and the removal of the spare Fridge should also keep the kWh usage lower.

Only 21 days till the next electric bill.