Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - De-Icers

Misty Blue · 12-26-2005, 07:30 AM

The LMI compressor draws about 100 watts.
A 3/4 HP circulator draws about 550 watts.

The current price of electricity is about $.15 per KW Hour (NH Elec Co OP, I expect that PSNH is similar). This price includes stranded costs, taxes, transmision, etc. The price that we pay (Fuel charge) for generation is about $.06 of that 15 cents.

The average wholesale price of electricity in NE for the past few months has been over $.10 per KW Hour (I sell the stuff) and we can expect a substancial rate increase. Sorry about that but please note that as the price increases the pay back time for the liniar comprressor ( I got a LMI) will decrease.

Now the math:

Worse case for the liniar compressor... running 24 hours a day:

100W X 24 Hours= 2.4KW Hours X $.15= $.35 per day.

Let's check out a 3/4 HP unit running 6, 8, and 24 hours a day:

3/4 HP=550Watts.

550W X 6 Hours = 3.3KW Hours X $.15 = $.50 per day.

550W X 8 Hours = 4.4KW Hours X $.15 = $.65 per day.

550W X 24 Hours = 13KW Hours X $.15 = $2.00 per day.

Again I expect the price fo juice to go up about 10% t0 20% in the next year.

There are some other considerations. My LMI only opens the ice directly under my dock. I like this because it doesn't clear the ice at my beach where I keep my snowmobiles.

On the other hand Pine Island Guy likes his circulator because it opens up the ice for a big area around his dock keeping his swim raft clear as well.

We'll see how the old electricity bills add up over the winter.

Hope this helps.

Misty Blue.

12-26-2005, 07:30 AM	#7
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Quick Math The LMI compressor draws about 100 watts. A 3/4 HP circulator draws about 550 watts. The current price of electricity is about $.15 per KW Hour (NH Elec Co OP, I expect that PSNH is similar). This price includes stranded costs, taxes, transmision, etc. The price that we pay (Fuel charge) for generation is about $.06 of that 15 cents. The average wholesale price of electricity in NE for the past few months has been over $.10 per KW Hour (I sell the stuff) and we can expect a substancial rate increase. Sorry about that but please note that as the price increases the pay back time for the liniar comprressor ( I got a LMI) will decrease. Now the math: Worse case for the liniar compressor... running 24 hours a day: 100W X 24 Hours= 2.4KW Hours X $.15= $.35 per day. Let's check out a 3/4 HP unit running 6, 8, and 24 hours a day: 3/4 HP=550Watts. 550W X 6 Hours = 3.3KW Hours X $.15 = $.50 per day. 550W X 8 Hours = 4.4KW Hours X $.15 = $.65 per day. 550W X 24 Hours = 13KW Hours X $.15 = $2.00 per day. Again I expect the price fo juice to go up about 10% t0 20% in the next year. There are some other considerations. My LMI only opens the ice directly under my dock. I like this because it doesn't clear the ice at my beach where I keep my snowmobiles. On the other hand Pine Island Guy likes his circulator because it opens up the ice for a big area around his dock keeping his swim raft clear as well. We'll see how the old electricity bills add up over the winter. Hope this helps. Misty Blue.