De-Icers

CraigJosph · 01-29-2006, 05:19 PM

try dockbubbler.com. it's a true bubbler, not an agitator, comes with all you need, varying bubble line lengths available... and only uses 55 watts, so just leave it on once cold season starts. unlike some bubblers, don't have to keep bubble line level, it has weights on it and meant to lay on bottom. .. but, do need to keep deep enough so you don't get ice in the lines

jimbob1603 · 03-21-2006, 01:18 PM

Here's what it cost me this winter to run 2 linear compressors:

12-12-05 through 1-12-06
Total Due: $32.00 ($20 of that is a fixed cost "Member Service Charge")

1-12-06 through 2-10-06
Total Due: $28.00 ($20 of that is a fixed cost "Member Service Charge")

2-10-06 through 3-10-06
Total Due: $33.00 ($20 of that is a fixed cost "Member Service Charge")

3-10-06 through 4-12-06
Total Due: $25.00 ($20 of that is a fixed cost "Member Service Charge")

The only things running on that meter are two LMI DB150L linear compressors, connected to a thermostat which turns them on/off at 35/45.

Anyone with a circulator have their bills available for comparison? (not that there is a lot of ice this year)

Misty Blue · 04-20-2006, 12:01 PM

Jimbob

Your advice saved me a bundle this year! It almost.....makes up for the hot tub!

Misty Blue

jimbob1603 · 04-21-2006, 09:40 AM

Glad to help. Being a thrifty hard-core engineer has its benefits. I hope others can see the savings of a linear compressor vs a 1/2 hp circulator.

Interestingly, the bubbler method is not recommended to keep ice from forming around a boat. Just imagine what happens to the specific gravity of water as cascades of fine air bubbles rise up ....... I'll guess it probably drops to about .25; your boat will sink! So, the Mount is not a candidate for the bubbler method.

I'd still like to see an electrical cost comparison of linear compressor vs. circulator. I've posted my expenses to run two compressors for the winter .... just waiting for someone to report how much they spent to run their circulator.

Hey ... is that offer for a tour of the power plant still good?

T.H.E. Binz · 04-24-2006, 01:10 PM

Have you considered converting to a crank-up dock? It eliminates your de-icing worries altogether!

jimbob1603 · 04-24-2006, 01:53 PM

A crank up is absolutely the way to go; if I was building a new dock. But, I have a very nice 'non-crankable' deepwater 35ft. aluminum dock, a boat lift, and a floating jet-dock.

I didn't want to get involved in redesigning the dock so it could be cranked up; it probably isn't even feasible from an engineering point of view. Besides, I hate mig welding aluminum ... pain in the butt. The boat lift is just too massive/awkward to move out of the water. The jet-dock handles the ice fine ... but it gets 'bubbled' anyway.

I felt that the linear air compressor was the most cost effective alternative to a crank-up.

ApS · 05-10-2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbob1603

"...I'd still like to see an electrical cost comparison of linear compressor vs. circulator. I've posted my expenses to run two compressors for the winter .... just waiting for someone to report how much they spent to run their circulator."

In response, here's our electricity use for this winter with no other electricity used, save the two ice circulators. The circulators are supplied and monitored by Winnipesaukee Aquatherm.

FWIW, one of the circulators was controlled by a thermostat, the other was on a timer.

November 04....675kW.....$63.11
December.........------.....------
January............------.....------
February***.....1875kW...$175.31
March..............786kW.....$73.49
April 12............479kW.....$44.79

***Three months combined due problematical winter reading of the meter. (Ice/snow/steep slope).

The electric rate is $.0935/kW, and there's a $5 "Customer Charge" per month, which must be subtracted from the monthly figures.

Hope this proves helpful!

jimbob1603 · 05-12-2006, 07:50 AM

Thanks for the input, APS. For what its worth, I guess the bubbler method is roughly 1/2 the cost to run. I'm glad I made the right decision .... it doesn't happen very often!

onthebay · 09-05-2006, 01:07 PM

Last winter was the first time running a circulator through the winter. The electric bill was a bit more than I expected. It is on a timer but it seems like the previous owner had it set to run more time than not.
What times do others run their circulators. More at night than during the day? I am not up full time so I would rather error on the side of caution.

01-29-2006, 05:19 PM	#1
CraigJosph Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ash Cove Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If you mean to keep ice away from dock? try dockbubbler.com. it's a true bubbler, not an agitator, comes with all you need, varying bubble line lengths available... and only uses 55 watts, so just leave it on once cold season starts. unlike some bubblers, don't have to keep bubble line level, it has weights on it and meant to lay on bottom. .. but, do need to keep deep enough so you don't get ice in the lines

03-21-2006, 01:18 PM	#2
jimbob1603 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The Price of Ice Here's what it cost me this winter to run 2 linear compressors: 12-12-05 through 1-12-06 Total Due: $32.00 ($20 of that is a fixed cost "Member Service Charge") 1-12-06 through 2-10-06 Total Due: $28.00 ($20 of that is a fixed cost "Member Service Charge") 2-10-06 through 3-10-06 Total Due: $33.00 ($20 of that is a fixed cost "Member Service Charge") 3-10-06 through 4-12-06 Total Due: $25.00 ($20 of that is a fixed cost "Member Service Charge") The only things running on that meter are two LMI DB150L linear compressors, connected to a thermostat which turns them on/off at 35/45. Anyone with a circulator have their bills available for comparison? (not that there is a lot of ice this year) Last edited by jimbob1603; 04-20-2006 at 02:07 PM.

04-20-2006, 12:01 PM	#3
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Linear compressor Jimbob Your advice saved me a bundle this year! It almost.....makes up for the hot tub! Misty Blue

04-21-2006, 09:40 AM	#4
jimbob1603 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Clever engineer .... Glad to help. Being a thrifty hard-core engineer has its benefits. I hope others can see the savings of a linear compressor vs a 1/2 hp circulator. Interestingly, the bubbler method is not recommended to keep ice from forming around a boat. Just imagine what happens to the specific gravity of water as cascades of fine air bubbles rise up ....... I'll guess it probably drops to about .25; your boat will sink! So, the Mount is not a candidate for the bubbler method. I'd still like to see an electrical cost comparison of linear compressor vs. circulator. I've posted my expenses to run two compressors for the winter .... just waiting for someone to report how much they spent to run their circulator. Hey ... is that offer for a tour of the power plant still good?

04-24-2006, 01:10 PM	#5
T.H.E. Binz Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith & Chadds Ford, PA Posts: 112 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	The No Cost Alternative Have you considered converting to a crank-up dock? It eliminates your de-icing worries altogether!

04-24-2006, 01:53 PM	#6
jimbob1603 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Crank It!! A crank up is absolutely the way to go; if I was building a new dock. But, I have a very nice 'non-crankable' deepwater 35ft. aluminum dock, a boat lift, and a floating jet-dock. I didn't want to get involved in redesigning the dock so it could be cranked up; it probably isn't even feasible from an engineering point of view. Besides, I hate mig welding aluminum ... pain in the butt. The boat lift is just too massive/awkward to move out of the water. The jet-dock handles the ice fine ... but it gets 'bubbled' anyway. I felt that the linear air compressor was the most cost effective alternative to a crank-up.

05-12-2006, 07:50 AM	#8
jimbob1603 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cheap Bubbles! Thanks for the input, APS. For what its worth, I guess the bubbler method is roughly 1/2 the cost to run. I'm glad I made the right decision .... it doesn't happen very often!

09-05-2006, 01:07 PM	#9
onthebay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 114 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	How long and often do you run your circulator? Last winter was the first time running a circulator through the winter. The electric bill was a bit more than I expected. It is on a timer but it seems like the previous owner had it set to run more time than not. What times do others run their circulators. More at night than during the day? I am not up full time so I would rather error on the side of caution.