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Post by Condor on Dec 24, 2005 11:50:00 GMT -5
Anyone have an idea of how much it costs to run tumblers? I noticed that my electric bill went up quite a bit this month, but I'm not sure if it's because of the furnaces (2), or the... 40 lb rotary, 12 lb rotary, 9 lb rotary, 4 lb, vibrating, 4 lb vibrating, and 10 lb vibrating. They're all going at once. Please do not think that I am bragging about the tumblers, because even as I read this myself, it gives me that impression. I really am not. If there is a high cost to run them, I think I will just run about two only.
Condor
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 24, 2005 11:54:53 GMT -5
Condor: You know, I've wondered about that too since I'm now running four tumblers (7 barrels) full time . I'm going to have to monitor my electric bill a little more closely I guess but, as you've said, the forced air furnace runs a lot this time of year too so it's going to be hard to figure.....mel
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Post by Cher on Dec 24, 2005 12:03:48 GMT -5
My electric bill went up $30.00 from last month to this because of the furnace and plugging the cars in. I've watch previously and there's not been any "huge" increase that I've noticed. This is with a QT66, 2 - 33b's, a single CE and a single 1.5 and occasionally the saw.
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rallyrocks
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Post by rallyrocks on Dec 24, 2005 13:37:07 GMT -5
My bills went up too, but entirely on account of gas, not electricity. In fact, my electricity portion of the bill went down compared to last year, so running a trio of lortones (3-1.5, 3A and 33B) 24/7 probably isn't much worse than leaving a few lights on. You guys with 40 pounders may have a different perspective than I do though.
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Post by rollingstone on Dec 24, 2005 13:46:30 GMT -5
About 6 months ago there was a similar thread, and someone posted the equation for figuring out electrical consumption based on motor specifications. I worked it out for my QT6 (which is the same motor as used by the QT12 and the QT66), and my tumbler was using 98 watts of power. So each QT6 (or QT12 or QT66) is like leaving a 100 watt light bulb on. No bid deal. That's only 2.4 kW hours per day, and I think I pay something like 6 cents per kWhr, so it costs me 15 cents per day for each of my tumblers. For those of you running a lot of tumblers the cost will add up, but it's probably still only in the dollar per day range.
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KG1960
has rocks in the head
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Post by KG1960 on Dec 24, 2005 14:23:02 GMT -5
Here is what I have calculated. (Rollingstone mentioned a similar thread several months ago. I wasn't a member then so I'm sorry if I am repeating something already said.)
The motor on my homebuilt tumbler is labeled 1.1 amps at 115 volt AC for 1/40 Hp. Volts times amps equals watts so this motor is using 126.5 watts (a large light bulb). (For you sticklers out there I assumed power factor is negligible.)
Assume 30 days/month times 24 equals 720 hours per month.
126.5 watt times 720 hours is 91080 watt-hours which equals 91.08 KWH. Kilowatt-hours (KWH) is what is on your electric bill and is what you pay for.
From my electric bill, I divided the total cost charged for electric by the total KWH used and got $0.066 per KWH.
This times 91.08 KWH equals $6.01 to run my tumbler for one month.
BTW, this cost was from the bill due Dec. 14. I also looked on the bill from August, and the KWH cost then was about $0.08 (higher cost in the summer!). Then the tumbler monthly cost would be $7.29.
These costs assume that my motor is working at its full capacity. It probably is running at a little bit less so then the costs would be a bit less. The only way to know for sure would be to measure the current draw of the motor as it operates with a load of rocks, but I don't have access to an AC ammeter. The motor in my homebuilt tumbler is a larger motor than what was in my old Lortone 3A, so I would guess the 3A would have used a bit less electric. Hope this helps answer your question.
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deepsouth
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Post by deepsouth on Dec 24, 2005 15:04:19 GMT -5
kg1960, that is an interesting observation and thanks for the breakdown of the figures. It now makes more sense to me to have to pay more for my electricity used per month. I also have a pump in a pond to create a fountain and waterfall and a rocksaw that cuts a fair bit of rock. Don't you just love electricity at the push of a butten? Who wants to go running in a treadmill trying to get the same good service?? Wind is fickle..and solar power well , that is also an expensive set-up. If we don't tumble we will spend any left-over cash on other things that we may not enjoy as much as rocks.
Therefor... keep on rumbling-tumbling
Jack
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drupe
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Post by drupe on Dec 24, 2005 18:08:06 GMT -5
Condor: Don't listen to all these Technicrats, they research and calculate and come up with some off the wall figure and blame the cost increase on everything but the correct cause. You and I both know the cause is the tumblers. I have my own generator for my little workshop, so sent all of your high operating cost tumblers or vibes to me and I'll save you operating costs, I'll even return your postage. The Season must have something to do with my offer. Merry Christmas to All Pete ![8-)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/cool.png)
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earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
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Post by earthdog on Dec 24, 2005 20:52:48 GMT -5
Ok since most everyone is naming all their tumblers, and 1 pond, here I go, 1 QT66,1 #12 lortone, 1 #4 lortone, 2 #3 lortones 1 dual 1.5 lortone, 1 dual c.e. 1 single c.e. and a #4 vibe running all the time, plus 2 1585 gph water pumps in my pond with 6 20watt underwater lights and 10 20watt landscape lights around the pond running all the time. The wife is ready to kill me. That doesn't even include the 2 big aquariums with pumps/lights running all the time.
Deepsouth, show me a picture of your pond, I'll show you mine...
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carolelgin
starting to spend too much on rocks
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BlueBelle
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Post by carolelgin on Dec 24, 2005 23:03:13 GMT -5
Sitting here in the dark. The bill has to go down. I'll be darned if I am turning off the tumblers. Anyone got a candle?
Actually, from what I have read above, it is more expensive to run these than I would have guessed. Hmmmmm. Have to go find another light to turn off. Mom? Put that book away!
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
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Post by Tellfamily on Dec 25, 2005 0:06:15 GMT -5
Lucky we have a good price on electricty here in Utah. It only costs me $4.5 to run the QT66 a month. Not too bad until you add all the other tumblers. three at 3.90. One at 3.85 (which only runs every other month for 2 weeks)
So . . . It cost about about $205 a year for the tumblers & I should throw in another $20 for the saw.
Total per year $225. Add the grit, rocks ordered, gas to collect local rocks, and all the wire supplies purchased.
Finish about 600 rocks a year. So each polished rock costs about $1.37.
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WarrenA
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Post by WarrenA on Dec 26, 2005 21:55:13 GMT -5
with the 600 rocks a year are these all for yourself or are you selling some?
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Duckbean
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Looking for rocks in all the wrong places
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Post by Duckbean on Dec 26, 2005 22:33:31 GMT -5
Man am I glad my wife doesn't read these threads! You guys would get me in all kinds of trouble!I've been telling her that it just the cost of gas, not the tumblers and the saw and grinders and the lights for the bonsai and then here it is in black and white for anyone to see! Haven't any of you heard of the Rock Tumblers Secrecy Act? Each of you have just been find a chunck of" note"very nice rock I expect it to be sent A.S.A.P to make it easy on all of you just send it to me and I will kindly forward it. Thank you and have a nice day!
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Dec 27, 2005 10:10:44 GMT -5
Loved the Fixed Rate- I pay only .035/ per Kilowatt (less at night only.025) but after my 18 year old moved out our elctric bill dropped $40 per month!!!! (the wife does not even know the tumblers are using tricity!) plus I'm a light fiend-- I'm replacing all incandecents with those flourences (just the cost savings in not having to change bulbs is worth it) Plus I run around all night turning off lights the wife and daughter leave on (walk inot a room-turn on the light- walk out- leave light on!) plus I use my pellet stove to help heat the house so the baseboard heaters don't run nearly as much- and I did not put up outside decos this year (actually too sick to do it) plus our camper is no longer plugged into the house- So the savings more than makes up for the tumbler usage!
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Tellfamily
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Post by Tellfamily on Dec 27, 2005 23:45:21 GMT -5
What do we do with 600 rocks a year? Well we have a really big plastic tote full of polished rocks.
Give some to the kids classmates when we go in & talk about rocks & Geo things.
Use some for crafts.
Use a few for jewerly.
Give some away in GeoCache containers when we use the GPS.
Mostly watch the pile grow & wonder if we will every get good enough at wire wrapping to use more of the rocks up.
And the crazy thng is, I STILL buy rocks (like the 250 lbs. in the garage is not enough) We STILL go out on rock hounding trips.
I think I have a propblem!!!!!
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carolelgin
starting to spend too much on rocks
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BlueBelle
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Post by carolelgin on Dec 30, 2005 19:23:33 GMT -5
Oh, so many rocks! I am still trying to accumulate enough to line my fireplace with. Do you have a fireplace? In the spring when we stop burning the wood, I plan to line the fire place with the rocks and put in a multi candle holder. Very earthy.
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Post by rockds on Dec 31, 2005 2:11:17 GMT -5
I didn't read all the posts but most electric companies have raised their prices lately (because they can) and I would assume that this is were the additional dollars are coming from. I'm sure Lcars can tell us how much kilowatts a tumbler uses
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