Energy Cost/Usage by DC

[JTWill]

Originally posted by: Spacehead
Anyone check out this thread in OT?
Don't know how accurite it is, but...


Let's see, i have 2 P4 HT Prescott's & an AMD XP 1800 running 24/7. I turn off monitor when i know i won't be using it for quite awhile. Other than that it powers down in 20 mins.
Other electric appliances in the home are:
Fridge
Water heater
Washer/Dryer
Water pump
Furnace is Propane but the blowers gotta run
1 TV
Stereo system
various lights
fans in the summer

KWH used last month: 551 = 18.36/day
Avg monthly KWH in last 12 months: 481

Both of the Prscott's were bought in the last 6 months, one last Nov. & one a few months ago. That could that be part of the difference in last months KWH vs my avg KWH???

That is a very general way of going about it and I wound not call it accurate, but I'll put through along with my actual measured readings and compare them.

 

[Assimilator1]

mondobyte
I have made the measurements and the calculations ... computers just don't use that much electricity.

Any figures for that?
Btw interesting post

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: JTWill
His method leaves me asking questions, But I tell you what guys, I'll break out my recording Fluke Ammeter and take readings of all my equipment and list what they are. The big problem with what he did is not to look at the differance of normal system use and the system use of a DC project. Break out my calclations book also. To tired to bother with seeing if he used the right formulas.

Your friendly over-worked Master Electrician.............

Thanks! I'd like to know the difference in "sleep" mode vs a 100% loaded cpu with power saving features turned off (except for the monitor). Let's not include the monitor in these dicussions, we all know they use a lot of juice and it's easy to turn them off.

 

[Mark R]

His method leaves me asking questions, But I tell you what guys, I'll break out my recording Fluke Ammeter and take readings of all my equipment and list what they are. The big problem with what he did is not to look at the differance of normal system use and the system use of a DC project. Break out my calclations book also. To tired to bother with seeing if he used the right formulas.

You'll need more than an ammeter to get an accurate power measurement. You need some sort of power meter. Many PC PSUs have notoriously bad power factor, so simply measuring current and multiplying by voltage is likely to give a significant over-estimate.

Computers can use a significant amount of energy, especially if left on 24/7. My own measurements with my rig (AXP 2500+, 2x 7200 HDD, 2x optical, ATI 9700 Pro) are 120W at idle, and 140W at full CPU load (SETI). This does not include monitor or other peripherals - just the base unit.

If left on 24/7 it would consume about 100 kWh / month if running SETI (down to a minimum of about 85 kWh / month if left largely idle). In monetary costs (assuming a 10c / kWh) that's about $10/ month at full load, with $1.50 / month of that attributable to DC.

Higher end PCs, particularly 'Prescott' Pentium 4 processors use considerably more power, as do higher-end graphics cards. 250W at full load is not inconceivable with a top-of the range CPU. Some reviews of the new Intel Dual core CPUs have put a base unit's power consumption at over 300 W when equipped with the fastest processor.

When switched 'off' or in 'hibernation' a PC should use less than 5 W - less than 3W in most cases.

 

[Spacehead]

Originally posted by: JTWill
That is a very general way of going about it and I wound not call it accurate, but I'll put through along with my actual measured readings and compare them.

Yeah, i wasn't meaning it to be accurite & i was in a hurry to get to work when i posted that. THere was something else i was going to add to it but i forget what now.


I'm no computer wiz but my comps seem to act weirder when i turn them on/off alot. Everything just seems more stable when they've been running longer.
Now that it's summer i'll have to shut some of them down on days i can't leave the windows open
gotta get the garage cleaned & an area set up in it

 

[emjem]

We need something solid to use on our tax returns. Surely the cost of running FaD is a charitable contribution.

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: emjem
We need something solid to use on our tax returns. Surely the cost of running FaD is a charitable contribution.

ROFL!

 

[Assimilator1]

Sounds plauseable!

 

[JTWill]

Originally posted by: emjem
We need something solid to use on our tax returns. Surely the cost of running FaD is a charitable contribution.

Use the link spacehead gave it is plausable, my problem is its to general of a tool. As soon as I get by a job site I'll put 4 machines to the test. For mine it will be with FAD running 100%, then on suspend. No monitors just a list of what the machines are. Suprised I have not done this before.

I agree with Mondobyte in that comps really do not use that much.