Electricity Bill for 2.1 Speaker System?

[twakkie]

Does anyone know roughly how much power my 2.1 system uses per month? My last bill skyrocketed and it's either the heating or my new system...

Receiver: HK 435
Speakers: MMG-W
Subwoofer: HSU STF-1

I usually play music from my Dell XPS M1530 through that system.

Also, is there a setting where the receiver won't take as much energy or does it do that automatically? I'm assuming that even though it's a 7.1 receiver, the fact that I use it for a 2.1 system would take a lot less power... Also, I play at a relatively low volume--usually somewhere between -30dB to -40dB...

Also, I think my rate is $.08/KWH...

Thank you!

 

[TLS Guy]

Does anyone know roughly how much power my 2.1 system uses per month? My last bill skyrocketed and it's either the heating or my new system...

Receiver: HK 435
Speakers: MMG-W
Subwoofer: HSU STF-1

I usually play music from my Dell XPS M1530 through that system.

Also, is there a setting where the receiver won't take as much energy or does it do that automatically? I'm assuming that even though it's a 7.1 receiver, the fact that I use it for a 2.1 system would take a lot less power... Also, I play at a relatively low volume--usually somewhere between -30dB to -40dB...

Also, I think my rate is $.08/KWH...

Thank you!

Where do you live? It's winter. What are your sources of heat?

If you are using any sources of electric heat, even a plug in heater, that will dwarf the power draw of your audio system.

The power draw of your equipment will be on the back labels and in your manuals.

 

[emorphien]

I'd imagine it's your heating. Unless that system is pumping out sound 24/7 the heater will dwarf it in power consumption.

 

[its phillip]

I'd love to pay .08/KWH

Definitely the heating.

 

[j_garcia]

Your audio system is definitely NOT going to be a significant factor in your electricity bill. Certainly not a 2.1 system and not the receiver itself.

 

[twakkie]

Thanks guys! So even for a $160 bill, my system should barely make a dent in it considering that I pretty much use it whenever I'm in the apartment?

And kinda off topic: plug in heaters would take significantly less energy than a heating system, right? Especially considering that it'd only be heating the room I'm in (the living room and other bedroom is pretty much always empty).

And I THINK I'm paying $.08/KWH... My bill doesn't directly say it but it said my average KWH per day was 60 and average cost per day was $4.72... Logically (hopefully), $4.72 / 60KWH = $.08

Also, I looked at the back of the components or the manual:
Receiver: "Power Consumption 59W at Power On, idle; 1,000W at rated power output (7 channels driven)"
Subwoofer: "180 watts max power consumption" (the volume knob is at next to minimum if not at the first tick)
Speakers: I couldn't find a "power consumption" part but the closest is this from the manual: "40 to 150W @8 Ohms"

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks guys! So even for a $160 bill, my system should barely make a dent in it considering that I pretty much use it whenever I'm in the apartment?

And kinda off topic: plug in heaters would take significantly less energy than a heating system, right? Especially considering that it'd only be heating the room I'm in (the living room and other bedroom is pretty much always empty).

And I THINK I'm paying $.08/KWH... My bill doesn't directly say it but it said my average KWH per day was 60 and average cost per day was $4.72... Logically (hopefully), $4.72 / 60KWH = $.08

Also, I looked at the back of the components or the manual:
Receiver: "Power Consumption 59W at Power On, idle; 1,000W at rated power output (7 channels driven)"
Subwoofer: "180 watts max power consumption" (the volume knob is at next to minimum if not at the first tick)
Speakers: I couldn't find a "power consumption" part but the closest is this from the manual: "40 to 150W @8 Ohms"

On average your power consumption from your system will be like having a 120 watt light bulb on.

Use your central heating. In North America because they unwisely chose 120 volt for house hold electric appliances, plug in heaters are a big fire risk. In my view they should be avoided on safety grounds. In our region a significant number of people have become homeless and been fired by the use of plug in heaters already this heating season.

 

[its phillip]

Most plug in heaters will be 1500/1800 watt units which is pretty high...you can get radiant heaters that use halogen bulbs that are only 400/800 watts which is much more economical.

 

[TLS Guy]

Most plug in heaters will be 1500/1800 watt units which is pretty high...you can get radiant heaters that use halogen bulbs that are only 400/800 watts which is much more economical.

Yes, but a watt of heat is a watt of heat. However when close to a radiant heat source you feel warmer than with convection type heat. However the low powered radiant source will not heat the whole space as well just its immediate surroundings.

 

[just-some-guy]

those little plug in heats will put a big hit on your electric bill. and, as said, they can be dangerous. if you are using them, that is your problem.

also. see if its possible that somehow someone is tapping into your electric. like an outlet in the hallway or something.

 

[its phillip]

Yes, but a watt of heat is a watt of heat. However when close to a radiant heat source you feel warmer than with convection type heat. However the low powered radiant source will not heat the whole space as well just its immediate surroundings.

Yes, this is very true. The little radiant heaters are great for heating one thing/small area, the convection heaters are better at whole rooms. I ended up bringing my 1500watt ceramic heater to work since my office is relatively spacious and damned cold, and buying a small radiant heater for my bedroom to aim at my computer area

 

[TLS Guy]

those little plug in heats will put a big hit on your electric bill. and, as said, they can be dangerous. if you are using them, that is your problem.

also. see if its possible that somehow someone is tapping into your electric. like an outlet in the hallway or something.

I really doubt someone is stealing his supply. $160 is a tiny electric bill for winter. Here around $400 a month is more typical, and if the forecast is correct, I expect around $500.

 

[sholling]

Yes, this is very true. The little radiant heaters are great for heating one thing/small area, the convection heaters are better at whole rooms. I ended up bringing my 1500watt ceramic heater to work since my office is relatively spacious and damned cold, and buying a small radiant heater for my bedroom to aim at my computer area

I find that my computers make pretty good space heaters - which sucks in the summer. But then my desktop has a 4 core processor, high-end graphics and 6 HDs, 2 optical drives, and an SSD. About $20/mo if I leave it on 24/7 which never happens.

 

[its phillip]

My computer does make a reasonably decent heater, but I'm a wimp and still get cold easily. It does suck in the summer, though. My specs are comparable to yours. I dunno my costs per month but I do leave it on 24/7

 

[just-some-guy]

I really doubt someone is stealing his supply.

$160 is a tiny electric bill for winter. Here around $400 a month is more typical, and if the forecast is correct, I expect around $500.

same here. but ya never know.

my dec 2010 electric bill is $57. wifes tv is on nearly all day. my computer and DLP on evenings and much of the weekends (in the winter).
my dec gas bill was $37. probably about $60 for jan & feb.

 

[walter duque]

On heavy usage of my system my bill goes up about $40.00 to $50.00 in two months.

 

[sholling]

My computer does make a reasonably decent heater, but I'm a wimp and still get cold easily. It does suck in the summer, though. My specs are comparable to yours. I dunno my costs per month but I do leave it on 24/7

I used a Kill A Watt to get the numbers. It's pretty cool you plug your device in and give the P4460 your rate/kw and let it measure for a few hours. That takes all of the guess work out of what costs how much to run.

I'd freak out if I ever got another $400 electric bill. Summers I see $250-300 running the AC all the time. Winters see $170 electric bills and the gas bill skyrockets from a summertime $15/mo to as high as $50.

 

[its phillip]

I actually have a kill a watt, but don't use it. If I ever get around to it, I can unplug from the ups and go directly with the kill a watt just to see the computer's usage, but I pretty much never turn it off.

According to my UPS, my machine + switch + monitor are using 273 watts. I dunno what it'd go up to at load.

For my electric bills, they're ~$250 a month all the time since we are on an average billing plan with TXU (ac set to 78F). Monthly gas bills are ~$60 - we have gas heat (house is only set to 64F) and a gas water heater.

 

[sholling]

I actually have a kill a watt, but don't use it. If I ever get around to it, I can unplug from the ups and go directly with the kill a watt just to see the computer's usage, but I pretty much never turn it off.

According to my UPS, my machine + switch + monitor are using 273 watts. I dunno what it'd go up to at load.

For my electric bills, they're ~$250 a month all the time since we are on an average billing plan with TXU (ac set to 78F). Monthly gas bills are ~$60 - we have gas heat (house is only set to 64F) and a gas water heater.

My heat central hear is set to 73 in the winter and the 2-stage gas heater with variable speed fan keeps it at exactly 73 with zero variance. But I seal the fireplace and have good seals on all doors and windows. In the summer the house is 76 but unused rooms are closed off, special screens block heat from the windows, the AC is high efficiency, and every light is a CF.

 

[TLS Guy]

same here. but ya never know.

my dec 2010 electric bill is $57. wifes tv is on nearly all day. my computer and DLP on evenings and much of the weekends (in the winter).
my dec gas bill was $37. probably about $60 for jan & feb.

It was -31 C here last night. They way this winter is going I will leave a carbon foot print of about 50 tons of CO2.

I'm getting through about a cord of wood a month and 4000 kwhs of ripple electric heat at $0.048 per KW and I've used around 100 gallons of propane in the mast month.