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By Jim Jordan
Pat and I have an Aquascape Pump (brand name). I'm assuming that it is not a magnetic driven pump because in the manual I find no mention of a magnet. It has a shaft and an oil plug. The following is listed on the side of the pump:
Discharge 1/5 H.P.
Output 1/5 H.P.
Voltage 110V
Current 2.6A
Head (max) 18 feet
Capacity 2700 GPH (based on 5 ft. dynamic head)
Frequency 60 Hz
Insulation E.
The manual says it is 286 watts.
What does it cost?
Consider the following glossary:
Watt: Unit to measure electricity Kilowatt (KW) = 1000 watts Kilowatt hour (KWH) - unit of energy equal to 1000 watts of electricity used in one hour. Electricity is priced by the KWH.
We have a meter that distinguishes usage of ON PEAK hours vs. OFF PEAK hours. On peak hours are Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Off peak hours are M-F 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday. My on-peak rate is 12 cents/KWH and my off-peak rate is 8.7 cents/KWH.
For simplicity in figuring this I am going to average the above rates and just say that it is 10 cents/KWH (close but not precise).
The pump uses 286 watts/hour x 24 hours/day = 6864 watts/day divided by 1000 = 6.86 kwh/day. 6.86 x 10 cents/kwh = 68.6cents/day x 30 days/month = $20.58/month.
I learned at a recent meeting that I could keep my pond open with an aquarium aerator. So far it is working. If I remove the pump for 5 months I can save about $100. Not subtracting the aerator usage, which is negligible.
Last winter I placed a 1000W tank heater in the bottom of the pond. A 1000W heater thus uses a KWH each hour x 24 hours a day = 24 kwh x 10 cents = $2.40/day x 30 days/month = $72.00/month assuming it was on constantly. I used it for 3 months at a potential cost of $216.
I do not plan to use it this winter. So far things seem okay but I did find it necessary to enlarge the small hole in the ice around the bubbles this week. Ask me next spring about how the fish survived.