Time of Use

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Time of use is a metering concept based around changing your usage behavior to not only lower your costs, but the costs of the utility as well. What is time of use? How can you take advantage and benefit from time of use? How does the utility benefit from time of use? These are three important questions that surround the time of use concept.

What is time of use?

Time of use is actually a very simple concept. Utilities use on peak periods and off peak periods. On peak periods are those periods during which the utility normally hits their peak. This is defined as a time period. For instance, the on peak period could be from 2pm – 5pm, Monday – Friday. In this example, the off peak periods would be everything outside 2pm – 5pm, Monday – Friday. Or, the periods of time in which the utility does not peak.

These time periods are typically have names with letters such as, period A or B. The electric meters are programmed with these time periods. Typically these meters have more than one register reading that is displayed. The readings that are displayed are for the different time periods.

In a time of use rate, on peak and off peak prices are different. On peak prices are more expensive than off peak prices. This is to encourage businesses and even some individuals to change their usage during these times. Which leads to the next point.








How can you take advantage and benefit from Time of Use?

To take advantage of time of use and reap all of the benefits you need to do a study of your usage. Some utilities will provide you with this service free of charge. They will install a load profile meter (often called a load survey meter). After a few months you can view the data. The data lets you know what times during the day you use the most power. Armed with this information you can make decisions about the available time of use rates offered by your utility.

It may be that you can come in an hour earlier to avoid hitting that peak. Or maybe completing some of your processes in the morning instead of the afternoon. The data lets you know.

Time of use offers a discount during off peak times. This is where the big advantage lies. Compare the prices of on peak versus off peak for the rates at your utility. You can save big. But beware, once your are on a time of use rate usage during the on peak time are higher.

How does the Utility benefit from Time of Use?

The utility benefits by being able to shift some load to off peak times. Looking at the utility’s consumption on a line graph shows when they peak. The normal line graph has peaks and valleys. They too are billed on the peak. Or if they generate their own power when the peaks are high they have to bump up their generation. Ideally, looking at a line graph, a utility wants their line to be straight. This means that the generation is constant. Moving some customers from on peak periods to off peak periods is one way of achieving this. The utility benefits from the lower cost of generation or price and passes that on to the customer.

In conclusion, time of use is a rate structure that is comprised of on peak and off peak time periods. It can be a great way for customers to lower their bill by shifting some of their normal routines. Utilities benefit by being able to shift some of their on peak load to off peak times thus reducing their overall demand costs as well.









Totalizing Meter Readings

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Totalizing meter readings can be a very effective way to lower your demand and KWH costs. So, if you are a commercial or industrial customer and have multiple meters you may benefit from totalizing your meter readings. What is totalizing? How can you benefit from totalizing? What are the different methods of totalizing?

What is totalizing?

Totalizing, at its simplest form is nothing more than addition. You take the meter readings from all of the meters that you have and you add them together. This, in turn, gives you one meter reading. Furthermore, it is much easier many times for the customer as they only have to keep up with one bill. A more advanced definition of totalizing is that by combining your meter readings the peak demand can be effectively reduced.

To explain this we need an example. Look at the picture below. In it you see that there are three lines. In this example we have meter A, B and totalized meter C. Also note that the numbers on the bottom are hours of the day. Here we are assuming that the demand interval is hourly. Notice that meter A peaks at 3:00 PM. The peak demand for meter A is 24 KW. Notice that the peak demand for meter B is also 24 KW but it occurs at 9:00 AM. If you do not remember how demand works go over to my page on demand for a better understanding.

.totalizing chart




Now that you have seen where meters A and B peak, let’s look at the totalizing meter C. Meter C peaks at 12:00 PM with a peak of 19.5 KW. This is 4.5 KW less than both meter A and meter B. This is because the totalizer effectively averages out all of its inputs. With KWH totalizing simply adds all of the KWH readings of the meters.

How can you benefit from totalizing?

Well, using the example above I am sure that you can see that your demand is reduced. So, let’s put that into dollars. Assume that your per KW demand charge is $15.00. For each meter that you have, A and B you will pay $360 each (24 KW x 15). So, for both meters you pay $720 per month just in demand charges. In addition, if you totalize with meter C your demand charges would only be $292.50 (19.5 KW x 15). A savings of $427.50! This is huge! However, remember that this is just an example, it is exaggerated.

You also save with your KWH charges. The reason for this is that most rates are tiered. Meaning that the price changes as you use more KWH. Also, in most cases the price goes down. If meter A uses 10,000 KWH in a month and meter B uses 15,000 KWH in month then in total they use 25,000 KWH. However, if the price buckets are as follows:

  • $0.10 for the first 5,000 KWH
  • $0.08 for the next 10,000 KWH
  • $0.06 for all over 15,000 KWH

then if your meters are billed separately you will not be able to take advantage of the cheaper rate bucket. If you totalize however you will be able to take advantage and save on your KWH as well.

What are the different methods of totalizing?

There are two main methods of totalizing. Totalizing with software is the first. Using hardware, such as the meter is the second. To totalize with software the utility downloads readings from each of the meters that are to be totalized. The utility then uploads the readings to a totalizing program. This program looks at all of the readings adds them together and averages them out. Then it gives you the totalized readings.

Using hardware to totalize is a bit different. Wires are run from the meters that need to be totalized. Then to a central meter that totalizes the readings internally. The utility then reads this totalized meter to get the readings. Finally, the utility bills the customer with the totalized readings.

Final Thoughts

Although it sounds like totalizing is definitely worth it you need to be aware that your utility may charge a premium to totalize your readings. This can vary and also may not be worth it. Instead of paying facility charges for the meters that you already have, you may pay for those and the totalizer. In addition, totalizing meters are expensive.

It is best to talk with your utility to determine if you are a good candidate for totalizing.








Computers and the Meter Tech

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As a meter tech a computer will be very useful in your job. Many tasks in the metering world are not possible without the use of a computer. Because of the this meter techs will need to know how to use different programs. They will also need to know how to analyze data.

Programming meters as a meter tech is an easy streamlined process. Many of the meter manufacturers have easy to use programming software. Once the program is built all you need to do is connect the probe to the meter. Then click the program and go through the prompt. Building the program can be tricky for those who do not know their way around a computer. If you need to change variables you need to know what the changes will do in the program.

Outside of programming meters, meter techs will need to be able to use Microsoft Word and Excel. Word is not used as much as Excel but is good to know. Many tasks can be completed with Excel. However, it will mostly be used to view data. At times data will also be exported to Excel. At other times data will need to be calculated in Excel. You can also use Excel as a small database for things such as test sites, or new installations. Meter techs also use Excel to view .CSV files and bill details.








One of the most important uses of the computer to the meter tech is billing system. Here the meter tech will look up the details of customer bills when talking to customers about their high bill complaints. It is important to know how to use this system and use it effectively. There are typically historical comments where other techs may have gone out before you. Also, you may find out that this is a problem customer. If that is the case you will know that you need to be on your game. This means meeting the customer with all of the facts.

In the billing system, meter techs will also assign multipliers to meters. This is very important. An incorrect multiplier in the billing system is one of the easiest mistakes to make. Especially if you have just completed a new installation. Billing systems are typically good at kicking out readings that appear to high or too low. And if a meter was just changed and the incorrect multiplier for that particular meter was put in the system it will generally get kicked out. However, with at new installation the computer has no history of that location to go on. Noticing this error could take years. Furthermore, this could be in the customer’s favor or in the favor of the utility.

In conclusion, being a meter tech is more that just going out in the field and swapping out meters. You need to have a good grasp on technology. Computers are essential to meter techs. The sooner you can master at least the basics the better.









PPE in Metering

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When it comes to working with meters as a meter tech you always have to remember that there will be times that you are working around energized equipment. And because of this you need to make sure that you protect yourself in the case of an accident. In order to protect yourself you need to make sure that you are always wearing your PPE. What is PPE you may ask? PPE stands for personal protective equipment. It is safety equipment that is designed to make sure that in case of an accident or in case of incidental contact with live conductors that we are not injured or even worse, killed. What I am going to detail here are the minimum requirements for a meter tech. Also listed are a few things that may not be required by your utility but are good idea. Be reminded however that these are minimums and that you should always wear the minimum that is required by your company.

Minimum

Hard Hat

A hard hat is first on our list. The hard hat is generally made of a hard plastic material that has a webbed support system inside. The support system inside ensures that the hard hat is a cool as possible as well as provide a bit of a crush zone should something heavy fall. Your hard hat protects you from falling objects, but that is not all. The hard hat can also keep you from hitting your head if you are in an area with a low ceiling or if you are working in an enclosure or transformer it can keep you from hitting your head or having accidental contact with conductors. Another thing that a hard hat protects you from is the sun.

Your hard hat also keeps the sun off of your shiny head and keeps you from getting sun burned. Be sure that you inspect your hard hat on a regular basis for any cracks or sun damage. In addition, if you suspect any damage it is best to go ahead and replace your hard hat. It is easier to replace your hard hat than your head!

Safety Glasses

Safety glasses are essential as a part of your PPE arsenal. They protect your eyes from flying objects! Safety glasses also seem to be one of the most neglected pieces of PPE. People think that they just do not need them, especially if they are working at night. It is imperative that you wear your safety glasses to protect your eyes. There are even models now that are designed as sun glasses so that you look more stylish. Safety glasses do have ratings so make sure that you check with your company policy before wearing a pair of sunglasses to work.

Rubber Gloves

Rubber gloves are essential if you are going to be working on or near anything energized. I know that many of the old timers used to work secondary with just leather gloves. I also know that there are those of you out there that think there is nothing wrong with changing meters or checking voltage with just your bare hands. Yes you make get away with it a few times, or you may never even have a problem. However, it only takes one time for electricity to kill your or to burn off a finger. Make sure that you are testing your rubber gloves before each use. Also, make sure that you know the rating of your rubber gloves. Many meter techs will have two different sets of rubber gloves. They may have a low voltage set that are rated for 1000v and they may have a high voltage set. The high voltage set will vary based on the primary that your utility uses. Do not try to use your secondary gloves on primary! They are not rated for that voltage and you will be hurt or killed! For this reason, many utilities do not give their lineman secondary gloves. The rubber gloves will have leather protectors with them. Always use them. And also do not forget to check your protectors for holes either.








Clothes

This will vary from utility to utility because of the different arc flash ratings. Make sure you are wearing whatever your utility mandates. This will keep you safe in the event of a flash. In addition, most utilities now require flame retardant clothing. Do not wear any jewelry or watches or even metal belt buckles. In the event of an electrocution these items will act as heat sinks and burn your skin.

Safety Toe Shoes

Shoes with a safety toe will keep falling objects from crushing your toes. Make sure also that your shoes, or boots, are rated for electrical hazards. This will ensure that they are not building up static electricity as you walk.

Recommended

Face Shields

Face shields are one of the controversial pieces of safety equipment right now. Some people hate them, mainly the people wearing them, and some love them, mainly management. If your utility requires face shields, wear them. If your utility does not require face shields but provides them, use them when you think they may be necessary. Face shields can protect you in the event of a flash.

Rubber Sleeves

Rubber sleeves are something that you typically see lineman wearing working out of a bucket. But, they have their place in the metering world as well. If you are working in an enclosure such as a transformer it can be a good idea to use rubber sleeves to protect you in case of accidental contact.

Summary

PPE is important to you as a meter tech. Do not take it for granted. However, do not think that just because you are wearing all of the PPE your utility provides that you are working safely. There is no substitute for knowledge when it comes to safety. Learn the best practices for working safely from those around you. Just because you are wearing rubber gloves does not mean that you need to just go around touching all of the live conductors just be cause you can. Be cautious. Be safe. If it will be safer to turn something off to work on it, then plan an outage. And remember however, that safety is up to you not your company. You are the one who will go home to your family everyday not your company. Also remember that the list I provided above is just a basic list. Do what your company says. If I have left anything out let me know. Work at your own risk. I take no responsibility if you get hurt.








Testing a Form 9s transformer rated installation

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The form 9s meter is perhaps one of the most popular meter forms used in metering. It is a versatile meter that can be used to meter either a 120/208 three phase four wire wye service or a 277/480 three phase four wire wye service. Can the form 9s be used to meter other services? Yes but I am only going to cover these two here. When testing a form 9s transformer rated installation you will be looking at a few different things. You will check the meter, the wiring, the CT’s and/or PT’s, and the voltage as well as the transformer.

First a disclaimer. If you are not a meter tech or a qualified person then you do not need to attempt anything that is written below in regard to the form 9s. It can kill you if you do not know what you are doing.

When we check the form 9s meter in a transformer rated installation there are a couple of things that we will look at and take note of. First we want to check the meter number. I know this sounds simple but you want to make sure that you are in the right place. Now write down the readings of the meter. There should be a simple kwh reading as well as a kw reading. It is also possible that your utility uses more than these such as kva. You may also be required to download the information from the meter as well. If the meter is a solid state meter you want to make sure that there are no diagnostic codes in the meter. If there are you will need to check them and find out what the problem is.

Solid state meters have come a long way. If you do not have a piece of test equipment that is capable of showing you the vector diagram of your form 9s meter you can logon to the meter and view the vector diagram there. The vector diagram can alert you to things that you may not be able to see right away. Vector diagrams can also let you know if you have any wires crossed as well as the amplitude of the current and voltage on all three phases. Using vector diagrams you can also view all of your phase angles.

We are still talking about the meter here. If you have an electro-mechanical form 9s meter then the procedure is a little different. There is nothing to logon to. The meter may have lights for each voltage phase. If so, you want to make sure that they are all lit up. Next, you want to do what is know as an element check. You will also do this with the solid state meter but you will have to leave all of the voltage switches in as the display likely comes off of A or C phase. To do the element check you will open all of the switches with the exception of the neutral switch. Then you close the voltage switch and the current switches for the phase your will be working on. You are doing this to ensure that each element in the meter causes the disk to rotate in a forward direction. Remember that the disk rotates in a counter-clockwise rotation.








After checking the meter you will want to check the wiring of the form 9s. Give the wiring a good visual check. Look at all of the terminations that you can see and make sure that the color code is correct. If you suspect overheating and think the wire needs to be replaced do so as soon as possible. Wires that are out in the sun tend to crack after several years so you want to make note of this. If the wiring needs to be replaced make a work order to do so. Look at the wiring on the CT’s and PT’s. Does everything look good? Improper wiring is one of the biggest causes of lost revenue with a form 9s metering installation. If the wiring looks good, let’s move on to the CT’s and PT’s.

I am not going to go in depth in this post about testing the CT’s and PT’s, that is for a later date. What I want to tell you here is to visually inspect the CT’s. If you can see the nameplate then that is great. Make sure that the multiplier on the meter matches whatever the CT ratio says that it should be. After that, make sure that the multiplier on the meter is what the multiplier is in the computer system.

This is one of the other big mistakes that you will find with the form 9s. It is so easy to input a multiplier incorrectly into the system. That is why you need to check it for every transformer rated meter that you test. After you verify the CT ratio on the nameplate use test equipment to test the CT. This may be a CT burden test or an admittance test. You can also do a ratio test.

After the CT’s you will want to check the PT’s. Verify the wiring and make sure that you do have voltage on all three phases. The PT’s are so much easier than the CT’s. On the subject of PT’s we always want to check the voltage and make sure that it is the correct voltage for the service.

Next we want to check the transformer. Look at the transformer and make sure that it is not leaking oil anywhere. Also, visually inspect all of the secondary connections that you can see and make sure there is no overheating. If you have an infrared camera now is a good time to use it and check the connections for hot spots. Be very careful when working around transformers as it is possible to have the primary connections very close to the secondary. Make sure that you are wearing all of your PPE before doing any of the aforementioned work.

You will want to check the KVA of the transformer and compare it against the KW reading of the meter which is called demand. If you cannot get the power factor from the meter either because it is a mechanical meter or you do not have a way with another piece of equipment you can use 80% for the power factor.

To convert KW to KVA you will divide the KW by the power factor. This will give you KVA. Let’s do the calculation. Let’s say that you have a form 9s meter that has a KW reading of 0.8 with a multiplier of 80. First, multiply 0.8 x 80 = 64 KW. Then if you cannot get a power factor reading assume 80%. 64/.80 = 80 KVA. Now that you have the KVA check to make sure that it is in the limits of the transformer. If it is you are good. If not get with engineering to make a change.

There it is. That is how to can check a form 9s metering installation. As always, be careful and always wear your PPE.








What are test switches for?

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Every now and then in the electric metering field you will run across a transformer rated metering installation that does not have a test switch. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Most CT rated installations require that test switches be installed. These switches can be used for a few different things. To test the meter, to shunt the CT’s, to safely remove the CT rated meter from service and they can also be used to check the voltage and the amperage on the service without actually having to open an enclosure or go into a fence.

Why do certain installations not utilize test switches? The answer here would most likely be cost. The meter bases or CT rated installations that you will typically find without test switches are form 3s and form 4s meter bases. Form 3s and form 4s meters are many times found on large residences and sometimes large temporary services such as construction services or school trailers that are not thought to be in service very long. The cost of installing the test switch along with the cost of the larger meter base to hold the test switch is often times a deterrent. Also, in the case of residences one could argue that they just do not use enough power to justify putting a large meter base and test switch on the wall because the meter will be changed out when all of the form 2s meters are changed on their neighbors homes.

Installing a transformer rated service without a test switch can be a bad thing. One thing that you have to remember is that when you pull the meter in a CT rated service and you do not use a test switch is that you are opening the circuit of the secondary side of the CT. This leads to a build up of voltage on this circuit which is dangerous to metering personnel. The proper procedure without a test switch would then be to shunt the secondary side of the CT before pulling the meter.

Test switches can be used to test the meter. With different types of test equipment they can be used to test the meter in service using the load that is available at the customer’s site. This can be a good test to show exactly how the meter is metering the service under the load that is currently on the service. You can also test the meter using a phantom load while it is still in the meter base using the test switches.








Test switches are also used to test the CT’s in the service. You can use various different types of test equipment to test the CT’s. You can test the burden on the CT circuit as well as determine how many amps are on the CT circuit as well.

To remove the meter from service you need to shunt the CT. There is a switch that does this for you. Shunt the CT out and you can safely remove the meter from service. You can also use the test switches to remove all voltage from the meter as well before removing the meter from service and before installing the meter in service.

With the new regulations regarding arc-flash hazards and safety, many utilities have adopted safety policies that no longer allow their personnel to work inside energized cabinets, pad mount transformers or other enclosures if the service is too large or if the voltage is too high. This is yet another thing that the test switch can be used for. It can be used to check and make sure that the customer is getting the proper voltage. You can also check the rotation in the meter base at the test switch as well.

All in all, it is a good practice to install test switches in all of your CT rated metering installations. They will allow you to test the meter in service, test the CT’s in service as well as allow you to check voltage and rotation. Test switches also allow you to safely install and remove meters from service by isolating the blocks of the meter base from current and voltage.








Can Compact Fluorescent Lights Lower Your Power Bill?

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An interesting question indeed. Can those little curly compact fluorescent light bulbs actually save you money on your power bill? The answer is yes! When comparing compact fluorescent light bulbs to the traditional incandescent light bulbs you need to consider a few things. One is light color. Another is wattage and the third is initial cost.

Light color is something that ultimately comes down to preference and I will admit that before compact fluorescent lights were out, I was just fine with the soft white light that was produced by the typical incandescent bulb. However, now that compact fluorescent bulbs have flooded the market you can now compare different light colors to best illuminate your space. There are fluorescent bulbs out there that are made to mimic the soft white light that is put off by the traditional incandescent bulb. These are marketed as soft light or warm light bulbs. These will give you the closest color to traditional incandescent light color that you can get from a fluorescent. Going up from there you have the popular natural and daylight light colors. These lights tend to have a white to blueish color and are made to mimic the natural sunlight that illuminates your home. To figure out which one is right for you, I recommend that you buy a few of each color and try them out and see which one you like best. You may prefer the daylight models in a home office or living room while the more traditional soft white, yellowish color fits your bedroom better. Just try them out and pick whatever looks best to you!

The next thing to consider is wattage. You will want to look at this not only from a savings perspective but from an illumination perspective as well. The ratings on compact fluorescent bulbs show us what kind of light they put off as if they were equivalent to their incandescent counterparts. For example, the replacement for a typical 60 watt traditional incandescent bulb is normally around a 13 watt fluorescent. This will normally be stated on the packaging. It will say something like 60 watt replacement or 60 watt equivalent. This helps us out because our light fixtures are rated for wattage as well. So, if for instance our living room fixture contains four 60 watt incandescent bulbs and we want to replace them and have the equivalent amount of light, we would need to buy four 60 watt equivalent, in this case 13 watt, bulbs.

The other thing to consider with the wattage is the amount that the new fluorescent bulb can save us on our power bill. Using the 60 watt bulb as an example. The rating of 60 watts means that if the bulb were turned on for one hour it would consume or use 60 watts of electricity. So, if we use the fluorescent bulb instead of the incandescent bulb we would use 13 watts in that hour instead of 60 watts. A difference of 47 watts!
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Now, before you get all exited because the fluorescent bulb uses almost five times less power than the incandescent bulb you need to remember that the fluorescent bulb costs more initially. Now, the price of these bulbs has come way down in the past few years but it is still a consideration to take into account. Remember when I said before that buying and installing fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs would lower your power bill? I said that it would. However, there is a huge but in there. The lighting load in your home is one of the lowest loads in your home. Let me illustrate.

Let’s say you have a typical three bedroom, two bathroom home. You have a fan in every bedroom that has four lights each and one in the living that has four lights. You also have two lamps in the living room as well. The kitchen has a single light fixture over the sink and a four light fixture in the middle. The bathroom has a four light fixture over the mirror and a one light fixture close to the toilet. The front and back doors each have a light outside and you have a two light fixture with spotlights on two corners outside. We will assume that all of the inside lights and the porch lights are 60 watt bulbs and the spotlights are 150 watt bulbs.

We have a total of 30, 60 watt bulbs and 4, 150 watt bulbs. 30 bulbs x 60 watts = 1,800 watts. 4 spotlights x 150 watts = 600 watts. 1,800 watt + 600 watts = 2,400 watts. That is just basic math that says that if all of your lights were on for one hour they would use 2,400 watts. Let’s put that in terms of dollars. First let’s remember that we are billed on kilowatt hours which means we need to divide 2,400 watts by 1,000. That equals 2.4 kwh. Assume a $0.12 per kwh and it costs 2.4 kwh x $0.12 and we get $0.288 to run all of our lights for one hour. Are you surprised? Now let’s do the calculation for the 13 watt equivalent. 30 x 13 = 390 watts. 4 x 40 = 160 watts. 390 + 160 = 550 watts / 1,000 = 0.55 x 0.12 = $0.066 for one hour. A big difference for sure but not one that you will likely notice. Let’s now assume all of the lights were on for 24 hours per day for 30 days. 24 x 30 = 720 x $0.288 = $207.36. And, 720 x .066 = $47.52. Now it looks like a huge difference but you have to remember that you do not typically turn on all of your lights at the same time. You may not even use some of them on a regular basis. I am not trying to say this to discourage you from buying fluorescent lights. I am saying this to let you know that they do help you out in the long run. You will save money in the long run but do not expect a drastic change in your bill from one month to the next. If you would like to know how to calculate your power bill follow the link to my page where I explain how your bill is calculated.

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Ductless Heating and Cooling Systems

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Ductless heating and cooling systems are an alternative to traditional central heating and air conditioning systems. What are they? Are ductless heating and cooling systems better than the traditional central heating and air conditioning systems? Can ductless air conditioning systems save you money on your power bill? Keep reading to find out.

What are Ductless Heating and Cooling Systems?

What is a ductless air conditioning unit? Ductless air conditioning units, also known as ductless mini split systems, are smaller self-contained air conditioning units that are meant to keep a space climate controlled. I say climate controlled because there are also ductless heat pump models as well. I will also refer to these systems as ductless heat pump, ductless air conditioners and ductless mini split systems, remember that they are all the same thing. Ductless mini split systems contain an evaporator that is mounted inside that also house the fan that blows the cool air or warm air into the space that it is keeping warm or cool. There are coolant lines attached to the evaporator that run outside to the condenser.

The units typically come with a remote control so that you can choose the setting that you want from the ground. They have built in thermostats that allow you to choose the temperature that is right for you. Ductless air conditioners also allow you to choose the fan speed. So, if you are hot and you want to feel more air rushing past you, you can do that. You can also use the unit as nothing more than a fan. If, for instance, it is already cool in the house but you just want a breeze you can use the fan setting.

Additional Features of Ductless Heating and Cooling Systems

Another feature that ductless mini split systems offer is a dehumidifier setting. This is good if you live in a humid climate. It is also good to prevent the growth of mold. Also, often times just by removing the moisture from the air you will feel cooler.

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With all of these features, are ductless air conditioners better than the traditional central HVAC unit? That depends. Ductless A/C units are zone heating and cooling units. This means that if you like your bedroom to be 65 degrees while you sleep at night but you do not want to pay to keep your entire house at 65 degrees then a ductless solution could be right for you. One of the biggest advantages of the ductless heat pump system is that you do not have to run duct-work. This means that if you are remodeling and you have a tiny crawl space and you are looking to add some sort of air conditioning to replace your window units a ductless heat pump could be a better option than a traditional central system.

Saving Money with Ductless Heating and Cooling

Can a ductless mini split system save you money? This is the ultimate question and if used properly the answer is yes. Ductless air conditioners are efficient and being able to control one room at a time means that you do not have to have one central unit that is sized to heat and cool your entire house. You can have individual units that run only when you need them too. One thing to remember about most A/C systems is that they basically know one speed and that is on.

There are some systems out there that are more advanced that do not use as much power when it is not needed but the majority know one speed. This means that when they are on they are using x amount of power as long as they are on. They will use x amount of power for x number of hours to keep your entire home comfortable. But if you have a room such as an office or guest bedroom that is rarely used, why heat and cool it? You can use smaller units that use less power when they are running. So if employed correctly you will use less power and save money.

If you are interested in ductless heating and cooling then check out the links below.







Water Stoves

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So you like the idea of heating with wood because you have endless supply of it or you just don’t want to pay the power company or the gas company any more than you have to. You know that your home heating system can be the number one consumer of electricity during the winter months and that you are tired of seeing your electric meter spin so fast you think it is coming of its bearings. You want to lower your power bill and have the most energy efficient home but still be comfortable. If this is you continue reading. A water stove can do all of these things for you, and if you are not afraid to do a little work you can lower your power bill and slow down that pesky electric meter.

Water stoves are a wonderful alternative to heating with a fireplace or using a wood stove. They can provide heat more evenly than any space heater or baseboard heater and they can do it all while burning practically anything. Are they the perfect heating source? Maybe, maybe not depending on your perspective. What can they do for you?

Water stoves can be installed alongside existing central heating and air systems. They use a heating coil that can be placed in the air handler and you and your guests are none the wiser. The heat coming from the water stove is dispersed just like your central heating and air is. It is controlled by a thermostat just like your normal heat is.
Find out how to build your own rocket stove here and never pay to heat again!




Another thing that water stoves can do is supply all of your hot water. They can totally replace your conventional hot water system or be used in conjunction with it with your conventional system being used as a backup. Many users have reported that they have seemingly endless hot water. This means that gone are the days when company comes over and you let them all take showers first because you know that there will be no hot water left and you end up taking a cold shower. No more! And let’s remember that the water is being heated by wood. Remember also that your water heater is typically number two on the electricity consumption list behind your heat.

A water stove is installed away from your house so that you do not have to smell the smoke created by it. Here lies the biggest con. The biggest con is that the water stove is away from the house. This means that if it is raining or if it is snowing you will need to go out in the weather to load wood into the water stove to keep it running. However, there are models that can use oil and gas as a backup and if you get one of these models you will not need to go out in the weather.

Also to be noted is the fact that you can use solar water heater panels to heat the water. This means that as long as you have good direct sun that you will not even need to build a fire! Many users of water stoves say that this is the way to go if you get a water stove. Many people do not even build fires everyday in the summertime because the heat from the solar water heater panels do all of the work for them! So, is a water stove right for you? Let me tell you the story of a friend of mine.

A friend of mine grew up heating with a wood stove. He grew up in a very small house and always knew that he wanted a bigger one. He also know what it was like to wake up cold because the fire in the wood stove had burned out overnight. But, he still wanted to heat with wood because he lives on a property with an abundance of free wood. Cutting, splitting and stacking wood has been a part of his life since he was a small boy. So, he builds his house on the same property as his family. His house was close to 5,000 square feet! That’s right 5,000! So, after the first couple of months of the winter I asked him how his water stove was working out and what he was using it for. He said that it was working great and that he was heating his entire house and heating his water with it. So the next question was, how much is your power bill? He told me that it was about $40. I could not believe it even though I know how all of the systems work and what causes your power bill to be high or low. But to me, that is the proof that I needed to know that one day I will install a water stove.

If you are thinking about getting a water stove, rest assured that they can lower your power bill. Make sure that you have it installed by a licensed professional.









Wood Stoves: Advantages, Drawbacks, and Essential Tips For Home Heating

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Wood stoves were once a very popular way to heat your home. One of the advantages that a wood stove offers over a fireplace is that it uses less wood. This means that if you are buying wood that you will be buying less. Or, if you are cutting and splitting your own wood you will be cutting and splitting less and saving yourself time as well. Wood stoves can be an excellent alternative to electric and gas furnaces if you are willing to do the work. Here I will list some advantages and disadvantages of wood stoves.

Advantages of Wood Stoves

  1. Efficient Fuel Usage: Wood stoves use less wood compared to fireplaces. Their design allows better regulation of oxygen flow using dampers, resulting in efficient combustion.
  2. Heat Retention: Wood stoves, often made of cast iron, retain heat effectively. Unlike fireplaces, where much heat escapes through the chimney, wood stoves keep warmth inside the house.
  3. Heat Distribution: Some wood stoves come with fans that disperse heat throughout the room, ensuring even warmth.
  4. Cooking Capability: Wood stoves can double as cooking surfaces. In emergencies or power outages, you can prepare meals on them.

Disadvantages of Wood Stoves

  1. Safety Concerns: Any indoor fire poses risks. Wood stoves can be hot to the touch, and improper use may lead to burns or smoke inhalation.
  2. Installation Challenges: Installing a wood stove requires creating a vent hole in your house’s side. Proper installation by a skilled person is crucial to avoid hazards.
  3. Wood Collection: Owning a wood stove means sourcing dry firewood. Dry wood burns hotter and longer, so maintaining a good supply is essential.
  4. Temperature Regulation: It can be tricky to maintain a consistent temperature with a wood stove. You’ll need to adjust the wood supply based on weather conditions.
  5. Indoor Dryness: Wood stoves tend to reduce indoor humidity. Some people place a pot of water on the stove to add moisture, but caution is necessary due to boiling water and steam risks.

Alternatives

If wood heating appeals to you, consider exploring water stoves as an alternative. In my next post, I’ll delve into water stoves. For now, if you’re in the market for a wood stove, choose from the selection below.

Remember, safety and proper maintenance are key when using wood stoves. Stay warm and stay safe! 😊




Heating with a Fireplace

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There is nothing quite like sitting next to a warm crackling fire in the fireplace, drinking hot chocolate and reading a book or watching a relaxing television show while the cold wind outside beats against the side of the house. But, is a wood-burning fireplace a feasible and cost effective way to heat your home during those long winter months? The short answer is no! To find out why, keep reading.

As mentioned before, sitting beside a wood-burning fireplace can be one of the most enjoyable experiences in the winter. And if this is all it is too be used for then you can expect that your power bill will not suffer much because of it. If you light a fire a couple of times a week or only on the weekend to enjoy the smells and the sounds of the wood-burning fire you will not have to worry about your power bill very much.

If you are planning on heating an entire home with one centrally located fireplace, or one that is in only one room such as the living room, then I hope you are prepared to turn off you electric or gas furnace completely and prepare to sleep in the cold. Think about your typical wood-burning fireplace for a moment. There is the fireplace itself which also includes this huge hole to the outside called the chimney. What is the purpose of the chimney? The purpose of the chimney is to evacuate all of the smoke from the fire so that your house does not fill up with the smoke. Another purpose of the chimney is airflow. Let’s remember from elementary school that a fire needs three things to burn and continue burning. A fire needs, fuel, in this case wood, heat, started usually with matches or a lighter and sustained by the burning wood, and oxygen or air.728x90

We know where the wood comes from, we put it in the fireplace to burn. We know where the heat comes from, we used matches or a lighter initially for the heat source and once it caught we used the wood to sustain it. But, where does the air come from? The air comes from all of the air in your home and when there is not enough, it is pulled in through all of the cracks around the windows and doors. We are talking about the cold blistering air that is outside your house being pulled into your house. But no worries right? We are heating that air with our fireplace and it puts off enough heat to counter-act that cold air. Wrong! It is a good train of thought but the problem is that most of the heat that is generated by the wood-burning fireplace is expelled up the chimney. Remember that heat rises. As the heat rises in the chimney and cold air is pulled in through the cracks, all of the other rooms in the house are not as warm as the room where the fireplace is.

Let me rephrase that last statement. The room where the wood-burning fireplace is will be warm and all of the other rooms in the house will be cooler because cold air is being pulled into them. Now, earlier I said that if you are planning on trying to heat your house with just a wood-burning fireplace I hope that you turn off your electric or gas furnace. That is because it does not matter where the thermostat is the house will not be heated evenly. If the thermostat is near the fireplace it will think it is warmer than it is and it will cause the heat not to run. This will make the other rooms in the house cooler. If the thermostat is not near the fireplace and is in a cool place it will cause the heat to come on and run longer because of all the cold air that is being pulled into the house.

Another thing to consider when heating with a wood-burning fireplace is your wood supply. Do you or will you have access to free or cheap firewood? If so, it may be worth your while but it is a lot of work and you will most likely get cold at night and want an extra blanket or two.

If you decide that you just like your wood-burning fireplace and the cost and the comfort do not matter there are a few things that you can do to help keep some of that heat in. One being that you should try to seal as many air gaps as possible. Also, in the room where the fireplace is you can crack a window just barely that way the air is drawn from there and not other parts of the house. You should also see if it is possible to use glass doors with your fireplace. You will want to consult a professional when dealing with these glass doors because they use a special glass that is made to withstand the high temperatures of a wood-burning fireplace. Insulation is also key in keeping in the heat that is generated by the fireplace. Make sure that your attic is well insulated so you can keep that heat in the house.

Heating a house with a wood-burning fireplace is not the best way to heat your home. It may end up cheaper if you have access to free or very cheap wood but you will sacrifice some of your comfort and need extra blankets at night. Seal those air gaps and most of all if you are trying to heat with a wood-burning fireplace BE CAREFUL! Be careful because houses do burn down and people are killed every year using their wood-burning fireplaces.









Amish Heaters

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Amish Heaters: A Comprehensive Guide to Energy Efficiency

Amish heaters have been compared to space heaters due to their similar functionality. They’ve gained attention for their claims of drastically reducing power bills. A television commercial even featured a customer whose gas bill dropped significantly after using an Amish heater, leading to a gas company inspection of his meter. This anecdote has sparked curiosity and raised questions about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Amish heaters.

Understanding Amish Heaters

Amish heaters are marketed as innovative products leveraging advanced technology. They claim to consume power equivalent to a coffee maker. While this is partially true – an Amish heater does use about 1500 watts when operational, similar to a coffee maker – it’s important to note that the heater will run for a longer duration to heat your home compared to the time your coffee maker takes to brew your morning cup of joe.

Energy Consumption of Amish Heaters

As previously discussed, 1500 watts is equal to 1.5 kW, and over an hour, it amounts to 1.5 kWh. Considering an average cost of $0.10 per kWh, the heater costs about $0.15 per hour to operate.

Impact on Your Gas Bill

The impact of an Amish heater on your gas bill depends on various factors. If you plan to use Amish heaters to heat your entire home, thereby turning off your gas furnace, then yes, the Amish heater can potentially lower your gas bill. However, if you’re heating only one room while leaving your furnace on for the rest of the house, the decrease in your gas bill might not be substantial.

Impact on Your Power Bill

Most likely, your power bill will increase if you are trying to heat your entire home with an Amish heater. Given the current natural gas prices, it’s cheaper to heat with gas than electricity. Therefore, if you’re thinking of buying an Amish heater to save on overall heating costs, you might want to reconsider. Even if you have an electric furnace or a heat pump, it’s unlikely that an Amish heater will lower your power bills, as it’s essentially a space heater with an electric fireplace attached.

How to Save on Your Power Bill with an Amish Heater

You can save on your power bill with an Amish heater, but it requires careful usage. Monitor how long it runs each day, heat only the room you’re in, and keep the door closed. Using the thermostat on the unit to maintain a constant room temperature can also help optimize its efficiency.

If you’re interested in buying an Amish heater for its aesthetic appeal, we encourage you to find a model that best suits your style and heating needs. Remember, informed decisions lead to smart purchases!

For more information on energy efficiency and cost savings, check out our other articles on Electric Meter Reading and Understanding Your Utility Bill.

Space Heaters

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Electric space heaters are a very popular option when it comes to heating a small room, an edition or a bathroom. People even try to use electric space heaters to heat their homes in extreme circumstances such as when the central HVAC goes out, the furnace goes out or even when they do not want to pay to get the gas turned back on because the deposit is so high. People also may employ electric space heaters when they are renting because they cannot afford to have the gas turned on in their name because the deposit is so high. The question is, are electric space heaters a good source of heat? To answer that question we need to weigh the pros vs. cons of electric space heaters. Then we need to look at any precautions to take when using electric space heaters.

Electric Space Heater Pros

One of the biggest pros to using electric space heaters for heat is the cheap initial cost. Electric space heaters can be had for as cheap as $15 in some instances. Use the link below if you are interested in purchasing an electric space heater. The cheap initial cost make them ideal when an emergency happens, such as the furnace going out.

Another pro of electric space heaters is the fact that they are portable. This means that you can not only take it from room to room with you but you can also take it to your cabin in the mountains over the weekend as well. Being portable also means that there is no expensive duct work to install. You just put the electric space heater on the floor in the room that you want to heat, plug it in and away you go.

They put out good heat. That is right, electric space heaters do an excellent job of putting out heat. Many come with a fan built in to help circulate the air in the room as well.

Electric Space Heater Cons

In my opinion, one of the biggest cons to using an electric space heater to heat your home is the cost. Electric space heaters can use anywhere between 1200 watts and 2000 watts depending on the model. This means that if they run for 1 hour they could use anywhere between 1.2 kwh and 2 kwh respectively. This translates into about $0.12 per hour to about $0.20 per hour. One space heater can easily cost $30 per month to run. So, if you have a three bedroom house with one in each bedroom and one in the kitchen, living room and bathroom they could easily cost $180 per month to run.

Another con with electric space heater usage is the safety. Now many of them now come with sensors on the bottom that automatically shut them off if they are tipped over, some of the older models do not. This creates a fire hazard. Also, they need to be kept away from paper, clothes, towels, pretty much anything that can catch on fire because electric space heaters can and do cause fires every year.








Another thing to consider when using electric space heaters is where you plug them in. Since they do have the potential to draw so much power you will want to make sure that they are plugged into an outlet that is not overload already full. You want to make sure that you plug them into outlets that are still tight and do not have any play. It is not unusual to feel the cord on an electric space heater and it be warm to the touch. To minimize fire risk make sure it is plugged into a good outlet.

Electric Space Heater Precautions

As stated above you want to make sure that nothing is placed on, in front of, or around an electric space heater that can ignite. Examples are paper, clothes, towels, blankets. Make sure that they are plugged into good firm outlets. Make sure that if you are buying a new electric space heater that it has an automatic shut-off feature in case it is tipped over. Also, children should not be left alone with electric space heaters. You should also make sure that you turn off you electric space heater when you are not home.

Final Thoughts

Electric space heaters can work well as long as you take heed to the precautions mentioned above and are aware that they can be expensive to operate. They are not a long-term solution to heating however and should be used on a short-term or emergency basis. They should not be left on when you are not home. Children should also not be left alone with electric space heaters. If you are in the market for a space heater use the link below.




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Baseboard Heaters

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Electric baseboard heaters can provide an excellent way to keep you warm during those freezing cold months when you are longing for spring. They also offer many advantages to homeowners as well as investment property owners. However, be advised that along with the advantages that electric baseboard heaters provide there are also some disadvantages that you should be aware of as well. First, what are electric baseboard heaters and how do they work?

Electric baseboard heaters are one type of electric resistance heater that is installed on the wall along the floor. They have metal fins inside that heat the air as the air moves past the metal fins. As the cool air falls and goes through the metal fins, the cool air is heated and rises and this is how the room is heated. Electric baseboard heaters are normally installed beneath window both to take advantage of any falling cool air from the window and because windows are located on outside walls where heat may be lost due to low or no insulation.

Electric baseboard heaters can be cheap to install because they do not require any ducts to be used like in a central HVAC system. This keeps costs to a minimum when building an edition that would be difficult to heat or when remodeling an investment property. Electric baseboard heaters can also be a good option if you live in a climate that does not see very many cold days. They can be a good option versus installing a heat pump.

Electric baseboard heaters allow you to heat different areas of your home or office independently of one another. This can be advantageous for those who live in families or work in offices where one person is cold all of the time and the other person is always freezing. This can also be advantageous if you live in a large home and only want or need to heat your bedroom at night and do not want to pay to heat the entire home. For example, you could set your main thermostat on 65 degrees and in your bedroom have a baseboard heater set to 70 degrees. This way you can be warm in your bedroom at night.








For all of the advantages that electric baseboard heaters provide there are also disadvantages as well. The main disadvantage being electricity usage. Many people ask how much electricity electric baseboard heaters use. Typically electric baseboard heaters consume about 250 watts per foot. This means that if you have a 6 foot electric baseboard heater installed in your bedroom that it would consume about 1500 watts (250 watts per foot x 6 feet). Many people will tell you that baseboard heaters are efficient. And in regard to the amount of electricity that is turned into heat they would be correct. Because they are resistance type heaters they convert nearly 100% of the electricity into heat. However, do not be fooled. Heat pumps are more effective at keeping your power bill low than electric baseboard heaters are.

Let’s do an example of how much a small home with only electric baseboard heaters could cost. For the example let’s say that the house if 1,000 square feet with 3 rooms and one bathroom. Each room has one 6 foot baseboard heater, the bathroom has a 2 foot heater and the living has two 6 foot heaters. So we have 5, 6 foot heaters and one 2 foot heater for a total of 32 feet of baseboard heaters. Remember from before that the average watts per foot is 250 watts. So 32 x 250 = 8,000 watts. So for every hour that the baseboard heater is on you will use 8,000 watts of power. Now let’s say that they run for 8 hours per day for 30 days. 8 hours x 8,000 watts x 30 days = 1,920,000 watthours. If we divide that by 1,000 we get the kilowatt hours which is what you are billed on and that equals 1,920 kilowatt hours. Now if we multiply that times say $0.10 we get $192.00 just to run your baseboard heaters to heat your home.

So, the biggest disadvantage is the usage of the electric baseboard heaters. Do they put off good heat? Yes. Are the cheap and easy to install? Yes. Are they expensive to run? Yes. There is one alternative and it is the electric hydronic baseboard heater. They use a liquid inside that is heated and radiates the heat in the room longer than the metal fins do. This means that they may run less often than regular electric baseboard heaters. But be aware that they also use the same wattage when they are running.




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The Meter Technician Profession

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So you are thinking about getting into a career in the electric utility industry and you are not really sure what you want to do. There are several career paths that you could choose. A few are power lineman, or engineer, or even maintenance mechanic. What I want to persuade you to do is to think about becoming an electric meter technician.

The electric meter technician is possibly a job that you have never even heard of. In addition, you may have never given any thought to becoming one. So what does and electric meter technician do?

Well, contrary to popular belief, we do more than just read watthour meters. We are not just “meter maids” as some lineman would have you think. Electric meter technicians do read electric watthour meters. But we meter techs also do much more than that.

To be an electric meter technician one should have, or be able to develop, a strong electrical background. Furthermore, you will want to have graduated high school. In addition, if possible, have taken some college courses in electrical theory. It would be even better if you could get an associate’s degree in electrical technology. This education will be helpful in understanding how watthour meters work. It will also help in understanding how the entire electric utility works as a whole.

Electric meter technicians test watthour electric meters either in the shop with test equipment or in the field with watthour meter test equipment. They also check residential, commercial and industrial metering installations for proper wiring and metering accuracy. There are meter techs who specialize in some of these areas. Some meter technicians only deal with residential metering installations and customers. Others deal only with commercial and industrial customers. While others may only stay in the shop and test watthour meters.

The ideal electric meter technician will be able to work outside all day. Outside the meter tech will do things such as change out electric meters, check on high bill complaints, low consumption or stopped meter orders. Meter techs will also work outside installing new metering equipment on instrument rated metering applications.

The electric meter technician will also be called upon to explain billing to customers.







Many times customers do not understand their bill and the meter technician is usually the last person the customer will talk to. The customer has normally already called in and talked to someone on the phone. They were not satisfied over the phone and now want to talk with someone in person. The meter technician is that someone. Because of this the meter tech will need to have strong interpersonal skills to be able to answer the customer’s questions. In addition they will also need to be as professional as possible. You do not want to go out a customer’s residence or business dressed like a slob. That ruins your credibility right away.

Electric meter technicians will also need to be able to perform above basic tasks on the computer. Part of the job requires the meter tech to be able to program watthour meters, download information from the meters, create new programs for the meters as well as run reports out of the billing system to find out if there are any errors. You will need to have an eye for detail. Many times you will be looking for something that stands out as unusual. Being able to determine from that information if there is a problem that needs to be checked and repaired is crucial.

An ability to do algebra also comes in handy as well. Electric meter technicians also use many formulas to complete their work. If current transformers and potential transformers need to be installed you will need to know how to calculate the multiplier. Also, you will need to know how to size the current transformers to the service to be metered. Another thing that you will need to be able to do is calculate and electric bill with demand. Many times customers will not understand demand. So it will be up to you to explain it to them in a way they can understand. There will be times that you will need to explain the math to the customer so that they understand what is going on.

Being a meter technician is a highly rewarding career. Notice that I said career and not job. The electric meter technician is a specialized field and most who are in the field work until retirement. Which also means that there are not a ton of jobs available. So when you get one, keep it! Also worth noting is that it will typically take between 5-7 years to become fully proficient as a meter tech. But even then you will constantly be learning new technology.

So, with that I hope that you give the electric meter technician career a chance.