Trying to figure up amount used

[SBaugh]

Forgive the newbie question.

I have a problem I'm trying to figure out and thought some of you might have an answer.

I work from home for a company in a different state. I have 4 computers here and they stay on all the time. They seem to be the one thing that causes me to pay more on my Bill at the end of the month. What I want to try and figure out is the amount of electricity that they are using then tag a dollar amount to that according to my statements, so I can either have my Employer help me pay for a portion of my electric bill, or call the electric company to see what the problem is. It may not be much, but I'm paying about $50 more a month then I have been. Now I understand the price might have went up, but if there is some formula out there, that someone could point me too, that would be great. I would truly appreciate it.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

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[gcaudill]

Monthly cost = (PC power in watts / 1000) x (hours per month) x (utility $/kilowatt hour).

Typical $/kwhour is 4- to 5 cents. You should be able to find the PC power consumption by looking at the power supply. It should list the energy usage in watts. Actual usage will vary, but should be worst case. Do not forget the monitor.

 

[wareagle]

Look on the back of each machine and read the info on the nameplate. It should give you volts, amps and maybe watts.
For your purpose watts = volts x amps is a good estimate.
Numbers of hours on x watts divided by 1000 = kilowatthours. You electric bill is for kilowatt hours. Ask the uitlity for the cost of eack kwh plus any additional
costs such a fuel adjustments. I don't think is will come to very much.

 

[SBaugh]

Thanks guys!! I will keep this in mind and work out the numbers!

Thanks,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

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[IRstuff]

Bear in mind that the nameplate power may or may not be the actual power.

The 3.0 Amps listed on the back of my Dell at work corresponds to about 350 Watts, which should be the absolute maximum power draw from the computer with all the slots populated with power munching boards. If the computer is not fully populated, then the power draw will be less than the listed power. I would guess that the typical PC is only drawing about 100-150 Watts, lightly populated.

Also, you should include your monitors and routers and DSL/cable modem. My DSL modem draws a big chunk of power all by itself.

TTFN

 

[busbar]

Condsider some measurements

http://www.themeterguy.com/advertising/TMg/kill_a_watt.htm

 

[alehman]

As mentioned by IR, nameplates are very misleading. Typical office type PC's use 50 to 100W. If you have CRT monitors, they probably uses more power than the computer itself.

100W x 4 x 24 = 9.6 kWhr / day

 

[SBaugh]

I have one CRT Monitor 22", along with a single keyboard, and mouse, hooked through a 4 port switch box. I have a laptop that sits by itself, plugged into the wall outlet (To save on the battery). That makes up my 4 computers. I do have a Linksys 4 port router, along with my cable modem. I have 2 printers (HP, and a Lexmark). I also have 2 sets of speakers, Portable (external) HDD, a phone, & a Wireless headset. All of this is plugged into 2 APC battery backups, and a couple of things (not to overload the backups) are plugged into separate extension cords from neighboring outlets in the room.

I feel that all of this is what is costing me my electricity bill to rise. I don't spend a lot of time at home as often as I used too, since I'm only here (mostly) during working hours and afternoons. So the TV isn't on as often and other normal things are not running like they used too, except for the AC.

I will keep all this in mind when I sit down to figure this out.

IRstuff - Thanks for the tid bit of information, I wouldn't have thought about that!

Best Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

If you are in the SW Forum Check out the FAQ section

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[steelerfan28655]

If you are charging your employer for your home office, why not include the amount of energy it takes to heat and cool the room also?

As an example, divide your electric bill by the number of square feet in your home, multiply that amount by the number of square feet in your office. This will give you an estimate of the total usage of the office space, not just the computers in the office.



Happiness is a way of travel, not a destination.

 

[IRstuff]

steelerfan28655 raises an interesting point.

One might possibly argue that computer area actually requires a higher percentage of the A/C, due to the inherent need to keep the temperature for the computers at lower level than what might otherwise be required for occupant comfort.

TTFN

 

[gcaudill]

While your at it, if it really is a dedicated home office there are tax implecations also. The pro-rated utility, home maintenance, etc. can be itemized on the federal return.