I'm trying to understand the best option for lowering our electric bill. Replacing 480V HID lights with Fluorescent T5 480V or T8 277V.
242W @ 480V = .50A
227W @ 277V = .82A
I understand Ohm's law, but not sure how the meter measures our usage.
2007-05-09 09:17:59 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
The utility is not billing you in "amps", they're billing you in either "watts" or "volt-amps". depending on the rate structure. Look at your last electric bill and update your question with the the kW and kWh values. These might say "kVA and kVA-h" instead.
A watt is a watt. It doesn't matter whether it is single phase or three phase. Look at the wattage ratings of the bulbs to make your lighting selection. Keep in mind that when you change form HID to fluorescent you may also be affecting the quality of lighting.
2007-05-09 14:33:17 · answer #1 · answered by Thomas C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since the meter is measuring kWh, the exact details of how it works does not matter, Even if you are drawing less current at 480V than 277V, since watts are current times voltage the wattage will be calculated and charged for, not the current . However there might be some savings in wire at a lower current, on the other hand switching equipment might be more for the higher voltage. But if the wiring and switching is already in place, any change will cost money.
But to sum it up 227W is less than 242W. but not by a huge amount.
2007-05-09 09:38:21 · answer #2 · answered by tinkertailorcandlestickmaker 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Above two answers are not correct since when businesses are charged, most of the times utilities use amps.
Reason being Power Factor ! This infact encourages industries and other larger companies to improve their power factor. Considering the case when the utility measures your KWH, It could be sending you in more amps but will end up billing the customer less due to the fact that their Power factor is a multiple which is less than 1. This could be considerably less than 1 if they have huge motors and other machinery runnning.
But This is the case for only very large businesses and industries, not for a small business as the metering equipment is much expensive than the cost they can recover.
2007-05-09 10:01:01 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Encyclopedia 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What you really need is a watts/lumen rating for each choice. Your usage is based on the watts alone, regardless of the voltage. The HID lights use a little more juice. The question is is whether the fluorescent lights deliver the same amount of light and whether the quality of fluorescent lights is satisfactory. The electric company has it figured out. They charge by the watt no matter what voltage you are talking about. Dave, those demand meters are pretty common especially for big consumers like factories and large stores. They are NOT a rip-off. They are the result of negotiated contracts.
2016-05-19 01:28:27 · answer #4 · answered by allen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Higher voltage motors and lights take less power to run than they would if they were on a lower voltage, that is why electric stoves and dryers operate on 220V not 120V. Many large power tools also use 220V or 460V for the same reason. Are you using three phase power? I think three phase power for fluorescent lights is very efficent for some reason.
2007-05-09 11:01:13 · answer #5 · answered by Mαtt 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It shouldn't matter. Since the meter is measuring watts instead of amps. Watts=voltageX amps.
Good luck.
2007-05-09 09:27:18 · answer #6 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I concur with Mr Encyclopedia
2007-05-09 17:33:23 · answer #7 · answered by sanjayinvincible 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋