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RossW Guru Joined: 25/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 495
Posted: 11:24pm 31 Jul 2010
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I just don't "get" how many people seriously don't understand the differences between kW and kWh
Karl, if you are saying 60c/day, you're obviously meaning it's 2.9 kWh that is being used per day.
If it really takes 2.9 kilowatts just to maintain the tank temperature, it would be 2.9 kilowatts * 24 hours = 69.6 kWh per day.
2.9 kWh/day means it needs 120 watts to keep it warm - or that it would run a 4 kW element for about 40 minutes a day.
KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178
Posted: 03:00am 01 Aug 2010
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Perhaps the wording of the standard is not upto standard.
as i recall "standing heat loss for a 315L tank shall not exceed 2.9KW/day"
this is advice to us from SAI global.
if it should be KWhr/day I assume this could be confused with 2.9KW/hr x 24 hrs
and perhaps why they stated it as 2.9KW/day. as someone may build a tank that looses 2.9KW/hr instead of the intent 120W/hr.
It is not stated as 120W/hr as it is a standing loss which is not constant ie may loose 150W/hr in the first 5 hrs and 20W/hr for the last 5 hrs.
Watt I do know is its probably a moot point as this thread was about smart meters which
no one has had a dig at the lack of knowledge around this rather jump up and down about a side issue.
Luck favours the well prepared
VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539
Posted: 03:31am 01 Aug 2010
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Hi Ross
Karl made the point of saying 2.9 kw a day in other words 2900 watts a day, watt is your problem with that? That is the equivalent energy loss by terrestrial radiation not a power input figure, to maintain temperature status, the energy input must be more than that, whether by solar collection or by boost from the power source.
A 2400 watt booster element would require 1.2 hours to do so, or a twin solar collector panel would take 32 minutes.
All the best
BobFoolin Around
VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539
Posted: 03:43am 01 Aug 2010
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Hi Karl
I like your idea on a master switch on the power that turns all unnecessary things of when not at home, except the buglier alarm of course. I notice my meters run backwards all day so that would be counted as feed in at 50 cents per 1000 watts, that is the Energex feed in contract rate I am on, and at night when power is required they go forward at 19.7 cents per 1000 watts, that would be if I had a smart meter installed {still waiting after six months}.
When the dust settles I can feed in 32 kw per day according to the contract.
All the best
BobFoolin Around
KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178
Posted: 05:03am 01 Aug 2010
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Bob do you mean 32KW /hr couldnt help but laugh as someone else made the "mistake"
bring it ON..
Luck favours the well prepared
VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539
Posted: 01:08pm 01 Aug 2010
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Hi Karl
No, I meant what I said, with the GTI I have I can feed 32,000 watts a day into the grid under the terms of the initial contract.
To feed 30KWH into the grid I have to upgrade the contract with Energex.