[mythtv-users] Re: Energy Usage of MythBoxes

[Khanh Tran]

Yes, and by these numbers, it should go to show mom's old rant was true.  We don't own stock in the electric company.  Turning off a few of those 60-100 watt light bulbs in rooms you aren't in would probably more than offset the cost of an added mythbox.  Especially for frontend-only systems.  I'd wager your CRT TV/monitor consumes more than your Mythbox.

-Khanh


-----Original Message-----
From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of John Andersen
Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2005 6:37 AM
To: mythtv-users at mythtv.org
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Re: Energy Usage of MythBoxes

On Thursday 17 March 2005 05:59, Charles Choukalos wrote:
> Hi John,
>
> Actually I'm in Texas (makes Jersy look like Paradise) and during oh 
> what 9 months out of the year its hotter then hells kitchen (brown and 
> ugly too).  When I lived in New England electricity was a lot more 
> expensive but leaving on the computer provided a little heat in the 
> house and maybe hit my electric bill by $10 a month or so... not too 
> bad.  Down here during the long ass hot desert period its about a $50 
> hit (most of that is cooling).  Not to mention you rapidly realize 
> just how much heat a computer throws off

If the computer turned all the electricity it consumed directly into heat it could do no more than a 350 watt space heater.  That is to say, very little. (most space heaters are 2500 watts and up).

A 350 watt power supply seldom draws more than 100 watts because no one burns cdroms while recording floppy drives and exercising the harddrive to the max on a box with every slot filled and every card pulling the max.
Just does not happen.

But lets assume for a moment that you really could draw 350 watts on your Mythbox 24/7.

(That box can't consume more than 350 watts.
fuze blows if it tries.)

.350 kilowatts for 24 hours = 8.4 kilowatt hours

times (plug in your number)  $0.13 / kwh = $1.09 per day maximum theoretical possible.

Times 30 days = about $33 /month.

But since most pc power supplies are running at about 80 watts (measured by me) even when working hard, AND rates in Texas tend to be closer th 8cents than they are to 13cents http://www.puc.state.tx.us/nrelease/2000/120700.cfm , your bill for running the above average PC 24/7 is likely to be .08kw x 24h x 30 days x 8cents = $4.60 / month

I think you doth protest too much.  ;-)






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______Jsa_________