De-Icers

Mee-n-Mac · 12-23-2005, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Hays

I just got back from installing my bubbler system. It appears to be operating just about perfectly. {snip}

I think a lot of us with docks would like to know how it worked over the winter and what the electric bill was. Is it possible to keep track of how much juice was used for the bubbler ? Could I ask you to post back in the spring with that number and perhaps cost as well. Ditto for jimbob (again and thx !) and Misty Blue. It would be of interest, as a point of comparison, for those of us who use circulators. Thx.

Misty Blue · 12-26-2005, 08:30 AM

The LMI compressor draws about 100 watts.
A 3/4 HP circulator draws about 550 watts.

The current price of electricity is about $.15 per KW Hour (NH Elec Co OP, I expect that PSNH is similar). This price includes stranded costs, taxes, transmision, etc. The price that we pay (Fuel charge) for generation is about $.06 of that 15 cents.

The average wholesale price of electricity in NE for the past few months has been over $.10 per KW Hour (I sell the stuff) and we can expect a substancial rate increase. Sorry about that but please note that as the price increases the pay back time for the liniar comprressor ( I got a LMI) will decrease.

Now the math:

Worse case for the liniar compressor... running 24 hours a day:

100W X 24 Hours= 2.4KW Hours X $.15= $.35 per day.

Let's check out a 3/4 HP unit running 6, 8, and 24 hours a day:

3/4 HP=550Watts.

550W X 6 Hours = 3.3KW Hours X $.15 = $.50 per day.

550W X 8 Hours = 4.4KW Hours X $.15 = $.65 per day.

550W X 24 Hours = 13KW Hours X $.15 = $2.00 per day.

Again I expect the price fo juice to go up about 10% t0 20% in the next year.

There are some other considerations. My LMI only opens the ice directly under my dock. I like this because it doesn't clear the ice at my beach where I keep my snowmobiles.

On the other hand Pine Island Guy likes his circulator because it opens up the ice for a big area around his dock keeping his swim raft clear as well.

We'll see how the old electricity bills add up over the winter.

Hope this helps.

Misty Blue.

longisland60 · 01-05-2006, 01:59 PM

I am installing ice-eaters at my property and need to put up thin ice signs. I, too, went into Heath's looking for thin ice signs, but decided $40 was too much money for a sign that I still had to secure to a piece of plywood. So, I decided to make my own.

I called the Department of Safety - Marine Patrol, and they sent me the specs on what the signs need to be, and I'll paint them up on some exterior plywood.

One thing I didn't know is that I am supposed to register the signs with the town. Does anyone know the reason for this? Do they maintain a directory of sorts? It's not for a revenue source, as it will cost me a whole 50 cents to register my sign.

I was also told that the sign should be lighted as well, although the specs call for a reflector. I haven't seen any lights on the signs I have noticed around the lake.

Anyway, I figured I'd pass along what I have learned this past week.

LongIsland60

jimbob1603 · 01-05-2006, 04:36 PM

I went to a sign shop and had a 2 x 3 sign made w/aluminum back. It cost me $45. Its big, day-glo red on a white background; and obvious from 200' away. I bolted it, above the ice/snow line, to the end of my dock.

Never heard of registering a 'Thin Ice' sign. Sounds like another method of 'The Man' checking out your house/waterfront so he can increase your property assessment. What possible benefit is there to a property owner registering a 'Caution - Thin Ice' sign? (other than employing more government clerks to keep track of the signs) I think this is a situation where ignorance is the best policy. Same thing for an aquatherm/bubbler ..... what is the practical intent of registering them?

No lights .... I prefer to use Darwin's Theory and thin the herd. If some drunken/silly person is going to wander around the ice at night, he deserves whats coming to him. When I'm drunk/silly and wandering around the ice at night, I've never seen even one illuminated 'Thin Ice' sign (fortunately, I've not yet been culled out). For Pete's sake, lighting the sign would cost more than running the compressor; which is the reason for the sign in the first place.

Island Lover · 01-05-2006, 05:04 PM

The thin ice sign does not need a permit.

But the aquatherm does require a permit from the town clerk.

jimbob1603 · 01-29-2006, 12:39 PM

My electric bill arrived (NH Electric Co-Op):

From 12-12-05 through 1-12-06
Total: $32.00 ($20 of that is a fixed cost "Member Service Fee")

The only things running on that meter are two LMI DB150L linear compressors, connected to a thermostat which turns them on/off at 35/45.

Anybody with two 1/2 hp circulators beat that?

12-26-2005, 08:30 AM	#2
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Quick Math The LMI compressor draws about 100 watts. A 3/4 HP circulator draws about 550 watts. The current price of electricity is about $.15 per KW Hour (NH Elec Co OP, I expect that PSNH is similar). This price includes stranded costs, taxes, transmision, etc. The price that we pay (Fuel charge) for generation is about $.06 of that 15 cents. The average wholesale price of electricity in NE for the past few months has been over $.10 per KW Hour (I sell the stuff) and we can expect a substancial rate increase. Sorry about that but please note that as the price increases the pay back time for the liniar comprressor ( I got a LMI) will decrease. Now the math: Worse case for the liniar compressor... running 24 hours a day: 100W X 24 Hours= 2.4KW Hours X $.15= $.35 per day. Let's check out a 3/4 HP unit running 6, 8, and 24 hours a day: 3/4 HP=550Watts. 550W X 6 Hours = 3.3KW Hours X $.15 = $.50 per day. 550W X 8 Hours = 4.4KW Hours X $.15 = $.65 per day. 550W X 24 Hours = 13KW Hours X $.15 = $2.00 per day. Again I expect the price fo juice to go up about 10% t0 20% in the next year. There are some other considerations. My LMI only opens the ice directly under my dock. I like this because it doesn't clear the ice at my beach where I keep my snowmobiles. On the other hand Pine Island Guy likes his circulator because it opens up the ice for a big area around his dock keeping his swim raft clear as well. We'll see how the old electricity bills add up over the winter. Hope this helps. Misty Blue.

01-05-2006, 01:59 PM	#3
longisland60 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 27 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	RE: Thin ice signs I am installing ice-eaters at my property and need to put up thin ice signs. I, too, went into Heath's looking for thin ice signs, but decided $40 was too much money for a sign that I still had to secure to a piece of plywood. So, I decided to make my own. I called the Department of Safety - Marine Patrol, and they sent me the specs on what the signs need to be, and I'll paint them up on some exterior plywood. One thing I didn't know is that I am supposed to register the signs with the town. Does anyone know the reason for this? Do they maintain a directory of sorts? It's not for a revenue source, as it will cost me a whole 50 cents to register my sign. I was also told that the sign should be lighted as well, although the specs call for a reflector. I haven't seen any lights on the signs I have noticed around the lake. Anyway, I figured I'd pass along what I have learned this past week. LongIsland60

01-05-2006, 04:36 PM	#4
jimbob1603 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	'Sir, that sign is not properly registered' I went to a sign shop and had a 2 x 3 sign made w/aluminum back. It cost me $45. Its big, day-glo red on a white background; and obvious from 200' away. I bolted it, above the ice/snow line, to the end of my dock. Never heard of registering a 'Thin Ice' sign. Sounds like another method of 'The Man' checking out your house/waterfront so he can increase your property assessment. What possible benefit is there to a property owner registering a 'Caution - Thin Ice' sign? (other than employing more government clerks to keep track of the signs) I think this is a situation where ignorance is the best policy. Same thing for an aquatherm/bubbler ..... what is the practical intent of registering them? No lights .... I prefer to use Darwin's Theory and thin the herd. If some drunken/silly person is going to wander around the ice at night, he deserves whats coming to him. When I'm drunk/silly and wandering around the ice at night, I've never seen even one illuminated 'Thin Ice' sign (fortunately, I've not yet been culled out). For Pete's sake, lighting the sign would cost more than running the compressor; which is the reason for the sign in the first place. Last edited by jimbob1603; 01-06-2006 at 12:50 PM.

01-29-2006, 12:39 PM	#6
jimbob1603 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Truth or Dare My electric bill arrived (NH Electric Co-Op): From 12-12-05 through 1-12-06 Total: $32.00 ($20 of that is a fixed cost "Member Service Fee") The only things running on that meter are two LMI DB150L linear compressors, connected to a thermostat which turns them on/off at 35/45. Anybody with two 1/2 hp circulators beat that? Last edited by jimbob1603; 01-31-2006 at 05:39 PM.

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01-05-2006, 05:04 PM	#5
Island Lover Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 213 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	The thin ice sign does not need a permit. But the aquatherm does require a permit from the town clerk.