PDA

View Full Version : LED math help (payback)


das75
11/19/2011, 08:38 AM
trying to justify a switch to LEDs based on cost savings, this look right?

Currently 2x250W MH and 2x54W T5, 628watts
LEDs 3 AI SOLS 216W
Saving 412W. 9 hours a day at 12cent/kwh = $13.53/mon or $162.36/yr

Operating cost (power + MH bulbs every year, T5 every 2nd): $162.36 +$136= $298.36 so $300.00

3 AI SOLs and controller =$1300

Payback after 4.3 years ($1300/$300)

aqua80
11/19/2011, 08:48 AM
trying to justify a switch to LEDs based on cost savings, this look right?

Currently 2x250W MH and 2x54W T5, 628watts
LEDs 3 AI SOLS 216W
Saving 412W. 9 hours a day at 12cent/kwh = $13.53/mon or $162.36/yr

Operating cost (power + MH bulbs every year, T5 every 2nd): $162.36 +$136= $298.36 so $300.00

3 AI SOLs and controller =$1300

Payback after 4.3 years ($1300/$300)

dont forget you have to heat your house in edmonton (7 or eight months per year) so you don't save a dime on these months by cutting watts to your lighting... so you will save about 70$ per year in electricity... but if you run a chiller in the summer you must calculate that too...

also in about a year or two you will almost surely change your fixture to newer/better technology;)

Anemonebuff
11/19/2011, 03:07 PM
I switched to LEDs-605 MH to 145 LEDs. My electric bill went down about $30 a month. $360 a year plus $300 for the lack of replacement bulbs. I spent about $900 for the set up. I will be even before this summer.

caliking
11/19/2011, 04:35 PM
The price of LEDs should drop in the next 2 years. Plus technology always gets better through time. So many of the early buyers of LEDs are guinnipigs for the rest of us. So far a good solar panel setup is the best investment.

Garage1217
11/19/2011, 05:46 PM
One thing that is hard to calculate as well is the power savings due to ramping up and down the leds for a sunrise to sunset effect. For example, My setup at full power draws 378W. But with my lighting schedule as it stands today, the average draw over the 9 hour photo period is only 259W.