Does low voltage run up your electric bill more
- Thread starter d1reyad
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
You are billed on KW. Amps x Volts = Watts or 1000 Watts = 1 KW.
Some will say 240 is more efficient than 120, as:
Higher voltage means smaller wire for same load
Less voltage drop
With lamps, a 130 volt lamp will last longer and use somewhat less power than a 120.
If you want a really long lasting lamp use a 240V at 120V it will last many years.
Some will say 240 is more efficient than 120, as:
Higher voltage means smaller wire for same load
Less voltage drop
With lamps, a 130 volt lamp will last longer and use somewhat less power than a 120.
If you want a really long lasting lamp use a 240V at 120V it will last many years.
robbietan
Senior Member
- Location
- Antipolo City
unless you have rather large motors, low voltage is not a problem in terms of kWHr consumption.
mr tom baker, how about a 460V lamp on a 120V supply?
mr tom baker, how about a 460V lamp on a 120V supply?
Best bulb usage occurs at design voltage.
High voltage means high amperage means high heat means burn out the bulb.
Low voltage means low light means lost efficiency for lighting means higher cost per lumen.
If you want cheaper bills buy lights for the appropriate voltage and turn them off when not in use.
High voltage means high amperage means high heat means burn out the bulb.
Low voltage means low light means lost efficiency for lighting means higher cost per lumen.
If you want cheaper bills buy lights for the appropriate voltage and turn them off when not in use.
jaylectricity
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Occupation
- licensed journeyman electrician
Also, the low voltage of your lamp is on the secondary side of a transformer. It is the efficiency of the transformer itself that determines how many KW you are using.
Check the nameplate for KW and compare it to what you know about calculating wattage on a line voltage lamp.
I don't have a deep knowledge of the subject which is why I give you a somewhat shallow answer.
Check the nameplate for KW and compare it to what you know about calculating wattage on a line voltage lamp.
I don't have a deep knowledge of the subject which is why I give you a somewhat shallow answer.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
robbietan said:
It would last many many years, but be very dim.
tallgirl
Senior Member
- Location
- Glendale, WI
- Occupation
- Controls Systems firmware engineer
Use CFLs if you're all that concerned about KHW used for lighting.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
The way I think of it is (perhaps too) simple.
A 120V lamp connected to a 120V source is a direct connection, it is efficient.
A 12V lamp connected to a 12V transformer connected to a 120V source is less efficient, because some energy is lost transforming the voltage, and some energy is lost as heat in the process.
A 120V lamp connected to a 120V source is a direct connection, it is efficient.
A 12V lamp connected to a 12V transformer connected to a 120V source is less efficient, because some energy is lost transforming the voltage, and some energy is lost as heat in the process.
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