Heating/electrical safety

[alichamp]

As its been really cold here, I have changed to a higher 150 watt day basking light and a 150 watt night light and I'm getting perfect temperatures now.

But I've had a lot of trouble with globes being blown. I will probably get a ceramic globe now because of this, but my hubby tells me I can't have that much wattage through the same PowerPoint on at the same time. They were previously on the same PowerPoint with a double adapter and the uv light also. He tells me that PowerPoints should only have 240 volt wattage going through at the same time - meaning I have to be sure to only have 1 heat on at a time and uv (100w) through a different outlet.

So what does everyone else do? And how do we make sure everything's safe with all this electricity stuff?

(BTW sorry, I don't know about non-Australian power requirements but please post these too)

[El Lobo]

The 240 volts is not the issue, the amperage is. All circuits in Australia are nominal 240, actually 220-240 volts to be correct, the US is 110v.

To calculate the amperage of an appliance the formula is:

I = P/V:- I is current in amperes, P is power in watts, V is volts. For Australian appliances the voltage is fixed at 240.

So, in the case of a 150W lamp:

1 = 150/240 = .625 amps.

To consider the load per circuit is complex but a look at your power distribution board and the rating of the fuses or cct breakers is a simple exercise. You will probably see the are somewhere around 12-16 amps.

2 x 150 watt lamps run concurrently is only 300 watts total. Considering basic electric room heaters are commonly 1200-2000 watts you should be fairly safe without changes to your setup.

[Scotts1au]

According to my calculations, if correct, that would be about $3 day to run one enclosure. sheesh. :-)

[El Lobo]

According to my calculations, if correct, that would be about $3 day to run one enclosure. sheesh. :-)

How much are you paying per kWh on peak usage? I thought mine high at 22.71 c/kWh.

Alichamp - If you change from a 150W spotlight to a CHE for daytime basking spot you will need to go much higher in wattage to achieve the same ground temperature as CHE's are not like a spotlight. They have a wide dispersion, not focused like the lamps.

I only use a 60W globe for the blotchies but need >100W for a CHE to achieve the same temperature.

[Scotts1au]

We are on about 32cKWh here in Vic peak and about 28 at night.

If located away from the sides of the enclosure lights or heaters don't need to be more than about 5 inches from the ground. Obviously blueys can't jump.

If I can get an ambient temp of about 23C at the mid point of the enclosure that is OK with me for blotchies. Means that I can amp down the wattage of heating. Also I use wooden enclosures - always hard to maintain heat in open top enclosures.

[freeloader]

With 20 solar panels on the roof power bills have been non existent for the past 4 years. We still have about 6 years to go of 66 cents per kilowatt feed in tariff.
All that covers 2 x 6ft fish tanks, 2 x 4ft fish tanks, a 3 level bank of 4ft enclosures and my bluey rack.

[Scotts1au]

Yeh I have a 5 kW system too, but missed the good feed in aaargh. Makes a difference - having to think about things Eg keeping heat in. We are now on 6c feed in. Aargh

[alichamp]

Thanks guys for your responses. It didn't seem to me like it would be too much for the socket. I guess hubby isn't always right after all

I now have a 150 watt ceramic globe for day/night heat so hopefully that will last better. I still have the spotlight on for day basking too. So far, no problems with blown globes.

What do your electrical setups / power points look like when you have a whole swagger of blueys (or whatever the plural term is...)? For multiple / stacked enclosures or racks?

[NickBrahz]

Mine looks like just a vine network of cables and it's only for 3 enclosures/6 lights.
I have a extension cord that leads to the left side of the enclosures where a double adapter/spliter is so then i have 2 4 slot power boards for the lights to plug into.
Was a slight raise in power usage last bill obviously but i that is due to me using stove a lot more for hot/warm meals in the cold weather, offset it by being more conscious with heating haven't used that this winter so far(heating for me that is not lizards).