Aqua Hot Cost Comparison

[Will Procter]

I am looking to compare costs to run the Aqua Hot on electric vs diesel. I had seen a chart awhile back that took into consideration the cost of fuel and electricity and now I can't remember where I found it.

William

[JustDustin]

When you find it or if someone else knows it post it, I'd like to see it.

[NewellCrazy]

Aqua Hot states overall useage of .4 GPH.

[David Carrol]

I'm not sure you can compare costs as the most efficient way to use the aqua-hot is a combination of both. To my understanding, Aqua Hots were not designed to run only on electric to give you all the hot water and heat you need. The electric alone cannot keep up with the daily water and heating use in a cold environment. At times you have to use the diesel to have hot water for a couple of showers.

[The Newell]

One KW of electic heat = 3412 BTUs so it takes 40.7KW to equal the BTUs of one gallon of diesel (139,200 BTUs). So, at $0.10/KW one might assume that diesel would have to be $4.07/gallon (40.7 X .10 = $4.07) BUT while the electric is 100% efficient,

the diesel boiler is maybe 80% ( educated guess) it will take 1.25 gallons of diesel to equal the same amount of electric heat from 40.7KW.

At $0.10/KW it's cheaper to use the electric if diesel is $4.00 assuming 80% efficiency.

At $0.12/KW it's still cheaper, but not by much if diesel is $4.00.

At $0.15/KW diesel is cheaper again assuming diesel is $4.00 & 80%.

The cost to run is dependent on how cold it is and for how long.

[speedingsport]

Good info. as long as my Auqa hot is working...that's all I care! :o

[Jack Fouts]

I'd be curious to know how to convert watts to Btu's, anyone know an easy way to figure it? Reason I ask is if I were to add solar panels what would I need to run my aqua-hot? Would it be sensible to add it. I have access for some great prices on 200 watt panels from another member here on the Newell forum and we may want to embark down this road in lieu of using diesel when it gets to $5 gal or more.

[Thomas Lago]

Hey Jack, you can most definitely convert watts to btu's but I think you will need some pretty good power to run the aquahot but I'm far from an expert on this. Wouldn't it be more effective to invert it from stored battery power or am I off here?