(Solved) Can my old WhisperFlo WFE-26 1.5hp really only consume .5 kWh per hour?

[Longboat58]

Hello,
(Solved, I was reading the online data wrong. It was showing the consumption for each 15min period vs the hourly average)
My system is 17 yrs old and I am in the process of considering what my replacement will be, single speed vs VS. Checking my electricity data online when only my pump is running shows usage at about .5 kWh. Everything I've seen on this forum would lead me to believe that is low. At my electric rate that is only about $0.07 per hour. Not sure I would save much with a VS since I normally run it just a few hours. (The screenshot was from when we were out of town using pucks) Thanks
Motor model# 011518 1.5 HP, 1.10 SF, 1.65 SFHP

 

[wireform]

The graph may be correct but has nothing to do with pump running. At 14.8 amps =1776 watts which is 1.776 kilowatts....You'd definitely benefit from a 3hp variable speed pump which can give you enough rpm and still use only a small portion of those kilowatts.

 

[Longboat58]

The graph may be correct but has nothing to do with pump running. At 14.8 amps =1776 watts which is 1.776 kilowatts....You'd definitely benefit from a 3hp variable speed pump which can give you enough rpm and still use only a small portion of those kilowatts.

Thank you for your response, it caused me to dig a little deeper into the online data, which turns out was consumption per 15 min period, not the average hourly consumption. So I was only off by a multiple of 4 lol! Several years ago I had used the volts * amps calculation to arrive at my hourly cost but after looking at the meter data I thought I had made an error. Nope, I was just reading the online data wrong. Thanks again.

 

[JamesW]

From 12:45 to 1:15, the energy used was 0.43 kilowatt-hours.

That indicates a power usage of about 860 watts.

When the line is horizontal, no power is being used.

I don't think that your graph makes any sense because energy used cannot go down.

Maybe they are using the wrong units.

Where are you getting this graph?

Note that the term kilowatt-hours is energy and the term kilowatts is power, which many people get confused and they use the terms incorrectly.

The amount of energy used can only increase.

The amount of power used can go up or down.

The total energy that you consume is what your bill is based on.

Power is the amount of energy used per unit of time.

1,000 watts used for 1 hour uses 1 kilowatt-hour of energy.

2,000 watts used for 1 hour uses 2 kilowatt-hours of energy.

1 watt is equal to 1 joule per second or 3,600 joules per hour.

3,600 joules/hr x 1 hr = 3,600 joules or 1 watthour.

3,600,000 joules = 1 kilowatt-hour.

 

[JamesW]

You have a 1.65 total hp pump, which uses about 1,650 watts of power or about 1.65 kilowatt-hours of energy per hour.

 

[Longboat58]

From 12:45 to 1:15, the energy used was 0.43 kilowatt-hours.

That indicates a power usage of about 860 watts.

When the line is horizontal, no power is being used.

I don't think that your graph makes any sense because energy used cannot go down.

Maybe they are using the wrong units.

Where are you getting this graph?

Note that the term kilowatt-hours is energy and the term kilowatts is power, which many people get confused and they use the terms incorrectly.

The amount of energy used can only increase.

The amount of power used can go up or down.

The total energy that you consume is what your bill is based on.

Power is the amount of energy used per unit of time.

1,000 watts used for 1 hour uses 1 kilowatt-hour of energy.

2,000 watts used for 1 hour uses 2 kilowatt-hours of energy.

1 watt is equal to 1 joule per second or 3,600 joules per hour.

3,600 joules/hr x 1 hr = 3,600 joules or 1 watthour.

3,600,000 joules = 1 kilowatt-hour.


View attachment 586008

Thanks for your reply. Yes I was reading the graph wrong. It was showing our consumption for each 15 min period not the average hourly consumption.

 

[Longboat58]

You have a 1.65 total hp pump, which uses about 1,650 watts of power or about 1.65 kilowatt-hours of energy per hour.

Thanks for your reply. Yes I was reading the graph wrong. It was showing our consumption for each 15 min period not the average hourly consumption.

 

[JamesW]

The graph does not make any sense because energy used cannot go down.

Energy used can only go up or stay the same.

 

[1poolman1]

Thanks for your reply. Yes I was reading the graph wrong. It was showing our consumption for each 15 min period not the average hourly consumption.

Graph says you are using 1.9 +/- kW/h. Rating plate says it will consume +/-1.8kW/h. Graph may not be just measuring the motor. Either way, that is near $.24/hour energy use in your area for that motor.

 

[Longboat58]

The graph does not make any sense because energy used cannot go down.

Energy used can only go up or stay the same.

The graph is a screenshot from our meter data online of the energy used during each 15 min period. It shot up when the pump came on and back down when it shut off. We were out of town and having to use the chlorinator. It shows that while the pump was running we were using just under .5 kWh every 15 min. I also downloaded the 15 min usage data to Excel and it ties back to the total kWh for the day and I can clearly see the kWh consumed each 15min period.

 

[Longboat58]

Graph says you are using 1.9 +/- kW/h. Rating plate says it will consume +/-1.8kW/h. Graph may not be just measuring the motor. Either way, that is near $.24/hour energy use in your area for that motor.

Totally agree, thanks. Yeah the graph included all consumption, so the fridge and a few led lights outside while we were out of town.

 

[1poolman1]

Totally agree, thanks. Yeah the graph included all consumption, so the fridge and a few led lights outside while we were out of town.

Your pump is an up-rated 1.5hp, a full-rated 1hp. Either way it is a 1.65 total horsepower pump.

 

[JamesW]

To me, the graph seems like it does not make sense.

Is it measuring power (Watts) or energy (KWH)?

 

[1poolman1]

To me, the graph seems like it does not make sense.

Is it measuring power (Watts) or energy (KWH)?

According to the label on the left KWH with a measurement taken every 15 minutes (bottom label) and recorded every 45 minutes. At least that's how I read it.

 

[JamesW]

Ok, I still don't get it.

 

[1poolman1]

Ok, I still don't get it.

I think the point is that during the interval shown, 12:45AM - 8:45AM the power consumed was at a rate of about 4.9KWH.

 

[Longboat58]

According to the label on the left KWH with a measurement taken every 15 minutes (bottom label) and recorded every 45 minutes. At least that's how I read it.

You are correct. I attached a larger screenshot. It is actually plotting the data point every 15 min just doesn't show the 15 min time interval below due to space. I can scroll across online and see each 15 min data point.

 

[JamesW]

KWH is energy, not power.

Power is the rate of energy use.

 

[JamesW]

So, if you are using 0.5 KWH per 15 minutes, then the power used is 2,000 watts?

Seems like a very awkward way to display the data.

 

[1poolman1]

KWH is energy, not power.

Power is the rate of energy use.

KWH is how you are charged for electricity. That appears to be the reason for the chart, something like a fuel gauge and new cars with their MPG read-outs.

So, if you are using 0.5 KWH per 15 minutes, then the power used is 2,000 watts?

Seems like a very awkward way to display the data.

And that fits the power usage on the motor, +/- 1.8 KWH (V x A) rough estimate based on the amp draw and voltage. He also had the refrigerator and other items running at the same time.