Cost of using EBH

I kind of agree with Jayman, but at the same time those STUPID neighbors need to be informed and not allowed to impose their ignorance on your hard earned privileges!

Find out legally how you can proceed/force them to comply, and do so!
Then install a camera, because they WILL key your car!
Bright side to that is you can press charges and get them kicked out. he he he.
-Make sure your plugging in your EBH right when they are carrying out the last box.:nono:

 

did they unplug you because you were using a block heater or was it because your gas bill is 40 to 75% lower than theirs?

 

Congratulations!

 

Does anyone have an estimate on fuel savings using the block heater to pre-warm the Prius? How much fuel could it save over a year and at what electrical cost?

 

Don't have a real number (or an EBH), but here's a rough idea until someone who knows what they're talking about comes along.

If mileage over the first 5 minute bar improves from 25 mpg to 50 mpg, and you cover 3 miles in that time you would save ~ 3/25 - 3/50 = 0.06 gal. At $4/gal thats about $0.24, and at 19.6 lbs CO2/gal thats 1.2 lbs CO2.

At 400W for 3 hrs, you're using 1.2kWh of electricity. US average is about 9c/kWh, so you're using about $0.11 worth of electricity. This would probably be even better if you're plugged in at night as many places night electricity is only 2-3c/kWh. CO2/kWh is ~1-1.5 lbs/kWh, or 1.2-1.8 lbs so you may want to pay the extra 1-3c to make that electricity CO2 free if you can. Other pollutants are probably much improved, as cold cars put a lot of junk out of the tailpipe.

Congrats on your victory Kremtok!

Rob

 

There is also the extra benefit of reaching stage 4 much earlier then otherwise be possible...

 

I bet those neighbors feel like asses to get shut down so obviously at the meeting, and now entirely pissed at you. A HUGE *finger pointing* HA to those idiots for not simply educating themselves on the matter first.

Seriously, keep your radar out for a dumb peoples version of sabotage, like, "The rake must of fell on your hood because the plug was blocking access to where we normally store it."

 

miscrms - Rob,

Thanks for the reply. Sounds reasonable ( lot of posts on the web site to go through and after searching I found a simular figure for savings). As a new 2008 Prius owner not sure how block heater works considering that coolant is stored in thermos when 'key' is off. Assume that not all coolent is stored, so block heater works.

Is there such a thing a thermos heater? Seems if the coolant in thermos could be kept hot (less electrical power required because of insulation) that might be an effective option. This has probably been reviewed before but I am a new Bee.

 

If we assume that you are using $30.00/month of yours and your neighbors electricity, and you are driving 15k/year, my calculations show that you would have to increase you fuel mileage by about 25% to come out ahead.

(assuming 15k/yr - 40MPG (before EBH) - Gas@ $4.00/gal)

 

$30 !!
Here is my way of thinking
11 cents per Kw, 3 hours in the morning on a 400w EBH via timer results in 13.2 cents of electricity per morning used

Now first 5 minutes of driving....
w/o EBH 25mpg, assume avg speed 30mph results 6 miles driven and 0.24 gal. of gas, gas at $4.00/gal would cost $0.96
w EBH 50mpg, assume avg speed 30mph results in 6 miles driven and 0.12 gal. of
gas, gas at $4.00/gal would cost $0.48.

w verses w/o EBH saves 0.96-0.48 = $0.48 per cold morning ICE start. If you use the Prius 256 days a year for work the money is:

Electricity cost: $0.132*256 = $33.79 per year
Fuel savings: $0.48 * 256 = $122.88 per year

Looks like if you install the EBH yourself and it costs less than $89 (including the timer) it will pay for itself in one year and after that you should save $89 per year.

The 25mpg, 50mpg, 3 hrs plug in time are WAG's from this forum postings. I used 256 days ... if you used 356 days you would save more.

 

Any way to set up a securty camera above your car? I fear you may have made some enemies out of this. Don't be surprised if your Prius suddenly gets keyed or has a slashed tire one morning

 

Does your garage have an overhead light? If it does and you can get to it, tell your neighbor that you will install a CFL bulb in it. The light power savings will more than compensate for the EBH electrical usage. Or just give him one, he/she will save more than you are using. But then maybe he/she can't add.

 

600W is a unit used to measure power
You need Wh to know the quantity of energy

You may be able to plug your 400W in that portable powerpack, but it'll only run for 20mins or so before the battery is drained.

Look at the specs.... 28 Ah stored at 12V.......... 28Ah x 12V = 336 AVh = 336Wh (1 VA = 1W)

Technically you could run a 336W appliance for one hour, but deduct some for the DC-AC conversion and deduct some for the storage efficiency. You should end up running that 400W EBH for about 20-25mins approximately.

 

Excuse me for jumping in, but where do you get the EBH and what is the cost? Can it be "easily self-installed" ?

Jim

 

It was a 130 dollar dealer-installed accessory when I purchased my Prius

 

It can be purchased through the PriusChat Shop for $59.

It's not a technically difficult installation, but it's not simple either. You have to know where the hole in the block is and insert the heater core into the hole blindly. And there's not a lot of working room. There have been one or two reports in the forums of folks that have stuck it in the wrong hole.

Many of us had FireEngineer install it on one of his nationwide block heater installation tours last year. I don't know that he plans any more road trips, so here's a set of DIY instructions that might help.

Stefx mentions that his was dealer-installed, but that's not generally an option for US owners. It's a Toyota Canada part, not sold in the US. You could still buy it from the PC Shop and ask your dealer to install it, but being unfamiliar with it they might turn you down. If they accept the job, then be prepared for the possibility of a couple of hours of labor charges for a job that takes 30 minutes or less by someone who knows what they're doing.

 

I have mine on a timer year 'round. i cant' tell the difference between months when I do use it, and months when I don't. the increase in electric bill, if any, isn't noticeable.

 

You kidding, it takes that long to do.

Wayne