need some help identifying my system

Yoyizit · 11-20-2009, 06:16 PM

Does recovery rate have a meaning for these boilers?
With these kw usages it's the same as a tankless WH.

**beenthere** · 11-20-2009, 06:48 PM

Oil at 60% combustion(SSE) efficiency.
Electric must be less then:
$0.06 KHW with oil at $1.475 a gallon
$0.07 KHW with oil at $1.720 a gallon
$0.08 KHW with oil at $1.965 a gallon
$0.09 KHW with oil at $2.215 a gallon
$0.10 KHW with oil at $2.460 a gallon
$0.11 KHW with oil at $2.705 a gallon
$0.12 KHW with oil at $2.953 a gallon
$0.13 KHW with oil at $3.195 a gallon
$0.14 KHW with oil at $3.445 a gallon
$0.15 KHW with oil at $3.691 a gallon

Oil would have to be very inefficient, for electric to be cheaper then oil.

Don't forget. You shouldn't be comparing an inefficient oil boiler, to a new electric boiler.
Have to compare a new oil boiler to a new electric furnace.

yuri · 11-20-2009, 07:01 PM

If he wants to not have oil tanks or oil at all then an electric boiler may cost less to run than the "old beast".

**beenthere** · 11-20-2009, 07:04 PM

Using a 3 pass 87% efficient oil boiler, electric would have to be less then:
$.06 KWH with oil at $2.140
$.07 KWH with oil at $2.495
$.08 KWH with oil at $2.854
$.09 KWH with oil at $3.211
$.10 KWH with oil at $3.568
$.11 KWH with oil at $3.925
$.12 KWH with oil at $4.282
$.13 KWH with oil at $4.639
$.14 KWH with oil at $4.996
$.15 KWH with oil at $5.352

Keep in mind. that the electric rate on the left of an oil price. Is at what point its cheaper. By a couple cents, for the year.

**beenthere** · 11-20-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuri

If he wants to not have oil tanks or oil at all then an electric boiler may cost less to run than the "old beast".

Doubtfull electric would be cheaper, then that boiler.

And if its a lot more expensive. Then his tenants may have to choose between paying for their electric so they can have heat. Or paying rent.

If they have to decide. I bet they decide to have heat, and worry about eviction later.

yuri · 11-20-2009, 07:14 PM

Thermolec is right across the street from him. LOL. I would visit them and they probably have some engineers who know his market and can give him the best answers or someone at Hydro Quebec. One of my customers says gasoline/oil is going up soon. They usually speculate on how severe the Winter is going to be and try fleece everyone.

.

Good thing I have the "company" van to grab the "occasional" bag of groceries with.

**beenthere** · 11-20-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuri

Good thing I have the "company" van to grab the "occasional" bag of groceries with.

When I use to work for a company. I would stop at a grocery store on the way home.

I wish the OP, would post his electric rate.

Down here. Some landlords. Have the oil heat pulled out and electric heat installed. instead. Trying to tell us, or their tenants that it will be cheaper heat for them.
When they are really just trying to stop having to pay for repairs bills on the oil heat.

yuri · 11-20-2009, 07:39 PM

I have only seen a few electric boilers. Do you have experience with them? I assume they use immersion elements and do they get corroded/fail? Fresh water if added every year or 2 may be a killer.

**beenthere** · 11-20-2009, 07:56 PM

Worked on some for commercial heating(300KW is the largest I ever worked on).

And some for steam rooms(11, to 27KW).

Most of them, look just like a bolt on element for a water heater.

sbmfj · 11-21-2009, 08:50 PM

Hi again,

Thanks for all the responces and feedback. Very handy to hear everyones opinion. As for my electric rate, I looked at my most recent statement, and got the following info...

For the past 377 days, Ive used 9450 kWh, at a cost of $763.57 CAD, so works out to about 0.0808 $/kWh. I just had my oil tank filled, and paid $458.50 CAD for 583.3 Litres (about 154 gallons) @ .70 a litre plus tax. The highest Ive paid for oil is about .87 $/L, and that was last spring when oil was very high.

.87$/l = about 3.30 cad a gallon or about 3.15 USD/Gallon
.70$/L = about 2.65 cad a gallon or about 2.53 USD/Gallon.

Thanks

**beenthere** · 11-21-2009, 10:49 PM

Your last fill, was a short fill.

At that fills oil cost. And your posted electric rate.
At 80% eff for the oil. The oil would be about 18 bucks cheaper then electric.
At 75% eff, the oil would be 7 dollars more then the electric.
At 70% eff, the oil would be 35 dollars more then the electric.

sbmfj · 11-22-2009, 08:39 PM

thanks Beenthere. Mind sharing your formula?

**beenthere** · 11-22-2009, 10:17 PM

I have them in a spread sheet, that does all the work for me.
I just enter the total BTUs until I get the gallons you posted, and then enter the rates, and efficiencies.

I'll see if I can break out some of the formulas tomorrow, to make it easier for you.

sbmfj · 11-23-2009, 12:30 PM

thanks Beenthere. Youve been very helpful!!