tumble drier economy

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Phil Pascoe

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Shaft City, Mid Cornish Desert
I have a 9kg drier. Is it more economic to fill with 9kg of drying or to run it twice half full? my inclination would be twice half full because the air circulation would be much better ... but I'm often (usually, if swmbo's asked) wrong. I suppose it could be checked out by weighing, but I'd need two loads of identical washing, which is not going to happen.

(Before someone else gets one in - yes, it'd be more economic not to run the thing at all. :D )
 
Of course you are wrong you silly man!
I'd agree with you though, but then I'd be wrong too.

My wife once admitted to being wrong, but it was just the once in 40 years :lol:
 
The best thing to do is to apply logic to the matter and that will give you an answer.

Then, naturally do it the other way, ie illogically. That way, you will be right.

Luckily SWMBO doesn't read this forum!!!

Phil
 
What you need is a smart meter then you can measure exactly what it costs for each type of load :D :D :D
 
won't change the heat, might change the time, marginal at best though with minimal savings, the cost is in the heating the element up, maintaining it is pretty cheap, spinning the thing is next to nothing (again, once it's turning). I'd guess you might knock 15 minutes of the cycle (assuming a drying time of 45minutes to an 1 hour ish) by running it half loaded, it isn't a linear reduction of time, but your doing it twice so end up running for longer overall with cool down between loads (unless your my wife then you sit by the machine and wait for it stop), so ramp up costs are effectively doubled.

air circulation isn't the biggest issue, the cloths are rattling round in the drum, if they were static I'd be inclined to agree with you, as they move through the air the benefit to more air is negligable, you are still passing the same amount of air through and getting (at first anyway) the same amount of moisture out the other end from both cycles.

so, rather surprisingly I'd say you are better with a full load, by about 1/3 the energy.
 
Yes, of course. All I'd have to do would be to ensure the loads were identical.
I actually bought a rather upmarket one of them from Maplins. I couldn't work out how to use it, or even understand the instructions. Neither could my wife. Neither could my friend, who is a GP and has a far more scientific mind than I have. Nor could any other friends, nor the staff in the shop. I got hold of head office who couldn't explain to me how to work it, but kindly offered me another identical copy of the instructions we couldn't understand. :? :lol:
 
Pretty sure the answer is 19.

Here are my workings :

a34304c2f5c7418ad383d04ff4ae2bb5.png


Seriously though - you've asked the question now, we need an answer else none of us will be able to sleep. So why don't you just perform the experiment with the same lot of washing. First full, and then 2 lots of half loads with a plugin meter as suggested?

You'll need to make sure both sets of washing has the same water content, so I'd suggest putting them on a rinse wash to make it consistent. You'll also need to make sure the experiment is performed on a full moon, else you'll get gravity issues.

As an asside, I moved into a house where there is only space for one machine, and stupidly got washer as opposed to a washer/dryer combo. Really regret it. I'm now having to use a dehumifier on days wheres too damp outside to dry. Such a PITA! ... I'm hoping this machine will conk out soon :p :p ... might be waiting a while though as it's only 6 months old.

I think the dehumidifer is cheaper, but it's far less convenient as it means hanging cloths up to dry in your house, which is fine if you have space for that! Not me. It has to go in my "study/Gym"

On average, I think the dehumidifer takes about 6 hours, which at 600w is about 3.6kW, so about 40p.
 
nev":akenqjoh said:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Electrical/Energy-Consumption-Cost-Meter-Electricity-Measures-Frequency/B00SJI3FSO/ref=sr_1_6?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1490004184&sr=1-6&keywords=Plug-In+Energy+Monitor

Very useful gadget, and dirt cheap.

A smart meter won't tell you how much power your fridge uses in 24Hour, or your freezer, but this gadget will.

The only thing it can't really do is an Oven, which is more than 13Amps and doesn't have a plug.

BugBear
 
bugbear":1prbmgaf said:
nev":1prbmgaf said:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Electrical/Energy-Consumption-Cost-Meter-Electricity-Measures-Frequency/B00SJI3FSO/ref=sr_1_6?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1490004184&sr=1-6&keywords=Plug-In+Energy+Monitor
The only thing it can't really do is an Oven, which is more than 13Amps and doesn't have a plug.

BugBear


You can use a multi-meter for that.
 
bugbear":1o01f4f2 said:
nev":1o01f4f2 said:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Electrical/Energy-Consumption-Cost-Meter-Electricity-Measures-Frequency/B00SJI3FSO/ref=sr_1_6?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1490004184&sr=1-6&keywords=Plug-In+Energy+Monitor

Very useful gadget, and dirt cheap.

A smart meter won't tell you how much power your fridge uses in 24Hour, or your freezer, but this gadget will.

The only thing it can't really do is an Oven, which is more than 13Amps and doesn't have a plug.

BugBear

Many new ones being electric oven only have a plug.
 
phil.p":3k4w0be5 said:
How do you use a multi meter to find the consumption over a time? :? :D

Ok - so maybe you'd need one of the more expensive ones to do it over time .. but that is how my electricity monitor works. You just clamp it around the live wire, and that was only £30
 
MrDavidRoberts":kjly14x2 said:
linedrykid.JPG


Totally free...and your clothes doesn't wear out as fast.


(Before someone else gets one in - yes, it'd be more economic not to run the thing at all. :D ) - the OP
You obviously didn't read my post about today's weather? 99% humidity in Cornwall. My life isn't long enough.
 
MrDavidRoberts":34vv6m8o said:
linedrykid.JPG


Totally free...and your clothes doesn't wear out as fast.

Wait .. what? ... how long have you been able to do this? .. Phil!!! have you seen this?
 
Is it your child or do you have to borrow one? I can see this getting very expensive (either having to feed the little darling or the court case associated with "borrowing" children).
 
Which reminds me of a tale

A friend moved to Bangladesh for work.
Local custom required he employ a house boy, and he did.
Before he left UK he bought the full tropic clothes kit including long sleeved shirts.

The house boy washed the clothes in the bath.
After a while he found cuts in the bottom half of the sleeves.
He mentioned this at work
Ah, the houseboy needs new shirts and wants you to throw yours away.

My friend came from Yorkshire - and now goes to work in short sleeved shirts.
 
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