Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?  

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

That and the summer weather - yes.  

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

Last time I checked mine does around 60 watt with just the heatend and up to 210 watt with the heatend and bed heating. It is something like 100-150 watt on average during printing. 

14 hours a day adds up quickly. 

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

But I don't do 14 hours/day often. That is the worst case. 

Family member mentioned that when we had the air conditioner on, it did not cost that much. Could it be that the i3MK3S need more power to run than an air conditioner?

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

Ten to twenty dollars US a month is normal if you print a lot.  It's pretty reasonable - it's about half of my current electric bill - so I do not mind.  My grow lights in the lettuce tent take up the other half.

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

I have 7 in one building and it costs me about $60 - that is 8-12 hours a day.  

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

You can count it yourself. On Prusa pages was a calculation somewhere how much it cost...
Anyway, it is told, that a single printer consume so much electricity as playing on HD/4k games on a computer.

Calculation:

Average (8) h a day of printing  _*_ (365) days _*_ (100) W/h of consumption which is  per one year 292000W/h.

Which is cca 292KW/h a year and divided by 12 months it is cca  25KW/h (25000W/h) a month.

Now check your bill on how much you pay for 1KW/h .  In my bill, I calculated cca 1h printing cost like 3 Eurocents or average 9Euro a month.

With average 14h a day printing, it is cca 511KW/h

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

I can honestly say my PC consumes far more electricity than my 3D printer. The scale tilts even farther if I start playing a 3D computer game.

The printer could use as much as 0.3 kW per hour ( 0.240 kw * 1/80% )  --  You can do the math and figure the most it will cost if running 24/7, and work back from there. A 240w power supply with 80% efficiency at my peak summer utility rate of $0.12/kWh comes out to $0.036 per hour and $0.86 per day.   

30 days should cost me no more than $25.92 printing 24/7.   Unless you are printing 24/7, your $20-$30 seems a bit high -- I'd guess you're probably using closer to $10-$15 a month.

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

@tim-2

I counted the average 100W/h based on meter in wall socket after 5 hour print.

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

@tim-2

I agree but I think this also has an effect on the AC use in the room.  These buggers can heat a room.  

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

@cwbullet

Calories are calories. With a reasonable SEER AC unit -the power required to remove those 100w/h outside is small by comparison. Guestimate around 5Wh to be on the safe side, but it's probably less.

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

As I said above, I have 7 printers and it raises about $60.  I use Watt meters to measure it.   I have noticed my power costs go up in the spring, fall, and summer when compared to winter and it higher even without the printers.   

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

Posted by: @cwbullet

@tim-2

I agree but I think this also has an effect on the AC use in the room.  These buggers can heat a room.  

I have not used air conditioner for a few months. In the winter, the heater did not work so I just had it off and I have not turned on the air conditioner yet.

Speaking of heating a room.. I have an i3MK3S inside an enclosure which is connected to the window via  a pipe. During printing, I have the door closed tightly. How come when it is printing in my bedroom, I still feel hot? 

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

@prusanewuser

Feel hot? Because the printer heats up?

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

@prusanewuser

Google radiant heat.

Also - if the room is sealed with only a vent fan ducted outside - where does the air come from to replace the air the fan is trying to move from the enclosure?  Most likely the fan isn't really moving that much air, and instead it's simply circulating the hot air around the enclosure, heating up the room.

An experiment to try: cut a 4" hole in a cardboard box. Mount a 4" fan to the hole (screws, tape, glue). Tape the box shut. Turn on the fan. Put your hand in front of the fan -- how much air is coming out of the box?

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

@tim-2

Yup.  The printer is a 200C+ degree radiator.  

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

Posted by: @cwbullet

@tim-2

Yup.  The printer is a 200C+ degree radiator.  

So in the Winter, I could actually use it as a heater for my bedroom?

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

Posted by: @tim-2

@prusanewuser

Google radiant heat.

Also - if the room is sealed with only a vent fan ducted outside - where does the air come from to replace the air the fan is trying to move from the enclosure?  Most likely the fan isn't really moving that much air, and instead it's simply circulating the hot air around the enclosure, heating up the room.

 

Will this cause an explosion or fire hazard if the heat is too much?

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

@prusanewuser

No.

That said - any appliance that generates high temperatures around flammable objects should be used with care. A Mk3 isn't going to explode, but plastics have caught fire when a heater control circuit fails. PLA does burn. The Mk3 has several fail safes to help prevent such fires, but there will always be a risk. I keep my printer where I can see it when it is printing - partly because I want to know the print is progressing as expected, but also partly because I'm a worry wart for bad things happening. I keep my smoke alarm batteries up to date and have CO and Air Quality monitors nearby.

RE: Could using i3MK3S+ contribute to US$20-30 increase in electric bill?

@prusanewuser

I concur with Tim.  Can catch fire, but it could never explode.  There are risks, but this is not a risky hobby as long as you follow safety precautions and do regualr maintenance.