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Old 09-09-2008, 04:41 PM   #22 (permalink)
Tango Charlie
Deadly Efficient
 
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Goshen, Indiana
Posts: 1,234

Olivia - '03 Pontiac Vibe base
90 day: 36.01 mpg (US)

R2-D2 - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 58.81 mpg (US)
Thanks: 134
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fshagan View Post
It takes a certain amount of energy to raise the water a degree ... 2.42 watts per gallon. If you have to raise it 10 degrees, it doesn't matter if the heater comes on ten times to raise it one degree, or if it comes on once to raise it ten degrees. You use the same energy to recover the 10 degrees of heat you lost.
Here's another aspect to consider; with a timer installed and set to fire up the WH during lower electric rates, there's an advantage for ya. Instead of 6,7,or 8 of those one degree cycles at daytime rates, you're getting all 10 during the reduced rate.
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