What do it cost?

[jimpeterson]

Hi, Guys...I have a charcoal smoker, and a Masterbuilt 7 in 1 grill and smoker. I am kicking around the thought of building an electric smoker. My first concern is the cost of electricity to run a smoker. I live in Nevada, and also have a winter home in Mexico, where if you go over the minimum usage, the cost really escalates. Has anyone figured out just what it costs to run a smoker, say for 8 hours?

I have a lotta largemouth bass that needs smoking.

Thanks... 

 

[alblancher]

I am willing to bet you that unless you get wood for free the cost of electric smoke is a lot cheaper then anything else you can buy. 

 

[venture]

I don't burn watts yet.  From what I have read on this forum, the cost has to be way less than charcoal.

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[pote05]

Say your element is 1500 watts is 1.5 KW (kilowatt).  (1000 Watts= 1 Kilowatt) This would be running it at the max...

Every hour you run it, you consume 1.5KWh (kilowatt hour) of electricity.

Say in your market, 1 KWh costs $0.1065, including Fuel Adjustment. Therefore, running it for 8 hours would cost about $1.28.

1.5KW x 8hr x $.1065 = $1.28  See your electric bill for your current energy cost.

See your Bill for your Electric Rate.. Hope this helps..

 

[venture]

The element does not run at full tilt during the entire smoke.  Only when additional heat is needed, so the actual cost would be markedly less than the max draw of the element.

Having said that, it will depend on where you live and what you pay for electricity.  Here in Taxifornia, I pay at the highest tier because of our need for air conditioning.  My cost at the highest tier is a whopping 34 cents per KWH.  Even at that exorbitant rate, I bet a watt burner would be cheaper than the charcoal I burn in my offset.

Some watt burners will be by soon to give you a better idea.

I would also like to hear from other members as to what they pay per KWH at this time of year?

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[alblancher]

11.6 cents KWH

 

[Bearcarver]

The element does not run at full tilt during the entire smoke.   Only when additional heat is needed, so the actual cost would be markedly less than the max draw of the element.

Having said that, it will depend on where you live and what you pay for electricity.  Here in Taxifornia, I pay at the highest tier because of our need for air conditioning.  My cost at the highest tier is a whopping 34 cents per KWH.  Even at that exorbitant rate, I bet a watt burner would be cheaper than the charcoal I burn in my offset.

Some watt burners will be by soon to give you a better idea.

I would also like to hear from other members as to what they pay per KWH at this time of year?

Good luck and good smoking.

Good point Merv!!!

One of the reasons MES owners love Todd's AMNS & AMNPS is because the MES are so well insulated, that the element isn't usually on long enough to make your wood chips smoke. Therefore it surely isn't using much electric.

Bear

 

[hardslicer]

can you really put a price on well smoked Q?  I say go for it, I'm a watt burner and I sure haven't seen any increases in my power bill.....make sure you get Todd's AMNS you will need it 

 

[venture]

Al, you lucky dog!

I was asking about people who actually have to PAY for their electricity.

Oh well, I asked for it, I got it.

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[fpnmf]

With all the taxes and surcharges I am at 14 cents per kwh.  Not bad....

  Craig

 

[kielbasa kid]

My MES analog 30 is 1500W and always smoking @225 with the arrow halfway or less on the control dial while clicking on&off...so I am probably never using more than 500W at any given time and never sustained at that wattage. The MES is tighter than a frog's ass and that's waterproof.

  As for the wattage and smoke point that was made, I never have a problem running @225 and always have the Sacred Blue Smoke

    So there's no problem with ignition using shreaded chips.

Here is something to consider: The MES analog 30 only has two permanent openings, e.g. 1/2" exit in the back at the top and another 1/2" in the base as a drain. They are enough as you can see, to keep the smoldering going. I believe that there would/may be enough air circulation to keep Todd's gizmo perking.  My concern would/might be with the humidity/steam/vapor from the water pan, extinguishing the smoking embers.  The MES keeps everything in. As a matter of fact, smoke only escapes through the 1/2" chimney hole and around the analog control housing.

After I WIN Todd's gizmo, I will let you know.

 

[alblancher]

Hey Venture

We are sitting on huge deposits of Natural Gas down here and the power plants are almost all gas.  I remember 20 years ago or so we had a natural gas shortage and all our gas got sent to the North East so the Yankees wouldn't freeze to death.  Our rates went through the roof then but have been pretty stable since.

 

[meateater]

I really don't notice a difference in my power bill. My element is 1500 watts and runs solid no breaks. 

Edited: I was using charcoal last year at this time, didnt make my sparky till October. I used 1,125 KWH last year compared to 1141 KWH this year for month of june.

 

[venture]

Al, I used to communicate with a Cajun friend.  Her screen name was Cajunlady. She always said she lived so far north that she was just a redneck Cajun. LOL  Her hubby maintained a power plant in Natichoses.  He died shortly after retirement, and she followed him a couple of years later.  She was the best friend I never met.  I used to cringe when I heard about the La power prices and then looked at my bill.

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[alblancher]

Yea, we generally say that if you live above Alexandria you are either a Redneck or a Texan.

Sorry you lost your friend, I can tell it still affects you.  Peace my friend.

Al

 

[jimpeterson]

I want to thank all you guys for the quick response for my question. I have been hashing around the idea of building a smoker, and I thought the cost of electricity would be a factor; glad it's not.

I have one of those milk machines, that hold 2 five gallon boxes of milk, like they had in the armed forces; all stainless, and double-walled insulated, with a great latch for the door. ID measurements: 10 1/2" x 22" x 23". The 10 1/2" depth measurement bothers me. Do you guys think that is enough depth?

 

[exhaustedspark]

Sound to me like a perfect little Smoker.

You could double use as a Dehydrator

Please post some pict. if you can. For some (ME) pictures and crayons help a lot.

Karl

 

[jimpeterson]

OK...This is the third try at sending a reply with photos attached. I hope I'm not overloading your computers with screwed-up messages.

This is the milk machine I want to make a smoker out of:

 

[michael ark]

What about us hillbilly's?
 

Yea, we generally say that if you live above Alexandria you are either a Redneck or a Texan.

Sorry you lost your friend, I can tell it still affects you.  Peace my friend.

Al

 

[exhaustedspark]

That looks Beautifully. I bet it will make a great little elect. smoker.

Good luck

Happy smoken

Karl