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240 times 2.5 amps is 600 watts, but those numbers don't apply. On a HotSpring or Tiger River Spa the circ pump is 85 watts, total. It runs on 110 volts, but is just 85 watts.That means to run it 24 hours is only about two kilowatthours, or about eighteen cents.
This is a mathmatical exercise. I will take a shot at it and this would be my interpretation. HS experts please correct any misinterpretations or misunderstanding created. Clean and clear water is the result of proper filtration and sanitation which is accomplished by gallons per minute. HS has a circulation pump that is rated, let me assume, 6 to7 gpm, which would equate to 8,640 to 10,080 gallons per day and may not be adequate to filter the water clean with the circ pump only which has a single dedicated filter. This turnover rate is approximately 22 times.The primary pump which requires 2 suction fittings has a dedicated filter on each fitting independent of the circ pump filter (thus 100% filtration). This pump may have a rate of 180 gpm resulting in an additional turnover of 1,800 gallons during the 10 minute "clean up cycle". Thus an additional 1,800 gallons is being filtered plus the 10,080This would represent 11,880 gallons being filtered, and assuming the capacity of the tub is 450 gallons that would be a turnover rate of 26 times, which should be cosidered adequate to filter out oxidized contaminants.Assuming the primary pump is pulling 11 amps x 240 volts resulting in 2640 watts of consumption per hour, or .440 kilowatts in 10 minutes x .09 cents = approximately 4 cents to run the clean up cycle.The circ pump at 240 x 2.5 amps = .600 kW x .09 = 5.4 cents per hour or about a $1.30 a dayAd to this the 20 to 30 minutes of pump operataion and any heat loss or replacement of heat loss and you should be able to roughly estimate your cost of electric.A meter would be much easier and more accurate. But, when it comes to filtration, it is gallons per minute that clean the water. so, drober30, to put your mind at ease forget the $$$ and consider it less than a nickle for each "clean up cycle"
Thank you Chas, I know you know, but if that is correct the circ pump would be pulling .7 amp, and it could never move 6 to 7 gpm. How many gpm would the circ pump do? and are both hi performance pumps running during the 10 minutes, doubling the nickel to a dime? which is little to no signifigance.
Now what I really want is to jump out of the tub, hit the clean button, run in the house and watch through the window as the automatic sanitzer injector pumps dichlor into the running tub, runs it for 10 minutes, turns out the tub lights, and the motorized cover lifter cycles and closes the cover. COME ON DEALERS! Put those engineers back at the mother ship to work!
So then, there we have it. 2 kW a day costing 18 cents a day to run, turning over 8,640 gallons every 24 hours, plus the clean up cycle that we discover to be approximately 5 cents per clean up cycle, so let's assume we use 2 clean up cycles, your total cost would be 28 cents a day, or $8.40 a month, turning over 10,440 gallons per day and turning over the content of the tub 24 to 26 times each day.
So then, there we have it. 2 kW a day costing 18 cents a day to run, turning over 8,640 gallons every 24 hours, plus the clean up cycle that we discover to be approximately 5 cents per clean up cycle, so let's assume we use 2 clean up cycles, your total cost would be 28 cents a day, or $8.40 a month, turning over 10,440 gallons per day and turning over the content of the tub 24 to 26 times each day.So drober, push that clean up cycle with great delight and sleep at night realizing it is on pennies a day.
You need to press your clean up cycle after each use because Hot Springs Spas do not skim body oils etc. AT ALL unless you do so. If you use your HS and do not press the 10 minute button, no water gets skimmed. The circulation pump pulls water throught the lower screens beneath the weir door and cannot pull the weir door down.
I don' think that's too unreasonable. Pools have automatic clhorinators, a tub could have one too, and on the clean cycle open the valve a bit more to allow a greater amount of chlorine to mix with the water. Auto coverlifter? Sure. just like a garage door opener or a covertable car.
Mine is voice activated:"Honey, go put some chlorine into the spa and leave the cover open for me, willya?"Works like a charm.