Easy way to calculate the electric cost of running a heat lamp (or any light bulb) in your chicken coop plus some safety tips. The easiest way to find out how much the heat lamp or any light bulb is using is to call your energy company and ask them how much they are charging you for each kilowatt hour (kWh). When you have this information look at the packaging of the bulb or directly on the light bulb and find the wattage of the bulb which should be printed on the light bulb. It is usually a number with a W behind it. (Ignore comparison watts, "40-watt equivalent"). Once you have located the watts of the bulb you will need to convert the watts to kilowatts. Divide this number by 1000. Most heat lamps are 250 watts so I will use this as an example.
Example:
250 watt light bulb /1000 = 0.25 kilowatts
This means a 250 watt light bulb uses 0.25 kilowatts.
After you have determined the amount of kilowatts the bulb uses you will need to estimate how many hours the light bulb will be used a month. For example, If you are using a 250 watt (0.25 kilowatts) heat lamp bulb 24 hours a day you will need to multiply the bulb's kilowatts by the number of hours you use your bulb.
Example:
0.25 kilowatts x 24 hours = 6
This means your light bulb uses 6 kilowatts in 24 hours.
If you use the heat lamp for one month (30 days) you will need to multiply the kilowatt hours by the days of the month you will be using it to find out how many kilowatts the lamp uses a month
Example:
6 kilowatts x 30 days = 180 kilowatts
This means the heat lamp uses 180 kilowatts per month.
Multiply the amount your electric company charges per kilowatt hour by the amount of kilowatt hours you use the lamp to find out how much it will cost. I will use .12 cents per hour which is the average amount charged by most electric companies per kilowatt hour for my example.
Example:
.12 cents x 180 kilowatt hours used = $21.60
This means the cost of electricity to operate a 250 watt bulb in a heat lamp, 24 hours a day, for 30 days is $21.60 (Wiki).
Example:
250 watt light bulb /1000 = 0.25 kilowatts
This means a 250 watt light bulb uses 0.25 kilowatts.
After you have determined the amount of kilowatts the bulb uses you will need to estimate how many hours the light bulb will be used a month. For example, If you are using a 250 watt (0.25 kilowatts) heat lamp bulb 24 hours a day you will need to multiply the bulb's kilowatts by the number of hours you use your bulb.
Example:
0.25 kilowatts x 24 hours = 6
This means your light bulb uses 6 kilowatts in 24 hours.
If you use the heat lamp for one month (30 days) you will need to multiply the kilowatt hours by the days of the month you will be using it to find out how many kilowatts the lamp uses a month
Example:
6 kilowatts x 30 days = 180 kilowatts
This means the heat lamp uses 180 kilowatts per month.
Multiply the amount your electric company charges per kilowatt hour by the amount of kilowatt hours you use the lamp to find out how much it will cost. I will use .12 cents per hour which is the average amount charged by most electric companies per kilowatt hour for my example.
Example:
.12 cents x 180 kilowatt hours used = $21.60
This means the cost of electricity to operate a 250 watt bulb in a heat lamp, 24 hours a day, for 30 days is $21.60 (Wiki).
Safety Tips for Using Heat Lamps From Motherhen
The safest way to use a heat lamp is NOT to rely on the clamp that it comes with to hold it in place. I hang it inside an old bird cage with a metal bottom using wire that does not melt. Then I hang the bird cage high enough where the chickens cannot get on top of it and place it where it is at least 3 feet away from anything flammable.--Motherhen
Reference:
1. Calculate Kilowatts used by lightbulbs. Retrieved on Jan. 13, 2017 from Wiki How. http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Kilowatts-Used-by-Light-Bulbs
1. Calculate Kilowatts used by lightbulbs. Retrieved on Jan. 13, 2017 from Wiki How. http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Kilowatts-Used-by-Light-Bulbs
