Looking to purchase a 500-watt heater to heat a relatively small space?
Concerned about the impact it can have on your electricity bill or how long it will last when connected to a battery system?
500-watt heaters are lightweight portable heaters suited to heating small spaces of about 400 sq. feet.
Considering that heating appliances generally draw a lot of power, the thought of using an even small one can cause anxiety regarding the added cost to your monthly bill.
In this post, you’ll find out how much electricity the heater uses on an hourly, daily, and monthly basis. You’ll also learn how to further minimize its electricity consumption.
How Much Power (watts) a 500 Watt Heater Uses
This small electric heater is nearly 100% efficient. All electrical power is converted to heat so, its power consumption is 500 watts at 110V (assuming it is a 110V version).
Is It a Lot of Power?
500 watts of power is about the same power that 10 x 42′ LED TVs or 10 x 15′ laptops draw at maximum power – full brightness and sound level at the maximum.
If it is being drawn from a battery then it can drain say a 200Ah AGM battery in about 2.5 hours.
In terms of impact on your electricity bill, it costs under $2 a day to run assuming it is running continuously. Note: Several models do not have a thermostat and will therefore not cycle on and off.
How Many Amps the Heater Draws?
A 110V, 500-watt heater with an estimated heating output of about 1,700 BTU per hour draws about 4 – 5 amps.
Running Costs of a 500-watt Heater
A 500-watt space heater is 100% efficient and so draws 500 watts of power from the outlet.
Daily energy costs
The heater uses up 12 units of electricity a day (running continuously).
The heater will add about USD 1.44 a day to your electricity bill. This assumes it is running at maximum power moreover continuously for 24 hours.
This is based on an electricity tariff of 12 cents per kWh.
The calculation
Daily energy costs = 500 watts x 24 hrs = 12,000 watts or 12kWh. At 12 cents per kWh, the running cost of a heater is USD 1.44 from 0.12 USD x 12 kWh.
Does the heater have a thermostat or temperature dial?
If so, then actual energy costs can be lower if the temperature setting is lower than the maximum, for example, if it is set to medium or low power or it is switched on for a shorter duration than 24 hours.
Hourly energy costs
A 500-watt heater costs up to about 6 US cents to run per hour (0.5 units an hour).
Hourly energy costs are calculated as follows:
500 watts x1 hrs = 500 watts or 0.5kWh. At 12 cents per kWh, the running cost of a heater is USD 0.06 from 0.12 USD x 0.5 kWh.
Monthly energy costs
A 500-watt heater costs up to about USD 43.2 a month to run assuming it is run at maximum power for 24 hours every day for a month, using about 360 units of electricity.
This assumes an electricity tariff of 12 cents per kWh. This is from 500 watts x 24 hours x 30 days x 12 US cents.
You may also be interested in: How expensive it is to run a 1,000-watt heater?
Is It Expensive to Run?
The estimated monthly running costs of the heater, are about as much as a pair of jeans at Levis or Gap or a haircut and tip at a salon.
How Much Space a 500 Watt Heater Heats
This depends on the heater design – whether it has a fan or not and how well the space is insulated. As a rough guide, a 500-watt heater can heat spaces ranging from *100 to 400 sq. ft.
It is suited to heating small spaces such as a small office, the bathrooms, and or a bedroom.
*Note: This is only a guide and you should check your heater’s owner manual for the space it is suited to heat before buying it.
Tips to Save Energy with a 500-watt Heater
While the monthly energy bill of the 500-watt heater is under USD 50 you may still be interested in how you can keep the energy consumption to a minimum.
This can be of interest if you are powering it from a battery source.
To minimize its energy draw, you should look for ways to minimize energy losses.
Here are a few suggestions that you may find helpful.
1. You can minimize the amount of heating required by minimizing the windows door opening.
By maintaining a steady temperature, you may be able to use a low or medium setting. In a medium setting, for example, the heater only uses 50% of the rated energy.
2. Is your home or space where heating is required insulated? You can get a professional to assess this.
If not, adding insulation to your room can minimize heat loss and usage of your electric heater.
Related Questions
How Long Will a 12 Volt Battery Run a 500-watt Heater?
When connected to a 200Ah, 12V AGM battery through an inverter, the 500-watt heater will run for about 2.5 hours before draining the previously fully charged battery to 50% of its capacity.
With a 100Ah AGM battery, expect the heater to run for about 1.2 hours before the battery is drained to 50% of its capacity (maximum recommended).
Final Word
You can expect a 500-watt heater to consume about 12kWh of electricity a day if running continuously at full power.
Estimated daily and monthly energy bills when using the heater at full power assuming it is being run continuously are USD 1.44 and USD 43.2 respectively.
This assumes an electricity tariff of USD 0.12 per kWh.
Related Topics
