Power on Sunset Test

By Sandy Smith, via Make.

1. [Anonymous]

   I’m surprised the artist’s name isn’t Voytek.

2. [Rob Beschizza]

   Good god, $618 a month! The Architect’s electric bill must be outrageous.

3. [jathomas]

   I’m guessing that room is pretty… WARM.

4. [Peaceflag2007]

   They should take a picture, and then display the picture.

   Save power.

5. [dculberson]

   Lovely.

   I bet it makes a great noise, too. Dozens of different fans of varying size and speed. Whiirrrrarriirrrrarririair!

6. [Internets Was Yes]

   That is probably the loudest, heaviest sunset ever.

7. [Rob Beschizza]

   Follow the link and check it out from behind. I’m thinking that costs at least $100 a month to run.

8. [geekpdx]

   If you gutted all the components you could recreate this with some CF light bulbs, plexiglass screens and opaque colored plastic.

   Hell, you could probably do it with just a few large bulbs and some fiber optics and still have the same effect if you tosses a few fans in to recreate the sound.

9. [dculberson]

   Rob, that is a fire inspector’s worst nightmare. Spider webs of AC just begging to start a fire.

   I calculate:

   39 computers and CRT monitors running
   200 watts per pair (very conservative)
   39 x 200 = 7,800 watts (7.8 kW)
   Average cost of electricity in US, 2008: $.11/kWh

   To run it 8 hours per day, 30 days per month would cost:

   8h/d x 30d x 7.8kWh x $.11/kWh = $205.92

   Running it 24 hours a day would cost:

   24h/d x 30d x 7.8kWh x $.11/kWh = $617.76 !!

   I couldn’t find current average power cost in the UK in my limited searching. Also note that power costs vary greatly; California users have paid as much as $14.59/kWh in the last year.

   Summary: Yes, loudest, heaviest, and most expensive to watch sunset ever. Also.. still awesome.

10. [Anonymous]

    @DCULBERSON

    Whoa whoa whoa… Californians have paid as much as $14.59/kWh?!

    … really?

    I mean, I’ll take your word for it, but…

    … really?