Saturday, October 25, 2014

Current draw of 1500 watts electric water kettle


Appliance data:

Black & Decker electric water kettle
Model # KE1517SC
1.7 Liter (7 cups) Capacity
1500 Watts of power
120 Volts, 16 AWG power cord


How to calculate current draw of 1500 watts electric water kettle

Formula:


Power = Volts x Amperes

Power = Voltage x Current

Current = Power/Voltage


Using 220 volts of power:


Current = 1500 watts/220 volts

Current = 7 amperes


Using 110 volts of power:

Current = 1500 watts/110 volts

Current = 14 amps



Conclusion:


Current consumption is doubled using 110 volts

Boiling time for water is the same either 110 or 220 volts is used, because both uses 1500 watts

Boils water faster than a microwave

Boiling time at full capacity is approx. 5 minutes

Friday, October 17, 2014

How long 18v 3Ah lithium ion drill battery last until recharge


Given data:
DEWALT 1/4 inch, 18 volt
Cordless Drill Driver ($100 price)
Average Power consumption: 250 watts
Ave. Amperage/Current draw: 7 Amperes
No Load Speed: 0-4,000 RPM
Chuck Size: 1/4 inch (6mm)
Gear Reduction: Single
Maximum Torque: 1300 in-lbs (150 Nm)
Power Source: 18v 3Ah Lithium Ion battery
Battery Recharge time: 30 minutes


Calculation of Running Time:

(Example: Carpentry, Home Project Renovation)

If I use this power drill to drive 2 inch screws in wood,
how long does the 18 volt, 3 ampere hour capacity
Li Ion battery last until my next recharge?

Total Available Energy at full charge = 3 ampere hour = 180 ampere minutes

Average time to drive one 2 inch screw in wood: 3 seconds (0.05 minutes)

Average Energy used to drive one 2 inch screw = 7 ampere x .05 minutes = 0.35 Amp min

Battery Run Time = 180/0.35 =  500 minutes = 8 hours


Notes:
Recharge the battery after 8 hours of total usage
This calculation is based on drill being used on 2 inch screws only
Battery will last longer or shorter depending on load and application
The harder the task (bigger screws, harder wood, etc.),
the more current draw, the more power consumption,
the more energy required,
the lesser the battery life before the next recharge

Monday, September 29, 2014

Monthly Mortgage Payments - estimate Canada


Example data:

Downpayment = 5%
Interest/Mortgage rate = 4.5%
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) = 0.52%

Mortgage term = 5 years
Amortization term = 25 years

Property Tax = $3,000 per year
Property Insurance = $1500 per year


Note:
1. Mortgage, Property tax, Property insurance and PMI will increase with an increase in House Price (Mortgage Amount).
2. Figures below are for estimate and example purposes only.


Canada Home Total Monthly payment = Mortgage 

                                                                  + Property tax 
                                                                  + Property insurance
                                                                  + PMI



Home Price ---  Home Total Monthly Payment (approximate)


$300,000 --------- $2,100

$350,000 --------- $2,400

$400,000 --------- $2,700


$450,000 --------- $3,000  *** *** *** *** *** ***


$500,000 --------- $3,300

$550,000 --------- $3,600

$600,000 --------- $3,900



Observation:
For every
$50,000 increase in property price,
$300 is added to your total monthly home payment.


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Comox Valley - Affordable homes, Temperate climate


Comox Valley city, town, village & communities:

Courtenay city
Comox town
Cumberland village
Royston
Union Bay
Fanny Bay
Black Creek
Merville
Denman Island
Hornby Island


Location Description
:

- temperate climate
- Comox town's summer temperatures average 22C (72F)
- dry, sunny summers
- Comox town's winter temperatures rarely fall below freezing
- mild, wet winters
- Comox annual precipitation averages 1,179 mm (46.42 in)
- Precipitation (mainly rain) occurs October to March

- rural, town, village living
- less expensive housing prices (British Columbia's most affordable)
- affordable, moderate cost of living
- modern amenities & facilities:
   Airport
   Hospital
   Shopping malls
   Stores


Grocery Stores:
   Valley Asian Foods chinese grocery - 526 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2J4
   Quality Foods Comox - 2275 Guthrie Road, Comox, BCV9M 4A6
   Quality Foods Courtenay - 1002-2751 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay, BCV9N 2L8
   Thrifty Foods - 660 England Avenue, Courtenay, BCV9N 2N4
   Edible Island Whole Foods Market - 477 6th Street, Courtenay, BCV9N 1M4
   Seeds Food Market, Inc. - 2733A Dunsmuir Ave, Cumberland, BCV0R 1S0


Chinese Restaurants:

  Dynasty Chinese Buffet - 1320 Cliffe Avenue Courtenay, BC V9N2K4
  Golden Carriage Restaurant - 4788 5th Street Courtenay, BC V9N
  Lo's Garden - 430 Old Island Highway Courtenay, BC V9N3P4
  Mandarin Village Restaurant - 5 Street Courtenay, BC V9N1J5

Canadian Tire - 278 Old Island Hwy, Courtenay, BC V9N 3P1

Walmart - 3199 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC V9N 2L9

Costco - 588 Crown Isle Blvd, Courtenay, BC V9N 0A6

Tim Hortons - 789 Ryan Rd, Courtenay, BC V9N 3R6
Tim Hortons - 2451 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 2L5
Tim Hortons - 394 Lerwick Rd, Courtenay, BC V9N 2Z4

McDonalds - 1799 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 2K7
McDonalds - 3199 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 2L9
McDonalds - 727 Anderton Rd, Comox, BC V9M 3Y6


Friday, August 8, 2014

BUYING HOME: Mortgages Basic Knowledge


PAYMENT FREQUENCY:
Semi-monthly = 24 payments per year
Accelerated bi-weekly = 26 payments per year
Accelerated weekly = 52 payments per year

Savings through Accelerated Payments:
* A shorter Amortization Term saves you money because you will pay less interest costs over the life of the mortgage.
* Save thousands of dollars in interest costs - while paying down your mortgage sooner!
Example:
  - save over $62,000 by paying $1,454 Accelerated Bi-weekly for 21 years
  - save over $63,000 by paying $727 Accelerated Weekly for 21 years   
  - no savings by paying $2,908 monthly for 25 years

Basis for Example:
Mortgage Amount: $500,000.00
Interest Rate Type: Fixed
Payment Amount: $2,908.03
Payment Frequency: Monthly
Amortization Period: 25 years
Interest Term: 5 years
Interest Rate: 5%


INTEREST COSTS:
Term Interest Cost = interest cost on a loan for a specified term (e.g. total interest at 4% fixed rate for 5 year term mortage)

Amortization Interest Cost = total interest cost of the loan for the whole amortization period (e.g. total interest for the entire 25 year amortization period)


VARIABLE INTEREST RATES
Variable Interest Rate = interest rates can change during the mortgage term depending on changes in market interest rates (bank’s prime lending rate)

Advantages of variable interest rate mortgages:
- interest rates on variable rate mortgages are often lower than fixed interest rate mortgages

Disadvantages of variable interest rate mortgages:

- unknown future, difficult to predict, changes with the politics, global news, war, etc.
- between 2000 and 2009, the Bank of Canada bank rate changed from 0.5% to 6%


FIXED RATE MORTGAGES
- interest rate is constant throughout the term (e.g. fixed 4% interest rate over the entire 5 year term)


CLOSED MORTGAGE

- fixed term mortgage

Advantages of Closed Mortgage:
- interest rates are generally lower than for open term mortgages
- savings on interest costs
- payoff your mortgage faster

Disadvantages of Closed Mortgage:
- prepayment charge if you renegotiate your interest rate
- prepayment charge if you prepay more than what is allowable


CONVERTIBLE CLOSED MORTGAGE

- same benefits as a closed mortgage, but can be converted to a longer, closed term at any time without prepayment charges


OPEN MORTGAGE
- open term mortgage

Advantages of Open Mortgage:
- sound decision if you are planning to pay off your mortgage in the short term (10 years or less)
- can be repaid either in part or in full, at any time, without prepayment charges
- can be converted to any other term, at any time, without prepayment charges

Disadvantages of Open Mortgage:
- interest rates are generally higher than closed mortgages because of the added pre-payment flexibility


FIXED MORTGAGE RATES (Aug 2014)
Convertible:
 
6 Month   3.140% 

Closed:
1 Year     3.140%
2 Year     3.040%     (can i get 2 year mortgage contract??, almost same as prime rate)
3 Year     3.750%
4 Year     4.540%    
5 Year     4.940%    
7 Year     5.750%
10 Year     6.750%    
25 Year     8.750%    

Open:
6 month     6.300%
1 year     6.300%


VARIABLE MORTGAGE RATES (Aug 2014)

Closed:
5 year     RBC Prime Rate + 0.000% ---> 3.030%
(based on today's Royal Bank of Canada Prime Rate of 3.000%)     

Open:
5 year     RBC Prime Rate + 1.000% ---> 4.030%
(based on today's Royal Bank of Canada Prime Rate of 3.000%)

      
Today's Royal Bank of Canada Prime Rate (08 August 2014):

RBC Prime Rate     3.000%
Date of change: 09 Sept 2010 
(subject to change without notice, at any time)

*** Rates are applicable to residential mortgages only


MY MORTGAGE PREFERENCE:
Closed Mortage --> 25 years amortization
Variable Interest Rate --> 3% Prime Rate  ---> get 2 year fixed rate @ 3.040% ??
Accelerated Weekly --> save over $63,000 by paying $727 for 21 years     


500 K, 3% variable, 5 yr, closed mortgage, 25 yr amortization
 

500 K, 5% fixed, 5 yr, closed mortgage, 25 yr amortization

 
500 K, 5% fixed, 5 yr, closed mortgage, 25 yr amortization -FCAC
 

500 K, 5% fixed, 5 yr, closed mortgage, 25 yr amortization --FCAC

 
400 K, 5% fixed, 5 yr, closed mortgage, 25 yr amortization -FCAC


400 K, 5% fixed, 5 yr, closed mortgage, 25 yr amortization --FCAC


700 K, 5% fixed, 5 yr, closed mortgage, 25 yr amortization


700 K, 5%, 5 yr, closed mortgage, 25 yr amortization -FCAC


700 K, 5%, 5 yr, closed mortgage, 25 yr amortization -FCAC
  

Mortgage Rates, 08 Aug 2014



Canada Prime Interest Rates 2004-2014

 
Canada Prime Interest Rates 1960-2014




References:
https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/cgi-bin/mortgage/mpc/start.cgi
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/rates/prime.html
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/mortgages/mortgage-rates.html
http://www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/eng/resources/publications/mortgages/Pages/Understa-Comprend-0.aspx#attractive
http://itools-ioutils.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/MC-CH/MC-CH-eng.aspx


Friday, July 25, 2014

Home Search Criteria - point2homes


Website:
http://www.point2homes.com/CA/Real-Estate-Listings/BC/Vancouver-Island.html


 

Home Search Criteria:
  • $500 to 600 thousand dollars
  • Single family home property
  • 0.3 acre (1200 sqm, 12,000 sqft) minimum lot size
  • 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms minimum
  • Less than 1 hour drive from Victoria, BC
  • Less than 60 km from Victoria, BC


Locations, Driving Distance and Time:

C
Central Saanich
Cherry Point -- 50 km, 43 min
Cobble Hill -- 48 km, 41 min
Colwood
Cowichan Bay -- 54 km, 46 min

D
Duncan -- 60 km, 50 min

E
Esquimalt

H
Highlands

L
Langford

M
Malahat
Metchosin
Mill Bay -- 42 km, 37 min

N
North Cowichan -- 69 km, 59 min
North Saanich

O
Oak Bay

S
Saanich
Shawnigan Lake -- 44 km, 43 min
Sidney
Sooke -- 39 km, 42 min

V
Victoria
View Royal


Friday, January 3, 2014

How to Add Value to Laundry Card


1. Insert Laundry card in the machine

2. Look at the options:
   a.  F1 = $10
   b.  F2 = $25
   c.  F3 = Other

3. Select Other
    Note:
    a. The maximum value in the Laundry card after the addition is $99
    b. Example: If your current balance in the Laundry card is $7, you can add up to $92

4. Enter the amount you want to add, but not exceeding the limit of $99 total (after the added amount)

5. Select Debit

6. Swipe your Bank card

7. Choose CHK

8. Enter you PIN

9. Press OK

10. Select YES to get Printed Receipt

11. The display will say DIALING...CONNECTED, DO NOT REMOVE CARD

12. When you see APPROVED, remove your Laundry card

13. Get the receipt

14. Check the receipt for correct amounts and keep it for your records in case of discrepancies.

Note:
This procedure is based on a Phelps Laundry Machine