HOW TO USE

How To Use The Running Cost Estimator

Work out exactly what your WLED installation costs to run, based on your strip, brightness, and local electricity rate.

1

Select your strip type

Choose your strip from the preset list, or select "Custom" to enter your own current draw per LED and density manually.

2

Enter strip length

Input your total strip length in metres. Combined with density, this determines your total LED count.

3

Set your typical brightness

This slider represents the average brightness percentage you actually run — most installations run well under 100% most of the time, which significantly reduces real consumption versus the theoretical maximum.

4

Enter hours of use per day

How many hours, on average, is the installation switched on each day? This is multiplied against your power draw to calculate daily, monthly, and yearly cost.

5

Choose your region or enter a custom rate

Select your country/region for an approximate electricity rate, or enter your own rate per kWh from your power bill for an exact figure.

6

Read your cost breakdown

The results show cost per hour, day, month, and year, plus the total power draw in watts at your chosen brightness level.

Tips

  • Electricity rates vary significantly by region and time of day — entering your own rate from a recent bill gives the most accurate result.
  • Try comparing 50% vs 100% brightness to see how much a lower default brightness setting saves over a year.
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How to Use the Running Cost Estimator

The Running Cost Estimator tells you how much electricity your WLED installation will consume and what that costs per hour, day, month, and year. Enter your configuration and your local electricity tariff to get a personalised projection.

Step 1: Select Strip Type and Length

Choose the same strip type and length as your actual installation. The estimator uses per-LED current draw figures for each chipset to calculate peak power consumption.

Step 2: Set Average Brightness

This is the most important variable. Think about what brightness level and effect type you typically run. Ambient effects at comfortable room lighting levels are usually 20–40% brightness. Media room bias lighting is often 15–30%. Full white for task lighting might be 80–100%. Be realistic — this setting directly scales your cost estimate.

Step 3: Enter Hours Per Day

How many hours per day does the installation run? Consider your typical evening usage. A living room installation that runs from 7pm to 11pm is 4 hours per day. Always-on installations or those on motion sensors should use an average that reflects actual daily run time.

Step 4: Enter Your Electricity Rate

Find your electricity tariff on your last electricity bill, usually listed in cents or pence per kWh. Australian rates are typically 25–35 cents per kWh. UK rates are typically 24–28 pence per kWh. US rates vary widely from 9 cents to 25+ cents per kWh depending on state.

Step 5: Read the Results

The estimator shows your draw in watts and the cost across multiple time periods. Use the annual figure to decide whether the installation is economically sensible for your use case. Compare against alternative lighting options to make an informed decision.