Power Electronics, Motors & Drives worked example

Electronics Cooling Cost with cooling system electrical load of 6 kW: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop cooling system electrical load to 6 kW, then walk the calculation through step by step. Estimate electrical energy cost for cooling power electronics enclosures, inverter cabinets, drive rooms, or test areas from cooling load, runtime, energy rate, and units processed.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Cooling system electrical load: 6 kW (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 12)
  • Cooling runtime: 8 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Electricity rate: 0.12 $ / kWh (held at the documented default)
  • Units cooled or processed: 1,000 units (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Cooling energy cost = cooling system electrical load × cooling runtime × electricity rate.
  • Electronics cooling energy cost works out to 5.76 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Cooling energy used works out to 48 kWh at these inputs.
  • Cooling cost per unit works out to 0.01 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Cooling cost per hour works out to 0.72 $ / hr at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where cooling system electrical load sits at 12 kW and the headline result is 11.52 $, this scenario comes in 50% below the baseline at 5.76 $.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to cooling system electrical load, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. It models steady electrical load; it doesn't capture chiller efficiency curves (COP), part-load cycling, or demand charges.

Results at a glance

  • Electronics cooling energy cost: 5.76 $ (headline result)
  • Cooling energy used: 48 kWh
  • Cooling cost per unit: 0.01 $ / piece
  • Cooling cost per hour: 0.72 $ / hr

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Electronics Cooling Cost calculator, set cooling system electrical load to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.