PC electric consumption

devon_guy

I've got one of those meters you plug into the socket then plug your appliance into that and it tells you the usage, cost etc.

I plugged my laptop into it 2 hrs ago and it's only showing a usage of 0.040kw. Is this right? It sounds very low to me, I'm wondering if I haven't set the device up properly.

KimYeovil

Did you remove the battery from your laptop, first?

KimYeovil

Doh! Sorry, I'm being thick. 0.04kW is is 40 watts so 0.02 kWh does sound okay if you are only web browsing. Try again with a 3D game or playing a DVD and see what the reading is.

MORPH3US

I'm rubbish with things like this but would be interested to know whether that's right OP and what it means for the cost to run it per hour or whatever...

Cardew

I assume you mean it is showing 0.040kWh (not kW)

If so 0.020kW(20w) is not unusual as an average consumption if you are not using it constantly and you have the power saving set correctly.

My bottom of the range Dell uses between 25 and 30w in normal use, and even with a DVD playing it doesnt exceed 35w.

So 20w consumption will cost(@12p/kWh) 1p(1 pence) for 4 hours use.

adprob

check the power rating on the back of your computer. 1kWh = 1000 watts used in 1 hour. 1kWh of electric = 1 unit so if, for example, your rating is 500w then you use half a unit/kWh per hour

Cardew

adprob wrote: »

check the power rating on the back of your computer. 1kWh = 1000 watts used in 1 hour. 1kWh of electric = 1 unit so if, for example, your rating is 500w then you use half a unit/kWh per hour

Sorry, but that rating is absolutely meaningless as a guide to consumption on the vast majority of appliances - especially computers. It just states the maximum it could supply.

Most Desktops have a 500w or 750w power supply but few take more than 200w and 150w would be normal.

My laptop has a 60w power supply but uses 25-30w

My cooker is rated at 20kW but with one ring on uses less than 1kW.