Saving Power

fsbee

I've heard a few times recently that the electrical items on standby in the average house can account for 10% of your bill--my house is not average,so i'm worried it could be worse. Seen a device called ONECLICK (mains extension lead that when the master appliance is turned off kills power to whatever else is plugged into it)(Maplins £29.99) Before I shell out for a number of these for a couple of computer systems, component Hi fi and A/V systems,Has anybody any advice, comments or experience ,or, if a good idea where i might get them cheaper?

DonnyDave

You are referring to this item.

I presume that this will take a little power itself. I stop my computer and all its peripherals taking power by having it all plugged into one wall socket and switching that off at the wall.

It may be worth it for hi-fi separates, for example, but bear in mind that things like clocks on these devices may be lost. I would be inclined to have a main switch (usually plug them into a separate socket) for such devices as a way of ensuring all are off.

fsbee

thanks, trouble is sockets are a pig to get to.

DonnyDave

fsbee wrote:

thanks, trouble is sockets are a pig to get to.

You can get trailing sockets with either one switch that switches all sockets off or individually switched outlets.

As an example, see JoJo's catalogue here in PDF.

I have a couple of 400325 outlets with each outlet switched (see the catalogue, page 10 under the heading "4 SOCKET SWITCHED LEADS"). As well as giving me extra sockets, I don't have to scrat about in a corner. I think that you can pick these up for about a tenner in Wickes or Focus. This particular model has four screw holes, so it can be mounted ridgedly on the wall, better than those with two keyhole-type screw slots.

The one pictured next to it has one switch that turns off all the sockets. This might be useful where you need all switching off, like hi-fi separates, and can't reach the wall sockets. This could be mounted on the wall or the side of the cabinet that the electrical devices are in.

The other thing to consider is one of the individually switched outlets with another trailing socket into it. But make sure that you don't overload sockets! Avoid plugging the likes of washing machines and (high-powered) heaters into adaptors, I think they really should have their own wall socket for safety reasons.

By all means consider Oneclick socket, but have a look in B&Q and other hardware shops, there are alot of alternatives out there.

Cardew

fsbee wrote:

I've heard a few times recently that the electrical items on standby in the average house can account for 10% of your bill--my house is not average,so i'm worried it could be worse.

In my opinion this is an urban myth for the average house.

You really need to look at the standby consumption of the device.

A device consuming 1 watt on standby 24/7(i.e. permanantly)will cost approx 70-80 pence a year.

Modern TVs for instance on standby consume less than 1 watt and if left on 24/7 their cost can be measured in pence per year.

Most devices with a LCD display(microwaves/ovens etc) consume next to nothing.

Certainly some devices can consume reasonable power on standby - PC's without the correct power management for example, some VCRs etc.

I am all for saving money but we should get things in perspective. The problem is that it is not 'politically correct' to state such views.

fsbee

thanks again for your views

culpepper

Although the cost of leaving some things on standby may not be very expensive monetarily, ecologicaly they are huge .
I would go for the multiple sockets with a switch if it were me.