Switch off & unplug

Cardew

stilernin wrote:

Still a bit confused ........ sorry..........

I have a socket which I can't easily get to, so it has a four socket extention lead in it.

If nothing is plugged into the 4 sockets is any power being used?

If something is plugged into one of the sockets but is switched off, eg a radio, is any power being used?

Just trying to be absolutely clear

Thanks

If nothing is plugged into the extention lead then it won't use any power unless it has an indicator light - and that will be so small to be almost unmeasurable.

If something is plugged into a socket and switched off(by an on/off switch) in most cases it will draw no power. However there are some electronic devices that will draw a very little power.

moonrakerz

How many people who worry about how much power their mobile phone charger uses or the TV in standby, are still using conventional tungsten filament light bulbs ?

gromituk

I don't know, but that's getting perilously close to the "if I can't do everything, I won't do anything" argument! At least these people are trying, and hence are more likely to be open to the suggestion of trying out low energy light bulbs, and may already be more likely to switch off lights than your average person.

Cardew

gromituk wrote:

I don't know, but that's getting perilously close to the "if I can't do everything, I won't do anything" argument! At least these people are trying, and hence are more likely to be open to the suggestion of trying out low energy light bulbs, and may already be more likely to switch off lights than your average person.

Whilst I take your point, surely Moonrakerz's point is that many people have no idea of the consumption of electrical devices.

Reading these threads, lots of people seem really worried about leaving a TV set on standby, but probably don't realise that a single bulb can use 100 times more power.

Probably on the principle the TV is bigger than a bulb! so must use more power!!

My daughter insists on filling the kettle to make a single cup of tea. I have demonstrated to her that it takes 0.22kWh to boil the kettle which is the same power as our 32" TV(@0.6W) will use if left on standby for 366 hours.

moonrakerz

gromituk wrote:

I don't know, but that's getting perilously close to the "if I can't do everything, I won't do anything" argument!

I have to say that is a really strange interpretation of what I said, and of course, completely wide of the mark !

Cardew got the point immediately - but it seems that those who make all the noise about saving the planet are those most likely to miss the points which WILL make a considerable difference immediately. Why kick up a fuss about leaving your TV on standby (using 3 Watts) when every light bulb in your house is using up to 80 Watts more than it needs to? Multiply that by several bulbs in about 20 million houses - that is a lot of power. Far more than a few grossly inefficient wind turbines will produce.

The Australians are banning these bulbs in a couple of years - if this Government had any sense they would do it now. But of course, that won't bring in any more revenue, will it ?

Jays

vegansaver wrote:

What about the video? This is my biggest problem as I get fed up having to reset the time everytime I turn it back on.

...and, what about Sky, especially if you have SkyPlus? Sky insist you remain connected to them all the time.

Also, does anyone know if there is such a thing as a 'remote activated' extension lead? I am trying to find a solution to a socket that I can't reach.

Many thanks
Jays

Cardew

Jays wrote:

...and, what about Sky, especially if you have SkyPlus? Sky insist you remain connected to them all the time.

Also, does anyone know if there is such a thing as a 'remote activated' extension lead? I am trying to find a solution to a socket that I can't reach.

Many thanks
Jays

Do you mean Sky Multi-Room? I don't think they insist on the Sky+ box being on.

I have had a big row with Sky about Multi-Room. I have had a couple of threatening letters about it not being connected to the same phone line. It is connected but, as I don't use the Multi-room box sometimes for weeks at a time, I switch it off at the mains. It uses more on standby than all my other standby devices combined.

They said I would have to pay an extra £34.50 a month; so I cancelled Sky Multi-Room.

gromituk

moonrakerz wrote:

I have to say that is a really strange interpretation of what I said, and of course, completely wide of the mark !

I am glad to hear it.

but it seems that those who make all the noise about saving the planet are those most likely to miss the points which WILL make a considerable difference immediately.

Like who?

gromituk

Jays wrote:

Also, does anyone know if there is such a thing as a 'remote activated' extension lead? I am trying to find a solution to a socket that I can't reach.

Can you get to the other end of the extension lead? You can get power strips with switches on them - either one for each socket (I do this for a computer so that only the accessories needed at the time are powered up) or one common switch.

You can also get extension leads where power being drawn from one outlet switches on the others, but these will consume some power all the time, rather defeating the object. The same problem occurs with radio controlled mains sockets.

I've put a relay in a power strip so that it switches on my amplifiers etc when the TV is powered up. This consumes no power when the TV is off. But I don't think they are available commercially!

judderman62

moonrakerz wrote:

I have to say that is a really strange interpretation of what I said, and of course, completely wide of the mark !

Cardew got the point immediately - but it seems that those who make all the noise about saving the planet are those most likely to miss the points which WILL make a considerable difference immediately. Why kick up a fuss about leaving your TV on standby (using 3 Watts) when every light bulb in your house is using up to 80 Watts more than it needs to? Multiply that by several bulbs in about 20 million houses - that is a lot of power. Far more than a few grossly inefficient wind turbines will produce.

The Australians are banning these bulbs in a couple of years - if this Government had any sense they would do it now. But of course, that won't bring in any more revenue, will it ?

I have dimmer switches throughout my flat so can't use energy saving bulbs . Oh and before anyone says anything I like having dimmer switches so don't want to replace them

Here's a question though - do these use less Leccie when they are turned down quite low ?

TIA

J