Average Electricity consumption ?

MadMonkey

Hi - we don't have an electric immersion heater - that is gas.

Electrical items we have :

Oven, dishwasher, washer, tumble dryer, Laptop, Dvd player, SkyBox, TV, Radio alarm clock, Vsmile games system (used rarely), the kids have Nintendo ds's which have to be charged about every 2 days, we have 2 mobile phoones which get charged every 3 days.

We have low energy light bublbs everywhere.

Cardew

thescouselander wrote: »

These figures are totally unrealistic! A Modem/router/dect phone will only use in the region of 5 to 10 watts each. Also, a modern flat panel monitor will only use around 50 watts (unless you have a very large montor).

Totally agree.

Even modern PCs(with LCD monitor) rarely use more than 160-180 watts even when working with DVD operating etc.

Older PCs(not CRT monitors) tend to use less.

Laptops use much less that that - 30W is highish.

Anyone who leaves 2 PCs on 24/7 without any form of power saving has unusual circumstances, or is stupid.

LadFromWales85

At a guess I'd imagine my router, modem, dect, pcbase use around 250watts

I did not state that the modem router and dect used 250watts, I stated that these devices probably use that amount combined.

I have a modern PC with high end components. According to tests ran by Xbit labs(1), my graphics card alone uses in the region of 50watts in 2D mode, and just over 120watts in 3D mode. My monitors peak at 80watts and 177watts(2)

So, the figures I stated are hardly unrealistic, as I was stating MY router modem dect and pc base power consumption, at a guess. I'll have to grab one of those watt usage things to see how much it all really uses, but for the timebeing, looking at those figures, I'll guess that my PC (not monitor), modem, router, and dect most likely use around 250watts combined. And whacking on both my monitors adds another 250watts.

(1) http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gpu-consumption2006_4.html
(2) http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=4537&page=2

Cardew

LadFromWales85 wrote: »

I did not state that the modem router and dect used 250watts, I stated that these devices probably use that amount combined.

I have a modern PC with high end components. According to tests ran by Xbit labs(1), my graphics card alone uses in the region of 50watts in 2D mode, and just over 120watts in 3D mode. My monitors peak at 80watts and 177watts(2)

So, the figures I stated are hardly unrealistic, as I was stating MY router modem dect and pc base power consumption, at a guess. I'll have to grab one of those watt usage things to see how much it all really uses, but for the timebeing, looking at those figures, I'll guess that my PC (not monitor), modem, router, and dect most likely use around 250watts combined. And whacking on both my monitors adds another 250watts.

(1) http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gpu-consumption2006_4.html
(2) http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=4537&page=2

I think you are missing the point here.

All of the graphic cards in link 1 use under 30 watts on idle.

You may be correct that under extreme conditions you might peak at 250 watts, although I don't know what 2 monitors would use an additional 250 watts.

This is a thread entitled 'average electricity consumption' and you conclude somehow that you use 10.8kWh a day.

I doubt if even the most enthusiastic computer buff will use 2kWh a day! Mr Average will probably not use 1 kWh a day.

LadFromWales85

I put a link to the specifications of my monitors in my above post.
Dell 2407WFP and Dell 3007WFP, with power consumptions of 80W and 177W. The only time my graphics card 'idles' is when I lock my machines and set a blank screensaver. All other times, the card will be running Compiz, which does pretty much the same as Aero glass in Windows. I am at my PC most of the time when I'm not working or out somewhere else.

I'd love to make my computers use less energy, Cardew, so if you could recommend me some high end desktop components that won't compromise hardware 3D games acceleration, but will use notably less electricity during idle, 2d, and 3d operations, then please do tell me! Last I checked, high end PC components were hardly energy efficient!

For the record, my server has a 110W PSU, so it's (most likely) very light on the power!

I am not an energy expert, Cardew, but from your previous posts I will assume that you are. Perhaps you can tell me why running two computers (and my server) 24/7, along with several hours of both my monitors, the other half's monitor, a few hours of X360 a week, modem etc, a fridge, lights, and an E7 immersion add up to around 16kWh in a 24hour period.

Cheers!

Smiley_Mum

My pc, monitor etc etc use 139 watts when running, it's an old style monitor. Uses 1kw just over every 7 hours. Quite heavy consumption but haven't got the means to replace at the moment.

Smiley_Mum

Cardew wrote: »

I think you are missing the point here.

All of the graphic cards in link 1 use under 30 watts on idle.

You may be correct that under extreme conditions you might peak at 250 watts, although I don't know what 2 monitors would use an additional 250 watts.

This is a thread entitled 'average electricity consumption' and you conclude somehow that you use 10.8kWh a day.

I doubt if even the most enthusiastic computer buff will use 2kWh a day! Mr Average will probably not use 1 kWh a day.

Just read your thread and I've got one of the energy monitor plugs from Maplin hooked up the moment to my pc. Had it running for 19 hours and 46 minutes the other day, (was on for best part of the day and ended up falling asleep reading and forgetting to turn it off) bearing in mind it burns 139 watts more or less all the time, give or take a few watts and it used 2.66kw.

Make sure your freezer is full as you can, even to the point of using crushed newspaper to fill gaps so it runs more efficiently but don't over load fridge so air can flow freely, use energy saving bulbs.

Madmonkey,

I have a small 3kw tumble dryer, uses about 2150/2225 watts on high heat and it uses 1kw for every 29 minutes of use.

Use the economy setting on the dishwasher. Economy wash setting and full loads only for washing machine. Are your appliances A rated. That can make a difference. I replaced the washing machine last year, before the shortest wash load I could do was 1.26, now I have a quick wash of 40 degrees at 31 minutes for lightly soiled items.

I just use the water heater for 2 hours in the morning and once at night for dishes etc. The immersion was coming on 4 times a day for 2-3 hours each time so I leave it off and just heat what I need. Was on a prepayment meter but now pay by DD. Just boil the water you need in the kettle as that goes away with a lot too. Use the microwave more.

Hairdryers can go away with a lot too. Use on a low heat setting if you must use them.

Cardew

LadFromWales85 wrote: »

I put a link to the specifications of my monitors in my above post.
Dell 2407WFP and Dell 3007WFP, with power consumptions of 80W and 177W. The only time my graphics card 'idles' is when I lock my machines and set a blank screensaver. All other times, the card will be running Compiz, which does pretty much the same as Aero glass in Windows. I am at my PC most of the time when I'm not working or out somewhere else.

I'd love to make my computers use less energy, Cardew, so if you could recommend me some high end desktop components that won't compromise hardware 3D games acceleration, but will use notably less electricity during idle, 2d, and 3d operations, then please do tell me! Last I checked, high end PC components were hardly energy efficient!

For the record, my server has a 110W PSU, so it's (most likely) very light on the power!

I am not an energy expert, Cardew, but from your previous posts I will assume that you are. Perhaps you can tell me why running two computers (and my server) 24/7, along with several hours of both my monitors, the other half's monitor, a few hours of X360 a week, modem etc, a fridge, lights, and an E7 immersion add up to around 16kWh in a 24hour period.

Cheers!

I was making the point that this is a thread on average consumption.

2 PCs with a 30 inch and 24 inch monitor apparently with 2 people sitting at them gaming 24 hours a day is hardly representative.

Even so you can't take a theoretical peak power consumption of your PCs and extrapolate it over 24 hours and quote that as average consumption.

Your immersion heater might take several kWhs a day, provided you find the time away from your PC to shower;)

You should simply invest in one of the power monitoring meters from Lidl at £6.99 or similar and see what power you are using.

LadFromWales85

Cardew wrote: »

provided you find the time away from your PC to shower;)

I find a lot of time to be away from the PC ya cheeky sod! I work at least 8 til 6 every weekday, not including transport, so I'm out of the house from 7:30 til 18:30 every day pretty much, except sundays.

There is no use bickering with you about power consumption of devices that use varying amounts dependent on the current task, as there is no possibility of coming to an agreement about the average power consumption of a high end PC. I'll just grab one of those watt meter things and report back! Can you get ones that can measure current going through the wires, like by clamping onto the wire?

The 30 inch and 24 inch monitors are both attached to this computer, though the 24 inch monitor also serves as a screen for my Xbox 360. The other half has her own monitor. Not that it's useful information for this thread, but I felt the need to mention it as you said two people using the monitors. I play very little games on my PC these days, 360 serves much of that purpose, when I have free time!