Standby power consumption

Astria

MouldyOldDough said:

So let's all agree that the advice not to leave things on standby is incorrect and out of date ?

Modern equipment is so efficient on low power that it makes NO sense to switch it off completely ?

The simplest thing to do if you are worried about standby power consumption is to measure it and calculate how much it costs annually.

Some things I only use perhaps once a month and consume 10W on standby, so it makes sense to switch them off when not in use, but I wouldn't bother if it was used every day.

EssexHebridean

In this house if it needs a connection to do it’s thing, or is used routinely most days, it stays on. So sky box, oven (clock) microwave (clock), clock radio (weekdays only - it goes right off at weekends) and during the week when MrEH is WFH the PC, router, shower. The TV has a switch on the set which we flick when it’s turned off rather than leaving it in standby. Washing machine and dishwasher both automatically turn themselves off a set time after the cycles finish.  If we’re away from home for more than away or so we usually turn stuff off at the wall - no point in them using even that tiny amount of power if we’re away. The inconvenience of having to switch on and in some cases reset clocks etc before use means that the tiny power use is well worth it to leave stuff on most of the time though - there does need to be a quality of life over cost consideration! (And right now with all the “base” things on, and the PC not even asleep, our use is showing at 4p an hour - I’ll take that!)

JohnSwift10

I've just checked the eco mode of my Sky Q box

It goes into eco mode for 2 and a quarter hours a day where it uses minimal power.

A massive savings at my present prices of £4.65 a year.

I suppose every little helps.

david1946

I used to switch my microwave off when it wasn't being used because of the clock then the wall switch broke and I had to get a new socket.
Now I just leave it on, probably the cost of electricity is less than the cost of another new wall socket.

coffeehound

Phlik said:

[Deleted User] said:

Petriix said:

While items on standby do add up, it's such a negligible saving that it's mostly not worth bothering to turn them off. 

Sometimes the cost of the wear and tear of using the socket switch out ways the cost of leaving devices turned on. 

very true. Worth considering that modern electronics is very reliable but usually the weak point is the power supply, they usually go pop when power is applied.

Also, at this time of year the heat from a power brick etc is useful heating -- especially if the home is heated on peak electrcity.  I leave the DAB radio powered on for that reason 

Phlik

coffeehound said:

Phlik said:

[Deleted User] said:

Petriix said:

While items on standby do add up, it's such a negligible saving that it's mostly not worth bothering to turn them off. 

Sometimes the cost of the wear and tear of using the socket switch out ways the cost of leaving devices turned on. 

very true. Worth considering that modern electronics is very reliable but usually the weak point is the power supply, they usually go pop when power is applied.

Also, at this time of year the heat from a power brick etc is useful heating -- especially if the home is heated on peak electrcity.  I leave the DAB radio powered on for that reason 

Very good point, secondary heat.
My lads rooms will often maintain temperature without their rads coming on due to the heat output from their computers.

Ultrasonic

coffeehound said:

Phlik said:

[Deleted User] said:

Petriix said:

While items on standby do add up, it's such a negligible saving that it's mostly not worth bothering to turn them off. 

Sometimes the cost of the wear and tear of using the socket switch out ways the cost of leaving devices turned on. 

very true. Worth considering that modern electronics is very reliable but usually the weak point is the power supply, they usually go pop when power is applied.

Also, at this time of year the heat from a power brick etc is useful heating -- especially if the home is heated on peak electrcity.  I leave the DAB radio powered on for that reason 

Fortunately the amounts of energy are very small but I don't buy the argument of this being positively beneficial as it leads to heating at times when you don't need it.

coffeehound

Ultrasonic said:

coffeehound said:

Phlik said:

[Deleted User] said:

Petriix said:

While items on standby do add up, it's such a negligible saving that it's mostly not worth bothering to turn them off. 

Sometimes the cost of the wear and tear of using the socket switch out ways the cost of leaving devices turned on. 

very true. Worth considering that modern electronics is very reliable but usually the weak point is the power supply, they usually go pop when power is applied.

Also, at this time of year the heat from a power brick etc is useful heating -- especially if the home is heated on peak electrcity.  I leave the DAB radio powered on for that reason 

Fortunately the amounts of energy are very small but I don't buy the argument of this being positively beneficial as it leads to heating at times when you don't need it.

I wasn't intending to imply that it's a useful way to supplement home heating (though Phlik has given an example of where it does), more that it's not really wasted energy for 10 months of the year.  And if it reduces wear and tear on the electronics at the same time, then it strengthens the argument for leaving some items switched on

wild666

Coffeekup said:

Since October I've turned my tv and sky box (which for me is a freeview box) at the wall at night for the next 18-20 hour's.. for the last 4 months I've used 35-50kwh's less a month over the the previous 3 year's.

The sky box I have saved 20kwh's a month.
The tv says' 0.3 standby power consumption, but with 15-30kwh's unaccounted for It looks like it uses more than it's states. 
Either way I'm saving 45 kWh a month which is £7.50 a month on my current tarriff or £12.50 if I was on April's price cap tarriff... For me a significant saving....also 130kg c02 released bringing down my 👣

The figures quoted in manuals are not what the true figures are. I turn the TV, surround sound amp, PS4, Xbox and DVD player off at the socket when not in use. My weekly usage when I didn't turn them off it was around 40 kWh per week but since I started turning them off at the socket it's dropped to between 23 kWh and 26 kWh per week. A large drop fron 40 kWh previously used and a saving of around £170 per year on the electric bill.

Ultrasonic

coffeehound said:

I wasn't intending to imply that it's a useful way to supplement home heating (though Phlik has given an example of where it does), more that it's not really wasted energy for 10 months of the year.  And if it reduces wear and tear on the electronics at the same time, then it strengthens the argument for leaving some items switched on

My point was that a large part of it is wasted energy.