Are USB sockets wasteful?

GKAAP

I have USB plug sockets in my house.  I know they draw power to convert AC-DC.

Is it worth replacing them with standard sockets to save money?

 (I already have some standard ones so this wouldn't be an expense)

TIA

razord

The answer is: it depends.

If it's using a modern switch mode power supply in there, then nope - it's essentially 0w until something is plugged in.

EssexHebridean

Even if not, the tiny power draw when not directly in use is surely so small that it would take a long while to cover the cost of the replacement? 

k_man

Do the socket face plates feel any warmer than the surroundings (or similarly located non usb sockets)?

Also, would you instead be plugging in other old or inefficient USB chargers?

GKAAP

razord said:

The answer is: it depends.

If it's using a modern switch mode power supply in there, then nope - it's essentially 0w until something is plugged in.

Thanks, they're about 2 years old but unfortunately I don't know what kind of gubbins it has.  I'm making the assumption that it's the worst efficiency level.

GKAAP

k_man said:

Do the socket face plates feel any warmer than the surroundings (or similarly located non usb sockets)?

Also, would you instead be plugging in other old or inefficient USB chargers?

No. Very good point, I hadn't considered that.  Thanks

GKAAP

EssexHebridean said:

Even if not, the tiny power draw when not directly in use is surely so small that it would take a long while to cover the cost of the replacement? 

As stated the cost of the replacement would be 0

Rodders53

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-13a-2-gang-sp-switched-socket-3-1a-2-outlet-type-a-usb-charger-white/4087P
LAP double gang socket with USB ports states "Standby Power <75mW" in the manual for it.

Others will be similar I'd guess.  They must consume something unless insertion of the USB plug operates a physical mains switch (and that is vanishingly unlikely).

EssexHebridean

GKAAP said:

EssexHebridean said:

Even if not, the tiny power draw when not directly in use is surely so small that it would take a long while to cover the cost of the replacement? 

As stated the cost of the replacement would be 0

If you were happy to do the work yourself rather than get an electrician then fair enough. I personally wouldn’t as I have zero electrical expertise, hence me assuming that there would be a cost for installation in spite of the items themselves already being owned. 

Rodders53

0.075 Watts x 24 hrs x 365 days = 657 Wh = 0.657 kWh or about 20 pence per annum if a unit costs 30 p/kWh

OP needs to find the brand / model fitted to seek the USB consumption when in standby accurately (mind MK and BG, for example, don't state it unlike LAP) to see if that saving would be worth the time / trouble and also the inconvenience of using a wall wart to charge usb things up.

There are many more wasteful / power hungry devices in standby that would be better sorted imho.

Astria

The problem is when they go wrong they can use up a lot more power than what they are supposed to and end up just heating up the inside of your wall, but whilst they are working normally they are fine, although typically rather useless for actually charging as they typically only support 5V 1A/2A when many modern devices require 9V to charge properly.

If you already have the replacements and are skilled enough to do it I'd just replace them, but it's not worth getting in an engineer to do it.