Background Electricity Usage 8760 hours a year

Sea_Shell

k_man said:

@Sea_Shell
And if it works for you (up until you started looking), then clearly it isn't FUBAR.

3 hours or so for a 10 year old laptop isn't that unusual.
It may not have been much more than that from new.

Unless of course, you want an excuse for a new laptop.

You're right.   I've had a Google and 3 hours is about right for that model, from new.

After getting its new hard drive, it's been sooo much faster, so not looking at a replacement.

So it comes back to the most efficient way of powering it question...which maybe mains only (remove battery)?

Or charge whilst off, then use battery?
Or charge whilst using?

k_man

The significant savings (albeit small) are by changing the power scheme, which is often default as power saving mode when on battery.

Including not leaving on when not in use, so set a short hibernate idle time

Just plugged in Vs battery wil be very small differences.

Benny2020

Take it to work and charge it.

Sea_Shell

Benny2020 said:

Take it to work and charge it.

Ah, you don't know me do you?!

You're not a follower of squirrels 😉

Benny2020

I have a squirrel that visits every morning, and a Magpie that sits on my conservatory roof and watches it bury stuff, wait a couple of minutes then goes and digs it up.
Smart things Magpies and all Corvids.

cx6

Sea_Shell said:

k_man said:

@Sea_Shell
And if it works for you (up until you started looking), then clearly it isn't FUBAR.

3 hours or so for a 10 year old laptop isn't that unusual.
It may not have been much more than that from new.

Unless of course, you want an excuse for a new laptop.

You're right.   I've had a Google and 3 hours is about right for that model, from new.

After getting its new hard drive, it's been sooo much faster, so not looking at a replacement.

So it comes back to the most efficient way of powering it question...which maybe mains only (remove battery)?

Or charge whilst off, then use battery?
Or charge whilst using?

most efficient = mains only remove battery

Ultrasonic

cx6 said:

Sea_Shell said:

k_man said:

@Sea_Shell
And if it works for you (up until you started looking), then clearly it isn't FUBAR.

3 hours or so for a 10 year old laptop isn't that unusual.
It may not have been much more than that from new.

Unless of course, you want an excuse for a new laptop.

You're right.   I've had a Google and 3 hours is about right for that model, from new.

After getting its new hard drive, it's been sooo much faster, so not looking at a replacement.

So it comes back to the most efficient way of powering it question...which maybe mains only (remove battery)?

Or charge whilst off, then use battery?
Or charge whilst using?

most efficient = mains only remove battery

Bear in mind that not all laptops can have their batteries easily removed. Also, are there any safety concerns of running a laptop with the battery removed? I'm thinking of exposed electrical contacts with voltage across them. 

QrizB

Ultrasonic said:

cx6 said:

Sea_Shell said:

So it comes back to the most efficient way of powering it question...which maybe mains only (remove battery)?

most efficient = mains only remove battery

Bear in mind that not all laptops can have their batteries easily removed. Also, are there any safety concerns of running a laptop with the battery removed? I'm thinking of exposed electrical contacts with voltage across them. 

I agree with cx6.

There are exposed electrical terminals but they'll be less than 20 volts so safe. and they're barely exposed (take a look at your laptop, you'll see what I mean).

Ultrasonic

QrizB said:

Ultrasonic said:

cx6 said:

Sea_Shell said:

So it comes back to the most efficient way of powering it question...which maybe mains only (remove battery)?

most efficient = mains only remove battery

Bear in mind that not all laptops can have their batteries easily removed. Also, are there any safety concerns of running a laptop with the battery removed? I'm thinking of exposed electrical contacts with voltage across them. 

I agree with cx6.

There are exposed electrical terminals but they'll be less than 20 volts so safe. and they're barely exposed (take a look at your laptop, you'll see what I mean).

The battery in my laptop is not designed to be removed by the user, hence my first comment  : It's a 5 year old HP Envy X360 if you're curious.

How safe or not 20 V is will depend in part on the current delivery capability. A car battery is 12 V but I'd be careful with one. Safety considerations may also be different if children are around. A fire caused by a laptop used without a battery may also lead to an 'interesting' discussion with an insurer... 

SAC2334

The forthcoming big leap in the price cap has brought in my plan B for my 8kw electric shower especially now that the warmer weather is coming.
 My shower was actually switched on  today for  exactly 1 minute 15 sec total ( timed with a stopwatch )  .this was 35 secs on to thoroughly wet my self then turn shower off, then  spend as long as I  like taking my time giving myself a thorough clean and not being  rushed. Then switch on, wait a few secs for the heat to come through the shower head and rinse off completely for another 30 secs then switch off.
1 minute 15 secs total, and much less water used too. no waste of both water and very expensive electricity (30 p kwh ) I m quite happy  with that. Cost per shower  1.5 p at a rough estimate . 
I don t know how to work out how much a gas powered shower would cost using the on/off method but could be even cheaper