Energy use by chargers

getmore4less

can use switched  sockets/extensions to save inconvenience of unplugging.

smart sockets will in many cases use more unless switching a bank of items on standby

RumRat

We'll be back in the dark ages before you know it...People finding problems where there wasn't one before....

Grey_Critic

One Watt per hour equares to  8,760 watts (8.76kW) per year

Archie_Duke

That whole Guardian / This is Money Vampire devices article chain was just a massive click bait-ball.

forgotmyname

getmore4less said:

can use switched  sockets/extensions to save inconvenience of unplugging.

smart sockets will in many cases use more unless switching a bank of items on standby

Tried this myself, British Gas were giving out free energy saving adapters. It would detect when your TV was in standby and
switch it off after a set period of time.  Slight issue in that the TV with its really dull LED used under 1watt and the
adapter using 4 watts. So the energy saving device used 4x more power than the TV on standby.

victor2

Grey_Critic said:

One Watt per hour equares to  8,760 watts (8.76kW) per year

One watt constantly equates to 8,760 Wh (8.76kWh) per year.

forgotmyname

1w used 24/7 was approx £1 a year.  A bit more these days. Average of 27.5p now though, it was around 12p
when Istarted using 1w = £1.

1w is now closer to £2.40 a year.

Grey_Critic

If you walk around the house it is surprising just how many devices are using power. Microwave clock - Cooker clock /timer - TV(s) - Computers - the aforementioned chargers.

I have a desktop that I use on rare occasions - I keep family history files/photos on it. I noticed a few weeks it was switched on in standby so switched off and unplugged it so saving a few pence/pounds.

forgotmyname

Digital & LCD clock displays use virtually nothing.  Digital thermostat which also powers a relay has been working on 2 AA
batteries for just over 2 years now.

The relay uses 40x  more power than the display.

Jenni_D

k_man said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

k_man said:

An easy check for is it using power when not used
Is it old or very heavy

Is it warm to the touch

Does it make a humming noise

This advice seems to be the best to follow for a quick win on energy saving by unplugging. A check round my small but tech-heavy house found a couple of old-ish Pure DAB radios with brick chargers busy warming the rooms they are in while the radios are off. Will be unplugging the toothbrush from the shaver point too.

I have been doing this anyway, as the humming annoyed me.
Now I gave found it uses 1 - 2w ( my watt meter only does whole watts) even with no toothbrush charging, even more reason.

It's a (fairly basic) wireless charger ... it doesn't know whether or not there's a toothbrush in the holder so it tries to charge all the time.