TV's and digi recorders on standby?

Grey_Critic

This question keeps coming up on various websites - some years ago I recall a figure of around £8 per year was suggested assuming you always had it on standby when not using. At the time I had TV - VHS - DVD - and set top box on a bar with switches and I used to faithfully turn them all off before bed. Then at some point I changed the bar to one without so stuff is just left. So if you have enough plugged in and left on standby I suppose it could add up to £50 per annum

Grey_Critic

droopsnoot said:

I can't find my smart meter display anywhere, so I suspect I'll have to get one of those power meters and just check individual things when I get a chance.

A few years back the local council would let you borrow a device that enabled you to check your useage - this is before smart meters.

I tried it and it was interesting just how much various items used and of course that was the trigger for a (short lived) economy drive - just like those bloody free energy saving bulbs. Still got some in a cupboard.

Norman_Castle

twopenny said:

Does keeping them on standby really use so much a year - though I don't have the prime set top boxes just a digi recorder.

By "Digi recorder" do you mean a pvr? I've got a Humax pvr which from memory uses around 1 Watt on standby. 

Le_Kirk

How are you supposed to be able to record programmes (satellite or Humax) if you've turned them off at the mains?

twopenny

That is the consideration.
I do record late because there are fewer adverts but everything is repeated at different times and the programms are rubbish these days so no great loss.

Norman C, 1 watt a day? 365 py.

Norman_Castle

twopenny said:

Norman C, 1 watt a day? 365 py.

No, a constant 1w, 0.024kwh per day. Annual cost about £2.50 per year. This assumes its a pvr, you haven't said.

twopenny

I don't know what a pvr is.
On the front it says Digital tv recorder HD.
It needs changing as its on its way out but the programmes are so dire I'm not in a hurry.

Skintoap

There has been quite a lot of criticism of the standby costs quoted recently in the press. British Gas used very old figures from an American source. Most electrical items sold in Europe have been improved to have lower standby use (due to EU legislation) and there have also been improvements as equipment has evolved. It’s still a good idea to turn off any equipment  not using, but not if it will affect performance (e.g. routers).

TELLIT01

Even £50 per annum is only about 30p per day.  I realise that can make a difference to those who are really struggling financially, but it's certainly not enough to make me change the way I use electrical appliances.

k_man

TELLIT01 said:

Even £50 per annum is only about 30p per day.  I realise that can make a difference to those who are really struggling financially, but it's certainly not enough to make me change the way I use electrical appliances.

I look at this the other way:
While it may be only 30p* (sic) per day, that works out at £50 per year!

*(£50 per year would be 14p per day)

If the change is no inconvenience, who wouldn't want to save £50 a year.
E.g disabling unused features, e.g network standy/wake up.