Oct price cap increase likely to push energy bill to over £10k... for a family of 4...

Sea_Shell

I'd read on another thread (a while ago) that the most efficient way to use a laptop "on power" was to do so without the battery in (if removable).

Not sure how true that is, but as we hardly ever use ours anywhere other than the desk, we've removed ours.

I think it's because the power isn't then being constantly "redirected" through the battery?

There's a (small) risk of a power cut mid-session of course, but anything online would lose the router connection in any case too.

The_Green_Hornet

Personally I always use my laptop "on battery" and then recharge when the it goes below 20%.

As I have solar panels the recharging of the battery usually costs me nothing and it also enforces a break from screen work.

My current laptop has a non-removable battery.

Vincero

Sea_Shell said:

I'd read on another thread (a while ago) that the most efficient way to use a laptop "on power" was to do so without the battery in (if removable).

Not sure how true that is, but as we hardly ever use ours anywhere other than the desk, we've removed ours.

I think it's because the power isn't then being constantly "redirected" through the battery?

There's a (small) risk of a power cut mid-session of course, but anything online would lose the router connection in any case too.

Possibly - even if not redirecting energy through the entire battery circuit, not needing to power the battery management, etc., might eek a tiny bit less power usage.
I do wonder if the laptop CMOS battery dies quicker without the main battery in and powered off...

On the flip-side, you may find some devices will not work without the battery. There's also some scenarios where I've seen laptops that have a peak power draw greater than what the power adapter is specified to provide - would be interesting to see how that works out when things get busy.

michaels

ManMadeWays said:

caveman38 said:

MariaAH said:

caveman38 said:

After following Maria's post from the beginning I thought I'd better investigate my usage. I use 10kW of electric per day and am not on a fix.  Without freezer, fridge and iron, I could account for 6kW. I realized that, like her there was somethin amiss and bought a Tapo energy checker.
I have found that my 43 year old Electrolux 6 cubic ft. (160l) freezer is consuming 2.2kW a day on it's own. I'm sure that's the culprit and intend changing it. To be fair although noisy (because the motor runs a lot) it has been fine. I shall first check that it doesn't freeze below -18C. I cannot find any info to tell me the expected consumption, but I'd have thought 1 kW. Looking at future energy prices, it'll pay for itself in no time - if my math is correct.

Our 9 year old RangeMaster American fridge freezer was doing 2.5kW per day vs the manual that said 1.2kW a day. New one arriving next week - will cost in and expect to break even in less than 2 years. New on is more like 0.8kW a day. I have still not found the missing daily kW...

You have most probably spurred a lot of forumites into checking their consumption. I know I'd most probably not bothered but from this thread. But you disappoint me in still having a black hole in your consumption. We need to know!

They are confirming what I expected , 3 gaming PCs but using an average of around 200w/h, <100 when browsing/light work , >300 when running Apex or other GFX intense work.

Does that include the monitors?

ManMadeWays

michaels said:

ManMadeWays said:

caveman38 said:

MariaAH said:

caveman38 said:

After following Maria's post from the beginning I thought I'd better investigate my usage. I use 10kW of electric per day and am not on a fix.  Without freezer, fridge and iron, I could account for 6kW. I realized that, like her there was somethin amiss and bought a Tapo energy checker.
I have found that my 43 year old Electrolux 6 cubic ft. (160l) freezer is consuming 2.2kW a day on it's own. I'm sure that's the culprit and intend changing it. To be fair although noisy (because the motor runs a lot) it has been fine. I shall first check that it doesn't freeze below -18C. I cannot find any info to tell me the expected consumption, but I'd have thought 1 kW. Looking at future energy prices, it'll pay for itself in no time - if my math is correct.

Our 9 year old RangeMaster American fridge freezer was doing 2.5kW per day vs the manual that said 1.2kW a day. New one arriving next week - will cost in and expect to break even in less than 2 years. New on is more like 0.8kW a day. I have still not found the missing daily kW...

You have most probably spurred a lot of forumites into checking their consumption. I know I'd most probably not bothered but from this thread. But you disappoint me in still having a black hole in your consumption. We need to know!

They are confirming what I expected , 3 gaming PCs but using an average of around 200w/h, <100 when browsing/light work , >300 when running Apex or other GFX intense work.

Does that include the monitors?

Yes, 1 PC with 3 monitors, 1 PC with 1 monitors and speakers , I have another room with 2 PCs and a laptop (but not usually all on at the same time) , 3 monitors, a KVM switch, a laptop dock,  a DECT phone station , speakers all on a 12 way ! extension through the smart plug, oh also a gigabit switch but I have that off now all PCs are on Wifi. One son has noticed the download speed is slower now on Wifi so I'll have to make excuses as I don't want the switches back on for now.

All these PCs/laptops on during the day is a consequence of 3* WFH but travel savings per day are circa £12.50/£8/£4 so a K/wh to save that, then another K/wh for pleasure is a "small"cost

hyperion23

This thread has been a fascinating read and made me buy a monitor plug. It's not revealed anything awful yet, biggest culprits are TV and imac.

I'm using 5kWh per day atm as a single person in a 2bed semi-detached, with my only income being benefits, so ideally need to get that a lot lower.

I suspect my fridge-freezer is using more than it should, will be putting the monitor plug onto that next. I get a lot of heat radiating from the side of the fridge.

Big electric consumers will be two 6x2x2 vivariums with my pet boas. So they have an area heated to 30°C, then a gradient down to 22°C at the other end. Plus lights. Will be extremely interesting to see how much energy they use each day! 

xeny

ManMadeWays said:

a gigabit switch but I have that off now all PCs are on Wifi. One son has noticed the download speed is slower now on Wifi so I'll have to make excuses as I don't want the switches back on for now.

I have a few 8 port gigabit switches - they vary from about 2.5W to over 5W, so it may simply be worth buying new ones if you've got a couple that are power hogs. Anything halfway recent should support 802.3az which does things like reduce power used for short cable runs.

Do you know how much power the wifi in the PCs uses compared to the onboard ethernet?

Sea_Shell

hyperion23 said:

This thread has been a fascinating read and made me buy a monitor plug. It's not revealed anything awful yet, biggest culprits are TV and imac.

I'm using 5kWh per day atm as a single person in a 2bed semi-detached, with my only income being benefits, so ideally need to get that a lot lower.

I suspect my fridge-freezer is using more than it should, will be putting the monitor plug onto that next. I get a lot of heat radiating from the side of the fridge.

Big electric consumers will be two 6x2x2 vivariums with my pet boas. So they have an area heated to 30°C, then a gradient down to 22°C at the other end. Plus lights. Will be extremely interesting to see how much energy they use each day! 

That's one word to use!!      Another might be "shocking"!!    Brace yourself.


What measurement is 6x2x2?   can't be cm, or inches...too small.   It's not feet it is!!!!!     They would almost take up the whole room.

Brewer21

I can't find anything on my online account (with Eon.Next) not had an email either about the new October cap prices, I'm on the SVT. Should I have been informed by now, it's obviously less than 30 days until the new prices kick in, I'm billed around 14th month, the next bill will show usage from mid August to mid September.

hyperion23

Sea_Shell said:

That's one word to use!!      Another might be "shocking"!!    Brace yourself.


What measurement is 6x2x2?   can't be cm, or inches...too small.   It's not feet it is!!!!!     They would almost take up the whole room.

Yes it is feet! The female boa is still growing so I'm looking at upgrading her to an 8ft as well! Her viv is at floor level and the 8ft will run below the wall-mounted TV.

The snakes are my only real luxury though, so I'll pay their electric bill happily and cut back elsewhere if necessary. I may not find a new occupant for the empty 6ft viv once I've upgraded the boa!