Is my usage higher than it should be?

tim_p

wild666 said:

Even an extension lead left on with nothing connected will use some power.

Care to explain this please.

LiamBucknall

Qyburn said:

It's worth measuring devices if this is of concern. Our PVR draws 4W, but that has to be left on standby so it wakes up to record things. The TV initially used 12W on standby, but changing a few setting got it down to less than 0.5W. Multiway USB changer in the kitchen doesn't even register on the monitor when there's nothing plugged in.  Still plenty more to check, but our big wins so far have been the new freezer and persuading my desktop PC to hibernate.

Thanks for the help. I did some meter readings last night and ours jumped 4kwh over night, with just two phones on charge along with fridge, router etc. Not sure if this is about right or not? Seems a lot to me, cheers 

victor2

LiamBucknall said:

Qyburn said:

It's worth measuring devices if this is of concern. Our PVR draws 4W, but that has to be left on standby so it wakes up to record things. The TV initially used 12W on standby, but changing a few setting got it down to less than 0.5W. Multiway USB changer in the kitchen doesn't even register on the monitor when there's nothing plugged in.  Still plenty more to check, but our big wins so far have been the new freezer and persuading my desktop PC to hibernate.

Thanks for the help. I did some meter readings last night and ours jumped 4kwh over night, with just two phones on charge along with fridge, router etc. Not sure if this is about right or not? Seems a lot to me, cheers 

That is a lot!
You haven't got an immersion heater switched on have you?

EssexHebridean

LiamBucknall said:

Qyburn said:

It's worth measuring devices if this is of concern. Our PVR draws 4W, but that has to be left on standby so it wakes up to record things. The TV initially used 12W on standby, but changing a few setting got it down to less than 0.5W. Multiway USB changer in the kitchen doesn't even register on the monitor when there's nothing plugged in.  Still plenty more to check, but our big wins so far have been the new freezer and persuading my desktop PC to hibernate.

Thanks for the help. I did some meter readings last night and ours jumped 4kwh over night, with just two phones on charge along with fridge, router etc. Not sure if this is about right or not? Seems a lot to me, cheers 

Yep - that's high I'm afraid. 

As Victor suggest, an immersion heater (hot water cylinder) seems to be a likely candidate here. otherwise maybe an electric heater left on at a low setting?

If we have just background running overnight, and allowing for us also charging phones/ipads etc, then from time of going to bed, to time of getting up, I'd expect to see a change of little more than 1kWh - that's in a 2 bed flat. Obviously everyone's background use differs slightly - we're pretty careful on energy use but I'm afraid I don't go round switching every single device off at the wall before my head hits the pillow each night! - so this might help to give some idea. With the water heating, that could definitely increase to around 4kWh though on an average night.  

FreeBear

tim_p said:

wild666 said:

Even an extension lead left on with nothing connected will use some power.

Care to explain this please.

If the extension lead has a neon indicator built in, there will be some power consumed. Something in the order of 0.25W. An insignificant amount.

Krakkkers

I use around 0.5 kwh overnight between midnight and 7 am.

LiamBucknall

EssexHebridean said:

LiamBucknall said:

Qyburn said:

It's worth measuring devices if this is of concern. Our PVR draws 4W, but that has to be left on standby so it wakes up to record things. The TV initially used 12W on standby, but changing a few setting got it down to less than 0.5W. Multiway USB changer in the kitchen doesn't even register on the monitor when there's nothing plugged in.  Still plenty more to check, but our big wins so far have been the new freezer and persuading my desktop PC to hibernate.

Thanks for the help. I did some meter readings last night and ours jumped 4kwh over night, with just two phones on charge along with fridge, router etc. Not sure if this is about right or not? Seems a lot to me, cheers 

Yep - that's high I'm afraid. 

As Victor suggest, an immersion heater (hot water cylinder) seems to be a likely candidate here. otherwise maybe an electric heater left on at a low setting?

If we have just background running overnight, and allowing for us also charging phones/ipads etc, then from time of going to bed, to time of getting up, I'd expect to see a change of little more than 1kWh - that's in a 2 bed flat. Obviously everyone's background use differs slightly - we're pretty careful on energy use but I'm afraid I don't go round switching every single device off at the wall before my head hits the pillow each night! - so this might help to give some idea. With the water heating, that could definitely increase to around 4kWh though on an average night.  

I only set my water for 30 mins a day though, surely turning off the immersion heater will mean I get no hot water? 

Unless it’s coming on randomly in the night for no reason? 

Krakkkers

Is it completely off?

LiamBucknall

Krakkkers said:

Is it completely off?

The switch is on. But surely it should only come on at the times it is set to? 

Krakkkers

Something is using 4kwh at night that can only be heating or a very inefficient fridge freezer.
 why not switch it off completely tonight and see what happens, do you have hot water in the morning?
Do you have a fish tank or anything like that that could consume power?