What appliance uses most electricity

Cardew

Mech,
Any discussion about standby consumption seems to inevitably go the way of this thread, and imply that some posters are suggesting you should always leave things on standby and never turn them off.

That simply is not the case. What myself, and others, are trying to do is put standby consumption costs into perspective.

There are a lot of people on this forum who have zero electrical knowledge and believe the hype about massive standby consumption. Look at the number of posts complaining about their high electrical consumption where they inevitably state “I always switch the TV off at night” the assumption being that this is a major economy measure – well it ain’t! For most people this will save pence per year.

Look at the number of posts that state the consumption of a TV on standby is 80% of that when it is fully on; its no use for you or I talking about <1W or 1.8W doesn’t mean anything to many people.

As I said in an earlier post, there is a standby load in my house that I simply accept, as I do not wish, or intend, to switch off my Sky box, Wireless router, microwave, cooker, burglar alarm, CH timer, alarm clocks etc etc. It might cost me £15 a year or so - but

---

People come on this forum and make nice simple statements that are easy to remember, like 'a tumble dryer costs 70p an hour to run' and are believed.

Take your ‘headline grabbing’ statement:

Many people would welcome a 10% reduction in their electricity bill with zero investment and little effort.

Many people will construe that as they can save 10% of their electricity bill by switching off their TV etc at night; and as you and I are aware that simply is not the case.

quidsin

This is how we worked what appliance was using more power in our house-

We switched off all switches and unplugged everything from sockets, then I went outside to the electric meter.
I then got the misses to switch on then off every electric item ( all the lighting being classed as 1 item ) for a few minutes while I observed the insceased speed of the meter dial.

My observations were-
Lights had minimal affect on the dial, as did plugging in the tv, video, computer & fridge freezer. We did have 2 fridge freezers at the time and decided it would be best to get rid of one!
We found the washing machine & tumble drier increased the speed of the dial by the same amount!!!
So if you wash your clothes then tumble dry them you'd be doubling the electric you use to have clean clothes- see my electric usage for april / may later on.
the biggest usage of electric was the immersion heater, which made the dial shoot round!
We now only use gas to heat our water & only use the tumble drier if we really have to, doin this has bought our meter reading down from 446 units in March to 341 in April.
Hope this helps. if not go outside to your meter & do your own survey!!!

MrsE_2

BargainHunterCat wrote: »

Hair straighteners, dryers & curling tongs tend to be pretty high watt these days so I avoid using them everyday because they use a lot of electricity.

The street lights outside go dim when I switch my straighteners on!:p

Damn they must be good ones:D

Mine are GHD, what are yours:D

mech_2

moonrakerz wrote: »

(My highlighting)

Could I thank you for supporting my argument so convincingly !

If you really believe that switching off your TV, at the wall, between programmes is a more effective way of "saving the planet" than lagging your loft properly - then it just goes to show that my cynicism is totally justified.

I would prefer it if you debated in a more mature manner. Nowhere did I say minimising standby consumption was merely a matter of switching off the TV. We covered that quote thoroughly. Maybe you were too bored to read what I wrote.

Neither did I say anywhere that it was intended to save the planet (which, incidentally, neither will topping up your loft insulation). That is also something you've come up with all on your own. The quotes are totally inappropriate. I said it would save energy; which it will.

Thirdly, this is a money saving forum. Find a dozen items plugged in and consuming energy when not in use (wall-warts, stereos, etc - any that are generating heat when off) and your electricity bill will very likely go down go down by around the same amount in pounds as your gas bill would go down if you increased your loft insulation. Except loft insulation costs money. Switching off things at the wall is free and becomes second nature.

So where was the cynicism justified?

mech_2

Cardew wrote: »

Mech,
Any discussion about standby consumption seems to inevitably go the way of this thread, and imply that some posters are suggesting you should always leave things on standby and never turn them off.

That simply is not the case. What myself, and others, are trying to do is put standby consumption costs into perspective.

Well so am I.

There are a lot of people on this forum who have zero electrical knowledge and believe the hype about massive standby consumption. Look at the number of posts complaining about their high electrical consumption where they inevitably state “I always switch the TV off at night” the assumption being that this is a major economy measure – well it ain’t! For most people this will save pence per year.

I didn't make it clear with all the consumption figures at all did I? OK... If they have an average new Freeview box as well as their average new TV and switch them both off at the wall (could put it on the same socket - only one switch to flick then) they'll save ~ £4.00 a year. That takes account of the heat-replacement effect and assumes mains gas central heating on an old boiler. Not a huge amount, but no one claimed standby usage was TV-only except the detractors.

Look at the number of posts that state the consumption of a TV on standby is 80% of that when it is fully on; its no use for you or I talking about <1W or 1.8W doesn’t mean anything to many people.

As I said in an earlier post, there is a standby load in my house that I simply accept, as I do not wish, or intend, to switch off my Sky box, Wireless router, microwave, cooker, burglar alarm, CH timer, alarm clocks etc etc. It might cost me £15 a year or so - but

---

People come on this forum and make nice simple statements that are easy to remember, like 'a tumble dryer costs 70p an hour to run' and are believed.

Take your ‘headline grabbing’ statement:

"Many people would welcome a 10% reduction in their electricity bill with zero investment and little effort."

Many people will construe that as they can save 10% of their electricity bill by switching off their TV etc at night; and as you and I are aware that simply is not the case.

I can see where you're coming from, but anyone who has bothered reading my increasingly boring posts in the first place will by now have got the gist that I'm not just talking about a TV. Neither are any of the energy-saving websites or utility company websites. The Energy Saving Trust website quite clearly says "TVs and other appliances". I thought the Energy Saving Trust website was your bible Cardew.

Haha you'll love this one. Scottish Power says:

Turning off your TV, video and hi-fi instead of leaving them on standby could save the equivalent of 60% of the electricity you use playing music or watching your favourite soap.

Just to be clear: I do not endorse the above statement.

The Energy Saving Trust's website also has some real corkers.

Also I have to take you up on another thing. I don't like this idea that cutting standby consumption means walking around the house at night switching lots of things off. Why not just develop a policy of turning each thing off at the wall when you've finished using it?

Cardew

Mech,
We could go round and round in circles on this subject.

Nobody is advocating that you shouldn't switch of your TV and freeview box at night - unless of course you are recording something late at night!! Or any other non-essential/desired appliance.

However you and I both know that to talk of saving 10% of your electricity bill is far removed from reality.

Also I have to take you up on another thing. I don't like this idea that cutting standby consumption means walking around the house at night switching lots of things off. Why not just develop a policy of turning each thing off at the wall when you've finished using it?

Cos its a pain! - I have better things to do - like posting boring missives on MSE.

GaryS

I have had my usage meter running for just over a week now and it seems to indicate that most of my usage is overnight !!

This is when most appliances are turned off.

mute_posting

GaryS wrote: »

I have had my usage meter running for just over a week now and it seems to indicate that most of my usage is overnight !!

This is when most appliances are turned off.

Do you use (E7) electric to heat water?

Could well be 3Kw there on for a couple of hours or more.

MP

GaryS

No E7 setup in my home, looks like I better check what the street lights are wired into.....

SwanJon

Cardew wrote: »

Cos its a pain! - I have better things to do - like posting boring missives on MSE.

Then I have a solution: http://www.byebyestandby.co.uk/

Put one of these on the end of an extension (leaving out your Sky+ etc if desired), and can turn them all off from the comfort of your sofa.
One for the PC and associated gumph, another for TV etc. Who said I was lazy?

Although their suggestions that it'd pay for itself in the first year means a saving of £30, closer to 3% than 10% - and that's a company trying to sell it to you.