What Meter?

I know it is off topic - but I finally got my wattmeter this morning, which I was told was out of stock earlier. I bought it to monitor the power used heating a greenhouse. As with any new toy I had to have a play. But I thought the results might be of general interest. The following values are for the power consumed in watts:-

TV standby .............................. 1
TV on .................................... 61
Video standby .......................... 8
Video on ................................ 10
Video recording ....................... 13
Freeview standby ...................... 8
Freeview on ............................. 9
Computer ............................... 82
CRT Monitor black screen .......... 69
CRT Monitor windows ................ 76
CRT monitor white screen .......... 87
Radio........................................ 1
Propagator - narrow windowsill ..... 9
Propagator - 2 normal seed trays . 20

Remember 100 watts at 10p/kw will cost 1p per hour, or �£1 every 4 days of continuous usage. For instance TV, video and freeview on standby for a year costs �£15, so switching off at night will save up to �£10.

 

I'll have to print that out and post a copy by every appliance!! Nice one, PeterS

 

Anything that uses a switchmode power supply (most modern appliances do) will draw some power even if it appears to be off.

When you add up all those appliances over a year it can add up to quite a tidy sum

 

Blimey,were waisting a fortune!and how were all affectig climate change doesn`t bare thinking about.From now on i`ll be switching off at the socket.

 

I believe one of the power 'watchdogs' was recently publicising that very point, particularly in respect of tvs left on standby. Have to hold up my hand to that one where my bedroom telly is concerned - just too darned lazy to get out of bed and switch it off!

However, I have been campaigning in our local hospital about the number of corridor lights left on 24/7. I have worked out that if each tube is worth 40watts and there are 150 in the small section of corridor I use each day - about 30% of the whole - then the sum total of energy wasted in daylight hours is around 37,000 KW per annum! Work that out x3 and for five floors! The mind boggles at the wastage, the cost and the environmental impact! And my colleagues laugh at me for constantly turning off switches! Well, it's their taxes and planet as well as mine!

 

:eek: Very interesting PeterS - makes you think doesn't it! Thanks for the info.

 

Michaelmasdaisey, you are absolutely right about the lights. A long time ago I worked for ICI, and they came round the labs and removed half of all the fluorescent tubes. After a short while no one saw any difference. If the light level is lowered a bit, the iris in your eye opens a bit wider to let more light in.

Actually, I was surprised how little my television used on standby - one eighth of the Freeview box on standby - I was expecting more. These figures were for my makes of appliance, others will be different of course.

 

Saw something on the Internet a couple of years ago, about this and someone had worked it out that if everybody in America switched off instead of using stand-by, they could shut down 1 power station!

 

A couple of years ago, the house of a customer of mine caught fire at night; the lady & her infirm father were rescued by the fire brigade,
house severely damaged, (garden projects put on hold for a while). The fire was caused by the TV which was left on standby. The cost can be high.


I can't afford to lose good customers

:(

 

oops! think I'd better make myself get out of bed nights to switch it off!

 

re fluorescent tubes ... due to startup power, it is better to leave them on, or so ive been told

 

This was once true when tubes took quite a hefty current and long time to start. It really doesn't apply to modern fittings and unless you are only switching off for a minute before switching on again,you are best to switch off.

 

I understand that one of the terms of a Sky contract is that you've got to leave the set top box connected to the mains and the telephone line for at least the first twelve months. Can't tink why, but it makes a mockery of power saving doesn't it.

Nik

 

Oh we were just talking about this over breakfast, why what meter and not wat meter?

I understand that some companies upgrade during the night so need TV etc to be turned on, but since reading petes post we now turn ours off.

 

Nik, I think I know the answer. Whilst I do not have Sky myself my sister does. And like all people sometimes she presses the wrong button on the controller. If you press the red button in error it can make a phone call and charge you to watch a program you did not want to. Disconnecting your phone from Sky may not save energy but it could save a lot of money - especially if you have kids.

Don't you get muddled these days with all the controllers? I was with a friend the other day and his wife was having difficulty changing channel, until John, the husband, pointed out that she was using the calculator. :D
What, watt wat!