Wed, 26 Aug 2026 07:06:57 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3081#Comment_3081 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3081#Comment_3081 Fri, 11 May 2007 21:34:34 +0100 pyrogaz
Like many other folk we try to be conscientious about fully turning off appliances that have a standby function when turning in for the night, but the nature of these sort of devices means you're usually crawling under desks, fighting through a tangle of cables, and wondering if you're going to accidentally unplug the alarm clock and have to spend ten minutes resetting it. Our solution was to duplicate the socket circuits, one is generally used for devices with a standby mode and its twin for "normal" devices and those which we don't wish to turn off; the standby circuit has a master switch installed in our bedroom so last thing at night simply flick the switch and 4 TV's, 4 Freeview boxes, 5 PC's, 3 printers, 1 server, 3 DVD's, 2 VCR's, 1 microwave, 3 Hifi systems and numerous other devices are completely shut down. I should mention that we never use the VCR for recording so not a problem that they lose their clock settings overnight, and the DVD recorders are a bit more clever and don't lose their settings, so I'm not a masochist!

It might seem overkill to install extra circuits but the cost was just under £140, yes we have a lot of sockets, and we have little red dots stuck on those on the "standby circuit" to indentify them; but a quick check with a meter showed that we were drawing over 400 watts prior to switching off at night. Even if the circuit is only off for 6 hours each night it equates to about £85 per year, add in a couple of weeks holiday and you're knocking on the door of £100, so the pay back is very short.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3086#Comment_3086 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3086#Comment_3086 Fri, 11 May 2007 22:47:01 +0100 Guest Another I have heard of is installing a short 2nd circuit in the kitchen which is not connected to the ELCB side of the consumer unit to create a "protected" circuit for fridges & freezers in the event that a TV or toaster trips the fuse.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3087#Comment_3087 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3087#Comment_3087 Fri, 11 May 2007 22:50:22 +0100 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3091#Comment_3091 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3091#Comment_3091 Fri, 11 May 2007 23:09:42 +0100 desertlime Personally, I have no problem walking over to the tv to turn it on manually.
The Stereo is more of a problem, in that it is not possible to turn off the standby except by unplugging which is a hassle.
Timers on the powerpoints are ok, but dont allow for random times for using things.

I dont know how well it would go down, but a ban on imports and sales of all standby items sounds like a good idea to me.
Any comments?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3095#Comment_3095 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3095#Comment_3095 Sat, 12 May 2007 00:05:42 +0100 pyrogaz
1.86a X 230v = 428w

0.428KW x 6 (hours) x 365 (days) = 937KWH

937 x 0.0944 £/kwh= £88.45

This is exact, I'd estimated the previous figure.

We use CF lightbulbs throughout and absolutely no electric heating. The chest freezer was in the garage and had PU insualtion offcuts glued to the outside!. The total electricity bill was around £390.

The most scary items are the Freeview boxes, all four combined drew 130watts!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3104#Comment_3104 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3104#Comment_3104 Sat, 12 May 2007 14:14:00 +0100 tony
1) All this " wasted " electricity finishes up inside your home as heat.

2) The power consumptions do seem incredibly high for things on standby.

3) A friend of mine cut out all the LED s from all his things as they seem to draw a lot of juice.

4) I think you are on to a good GREEN thing here push it hard for us.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3110#Comment_3110 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3110#Comment_3110 Sat, 12 May 2007 20:33:39 +0100 Guest
Yeah, heat from electricity! Far better to have to fill the gap with more sustainable fuels, even gas....]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3118#Comment_3118 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3118#Comment_3118 Sat, 12 May 2007 21:48:59 +0100 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3120#Comment_3120 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3120#Comment_3120 Sat, 12 May 2007 22:20:18 +0100 funcrusher
Advantages (1) very cheap electricity to operate items like tumble driers, immersion heaters, washing machines at night. (2) Green gains because this helps re-balance the grid generators. Generators running at low capacity overnight have poor efficiency, so raising capacity utilisation will improve overall carbon footprint efficiency (3) ultimately, we help cut the total power station build, by using existing capacity more efficiently.

NB you need a high capacity contactor - at least 60A -because motorised items create large inductive loads when they kick-in simultaneously. On no account should you plug a large item, easpecially a motorised one, direct into a plug-in timer, even one with a 13amp rating.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3227#Comment_3227 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3227#Comment_3227 Tue, 15 May 2007 13:42:24 +0100 arthur
"On no account should you plug a large item, easpecially a motorised one, direct into a plug-in timer, even one with a 13amp rating."
I didn't know that - there must be a lot of people doing it.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3289#Comment_3289 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3289#Comment_3289 Thu, 17 May 2007 21:54:57 +0100 funcrusher
Regarding contactors: cheap plug in timers do not have suitable contact switching for either high current loads or inductive surges. Even for small loads their operational life is limited. An industrial contactor is essential for any substantial scheme - see Ebay to purchase.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3296#Comment_3296 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=277&Focus=3296#Comment_3296 Fri, 18 May 2007 09:16:24 +0100 patrick I am planning an instlation in a small cottage where everything is radialy wired back to a patch pannel (same principal as a computer network). This means that any socked can be added or removed from the "stand by circuit" at will.
OK it will be heavy on wire but it is only a small cottage. Radial wiring would be daft in a large house.]]>