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General: Turning off standby- the best method.

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  1.  
    Hi,
    This may be a very silly question........
    I have taken a walk around my new build and I have loads of little standby light I want to turn off each evening before I turn in. What systems do you all use for this. Just walk around and switch off or do you use the individual timers available on the market for each socket. What I would like to avoid if possible is having a multiplug extension in to one timer. Is there a better system or is this the way to go. It just seems daft to have 4 power sockets behind the appliances with one timer pluged in and a short extension with a 4 or 5 plug capacity. Have I missed a new gizmo that would be available and ideal for this?
    I know that you will all have your standby lights off so please give me the best system?
    Thanks.
  2.  
    OK, after a quick Google I have found a few products-
    Energenie- but you need to reset the switch every time to turn the appliance back on. This would mean that when I pop to make a cup of tea I would leave the appliance on!!!! Human nature and all that.. well lazy I guess or maybe just realistic.
    Intelliplug- looks good for computer systems and I will look at this a bit more.
    Bye bye standby- Again looks like a good system and you can turn off all plugs with a wireless connection. Easy and green. But does the same switch turn them back on? Hmm back to Google.
    •  
      CommentAuthorDamonHD
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2012
     
    Generally we turn things off at the wall when we're not using them, and so there aren't too many to be turned off at the point of going to bed, eg including microwave/toaster, dishwasher, washing machine, laptops and gadgets...

    For the TV+DVD we have one of those <1W IR-controlled remote plugs, which again goes off when people won't be watching the TV for a while or before bed. One click on the remote.

    Rgds

    Damon
    • CommentAuthorbillt
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2012
     
    I'd check what the actual standby consumption of the devices is. New devices like TVs etc have to have a standby consumption of less than a watt, it can easily be a lot less than that. Any active device, like a timer or wireless switch is likely to consume more power than a properly designed TV or amplifier.

    I've recently bought a pretty down market reciever and the standby power consumption is much less than one watt and I have no qualms about leaving that on standby. On the other hand, my much more upmarket audio system consumes getting on for 60W on standby and that does get switched off, using Z-wave switches. I use another of them to switch off a strip with various computer related things on it.
  5.  
    Thanks both. I will need to look at the consumption of my applainces in standby mode. I am not able to turn off at the wall at the moment as my kids are 3 and 6. If they see Daddy playing with plugs we all know what they are going to do!!!!!!
    The Bye bye standby stuff looks OK. I am not sure how long they would last for though. I would like to know if the motion sensors are any good though.
    I went around my house and if you count the number of stanby appliances...... I have got to do something to reduce the consumtion from a moral point of view as well as financially.
    I am running my GSHP and use a fair amount of power anyway but I hate to waste energy when I do not need to.
    I wonder if you can fit an energy saver switch to the othet half????
  6.  
    The Intelliplug is well worth buying. I have one on both my PCs - what I found was that the screen, speakers, printer, all consume about 4 - 6 w EVEN WHEN they are off, unless actually switched off at the socket. So I have the PC box plugged into the master socket on the Intelliplug, with the others all into an extension on the slave socket.
    So they now only pull power when the PC is actually on.

    I also do the same with my telly - the digibox is set up in the same way, (but not the hard disc) I'll only want the digibox on when the telly is on, but I need to have the HDD on so I can record stuff when the telly is off

    Tim
    •  
      CommentAuthorDamonHD
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2012
     
    Gusty: my sprogs are 3 and 6 and though the younger one went through a phase of fiddling with switches recently, they both simply understand about us turning things off when not in use and we've had no disasters; they know not to muck around with them. Frankly I'm amazed that our freezer has never been turned off in error other than by me.

    Rgds

    Damon
    • CommentAuthorSeret
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2012
     
    Posted By: DamonHD
    For the TV+DVD we have one of those <1W IR-controlled remote plugs, which again goes off when people won't be watching the TV for a while or before bed. One click on the remote.


    EON are selling them subsidised for £3. Mine switches everything off except the Sky box so you don't miss a recording. Works really well.
  9.  
    Seret- would you have a link or details by any chance please ?:bigsmile:
  10.  
    The forum for bye bye products looks pretty poor. Many questions asked when people have problems but not many answers!
    :confused:
  11.  
    I would add that I had a version of "bye bye standby" from Maplins. The transmitter are batteries like no tomorrow - about 1 new every month - those expensive little 12v cylindrical jobbies. I dodn't fancy spending £50 a year to save £30!!! so it went in the bin (OK, the bric a brac stall)
    •  
      CommentAuthorDamonHD
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2012
     
    Note that our Lime plug (free) is programmed to respond to an unused button on our DVD remote, so no extra batteries are eaten. (And those in the handsets are rechargeables, charged from my off-grid PV where possible, natch!)

    Rgds

    Damon
    • CommentAuthorSeret
    • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2012
     
    Posted By: gustyturbineSeret- would you have a link or details by any chance please ?http:///forum114/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/bigsmile.gif" alt=":bigsmile:" title=":bigsmile:" >


    Here you go:

    https://www.eonshop.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductCode=1100024&Category=PowerSavingAppliances

    Basically when you switch off the telly it notices the drop in current and after a short while it cuts out everything. It has a little IR sensor so that it can turn the telly back on when you press the button. The only downside is you have to press on twice, once to turn the plug on, once to turn the TV on.
  14.  
    dimengineer,
    Many thanks for the information. That is exatcly the type of info I was after.

    Many thanks all. I think I will invest in the EON telly gizmo and also the intelliplug for the PC. Bye bye standy is a gone gone gizmo.....
    I will look at other systems for the remaining appliances.

    Thanks again all.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeApr 24th 2012
     
    Posted By: gustyturbineI have taken a walk around my new build and I have loads of little standby light I want to turn off each evening before I turn in.

    Have you worked out how much energy it takes to walk around turning everything off? :wink:
  16.  
    Fair point ST but I have soooo many spare calories hanging around I should opt for this option!! My wife looks at me with a blank expression when I talk about all our standby LED's and clocks. It is only going to increase to with 2 little girls. I have purchased 2 intelliplugs for now, 1 TV and 1 desktop. If they work well I will branch out. I also have a few mechanical timers I am going to use behind the washing machine etc. I know it will not save the planet but why waste energy eh?
    My only real concern is the quality of the units. Will they pack up before they have saved at least as much energy as was used in manufacture?
    Time will tell I guess..:confused:
    •  
      CommentAuthorDamonHD
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2012
     
    The consumption of the timers may exceed that of the washing machine when 'off' at the controls: have you measured with a plug-in power meter.

    Can you make the plug switches accessible so that they can just be turned off when not in use? By far the simplest and greenest option and eliminates all complications.

    Rgds

    Damon
  18.  
    Some are accessible, most in all honesty. I will be turning these off myself at night. All power meters I have seen are around the £25-00 mark though. Any decent cheaper versions you are aware of?
    The thing I liked about the Intelliplug is that as long as I use them on my main power users then the fact they turn off after 2 minutes of no TV or desktop should be beneficial. The way they can be turned on again by remote is also handy. This means that my family will not be tempted to leave appliances on because of the lazy attitude of reseting the power saving item fitted such as the energenie.
    Any idea how much the timers consume then? I have 2 on a shelf so I will not be buying them.
    Many thanks.
    •  
      CommentAuthorDamonHD
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2012
     
    Maplin often has something nearer £10 if you catch a special offer. And a local library may be able to lend one to you for free; ours does.

    Some timers may use several Watts. Depends very much on the model and age, as the bishop said to the actress. No substitute for actual measurement, the actress reminded him.

    Rgds

    Damon
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2012
     
    Think I paid 15 quid for my plug in power meter from Argos.
    No connection to Argos other than a customer who hates going though the huge book because their sidling company Focus, that is close to me, did not have any. Knowing what energy everything used is not going to pay the carbon debt of driving to the last large town in the country.
    • CommentAuthorbrig001
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2012
     
    We wired a relay to our alarm panel, and that switches stuff off when we set the alarm. Been in for a few years now, so must have saved us a few quid.

    Brian.
    • CommentAuthordickster
    • CommentTimeApr 26th 2012
     
    I R remote controlled sockets do us for tv, tv booster, modem (in shed). Just point and click. Up to 5 sockets per remote control. Moplins or electrical wholesalers.
    • CommentAuthorSeret
    • CommentTimeApr 28th 2012
     
    Posted By: gustyturbine All power meters I have seen are around the £25-00 mark though. Any decent cheaper versions you are aware of?


    Some of the cheap ones can be a false economy, as they don't read down to very low (ie: 5W or so). This makes them pretty useless for assessing standby power. I recently swapped my el cheapo Brennenstuhl for a Prodigit 2000MU, which is much more accurate. They're on sale over at Amazon right now, only £17.
  24.  
    Thanks all. I will Amazon it today! The cheaper ones did concern me especially with low reading required.

    Dickster- how long do the batteries last?

    Thanks.
  25.  
    With builders in the house (cutting off the electricity), I've given up trying to keep the kitchen clocks showing the right time - there are 3 of them, 1 for the microwave, 1 for the steam oven and 1 for the ordinary oven. How annoying is that? All these clocks using electricity and not one of them showing the right time.
    •  
      CommentAuthorDamonHD
    • CommentTimeMay 2nd 2012
     
    Yes, and indeed it was the case for our microwave oven that it's clock was using more energy than was actually going into cooking given the short time for which the over is used. Thus it and the toaster are on one power block to get switched off at the wall when not in use. (Our gas cooker clock uses so little that in contrast I'm happy to leave it running and it is the one that we keep 'right' and indeed that I do all my meter readings by!)

    Borrow a power meter and see what is being consumed with only the clock running. If it's less than 1W then you probably need not worry. If it's much more, then you should turn off at the wall when not in use.

    Rgds

    Damon
  27.  
    This being France Damon, there's no such thing as switching off at the wall - it's a matter of yanking out the whole plug (and trying not to yank out too much plaster) - oh, and of course, they're not easily accessible, you have to grovel and locate the plug at the back of kitchen cupboards.
    • CommentAuthorCerisy
    • CommentTimeMay 7th 2012
     
    Same concerns here in Normandy - simpler fittings, but fewer options. We will just have to wait for the feedback on the various contraptions I guess!
    • CommentAuthorRobL
    • CommentTimeJun 21st 2012
     
    Was a bit depressed to note that our newish bosch greesnstar 24ri regular boiler uses 9W in standby. It's got a rubbish old school mains transformer inside it, burning power all the time. I (switched off!) opened it just to have a look, and there's some naughty warm bits inside - even though it's not been on for 10 hours, so I believe the number.
    It needs a standby for the pump overrun feature, and for winter frost protection. Is there any other reason?
    Is it ok to switch off at the wall for a week at a time if we heat DHW with solar?
    • CommentAuthorCliff Pope
    • CommentTimeJun 26th 2012
     
    You could just leave them on, but plant a tree occasionally to offset the carbon. :)

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