Charges for being on standby

[Serial_Apologist]

There's currently a lot being spoken about the need to switch appliances off at the plug which are normally being kept on standby, thereby not incurring unnecessary charges for electricity usage.

My computer expert tells me I should not be switching my computer off at the mains at the end of each day, as frequent turning on and off reduces a computer's longevity, and in any case computers use very little current. Same for the Canon printer. My electronic keyboard is permanently on standby. As for my mobile phone, I charge this up most nights, and would admit to not switching off the charger at the wall between times. For some items - DVD players for example - one has to go through the hassle of re-setting for dates, channels and so on; possibly also for some TVs. On the other hand I can see the point of switching off the electric cooker and microwave. My heating/hot water boiler control remains permanently on, even during hot weather when I only use the immersion heater for short periods, but the electric kettle goes off at the wall.

It was said (very briefly) by an "expert" that one could save by having multiple appliances plugged into an extension lead plugged into a single mains socket - or did I mishear: it sounded unlikely? We can all do with sound advice with all the energy increased charges in the offing. Can anyone here advise on which appliances it is advisable to keep on standby - that is, if any are?

[Bryn]

There's currently a lot being spoken about the need to switch appliances off at the plug which are normally being kept on standby, thereby not incurring unnecessary charges for electricity usage.

My computer expert tells me I should not be switching my computer off at the mains at the end of each day, as frequent turning on and off reduces a computer's longevity, and in any case computers use very little current. Same for the Canon printer. My electronic keyboard is permanently on standby. As for my mobile phone, I charge this up most nights, and would admit to not switching off the charger at the wall between times. For some items - DVD players for example - one has to go through the hassle of re-setting for dates, channels and so on; possibly also for some TVs. On the other hand I can see the point of switching off the electric cooker and microwave. My heating/hot water boiler control remains permanently on, even during hot weather when I only use the immersion heater for short periods, but the electric kettle goes off at the wall.

It was said (very briefly) by an "expert" that one could save by having multiple appliances plugged into an extension lead plugged into a single mains socket - or did I mishear: it sounded unlikely? We can all do with sound advice with all the energy increased charges in the offing. Can anyone here advise on which appliances it is advisable to keep on standby - that is, if any are?

The point regarding routing several appliances to one wall plug (what electricians call what everyone else calls a socket, what goes into it being a "plug top") was that it means only using one switch to isolate the lot.

[Petrushka]

I read that leaving items such as a DVD recorder on standby uses very little electricity and turning them off at the mains will save no more than a few pence per year.

It's a better idea to look at the items that really do chew up the electricity/gas such as heating, washing machines, tumble driers, immersion heaters and electric showers and simply use them less in order to make a saving. The appliance that uses up more electricity than anything else, at least in my house, is the shower: my smart meter goes berserk when it is on! If you must use it, do so for a shorter period or have a bath instead. I used to have the immersion heater on timer for an hour first thing in the morning but find that the water will be sufficiently hot for being on for half that time. I also boil a kettle for washing pots - no dishwasher here!

I still follow the example of my late parents by going round the house last thing at night ensuring that all electrical appliances are switched off at the mains, apart from those items that need to be on such as fridge, landline phone, smart meter and DVD recorder on standby as above. This is to reduce the fire risk rather than to make any potential saving. For this reason, I would caution against charging up the mobile phone at night. You will also be leaving it on charge for far too long anyway thus wasting money and introducing a potential fire risk while you sleep.

[Ein Heldenleben]

There's currently a lot being spoken about the need to switch appliances off at the plug which are normally being kept on standby, thereby not incurring unnecessary charges for electricity usage.

My computer expert tells me I should not be switching my computer off at the mains at the end of each day, as frequent turning on and off reduces a computer's longevity, and in any case computers use very little current. Same for the Canon printer. My electronic keyboard is permanently on standby. As for my mobile phone, I charge this up most nights, and would admit to not switching off the charger at the wall between times. For some items - DVD players for example - one has to go through the hassle of re-setting for dates, channels and so on; possibly also for some TVs. On the other hand I can see the point of switching off the electric cooker and microwave. My heating/hot water boiler control remains permanently on, even during hot weather when I only use the immersion heater for short periods, but the electric kettle goes off at the wall.

It was said (very briefly) by an "expert" that one could save by having multiple appliances plugged into an extension lead plugged into a single mains socket - or did I mishear: it sounded unlikely? We can all do with sound advice with all the energy increased charges in the offing. Can anyone here advise on which appliances it is advisable to keep on standby - that is, if any are?

Using an extension will not reduce overall electricity consumption. In fact it will almost infinitesimally increase it because of the extra resistance in the copper. If you use extension leads be careful not to overload them. The amount of electricity used by TV’s , Pvr’s , in standby is tiny . It’s not worth switching them off. You would better off aggregating the amount of time spent doing so (say 15 mins a day = 91 hours a year ) on paid employment - at £10 per hour that’s £900 a year . There is no real fire risk from charging phones. But leaving them charging will use a small amount of electricity.
You can save on electricity by not using a tumble drier , microwaving rather than using electric hot plates , installing low wattage light bulbs and turning them off when not in use.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I read that leaving items such as a DVD recorder on standby uses very little electricity and turning them off at the mains will save no more than a few pence per year.

It's a better idea to look at the items that really do chew up the electricity/gas such as heating, washing machines, tumble driers, immersion heaters and electric showers and simply use them less in order to make a saving. The appliance that uses up more electricity than anything else, at least in my house, is the shower: my smart meter goes berserk when it is on! If you must use it, do so for a shorter period or have a bath instead. I used to have the immersion heater on timer for an hour first thing in the morning but find that the water will be sufficiently hot for being on for half that time. I also boil a kettle for washing pots - no dishwasher here!

I still follow the example of my late parents by going round the house last thing at night ensuring that all electrical appliances are switched off at the mains, apart from those items that need to be on such as fridge, landline phone, smart meter and DVD recorder on standby as above. This is to reduce the fire risk rather than to make any potential saving. For this reason, I would caution against charging up the mobile phone at night. You will also be leaving it on charge for far too long anyway thus wasting money and introducing a potential fire risk while you sleep.

Those electric showers are 7 to 9 KW . That’s a lot of power . It’s cheaper to use shower water heated by gas .

[DracoM]

<< going round the house last thing at night ensuring that all electrical appliances are switched off at the mains>>

Ditto here.

[muzzer]

You can set the laptop to charge up to 80% max, as this prolongs battery life. Ditto the phone I imagine. V good idea not to leave them charging overnight by the look of it, too. I’m willing to bet standby on most appliances uses very little power compared to things like tumble dryers, which eat the leccy. As does my car when left untouched for more than a few days during winter, but that’s another story.

[oddoneout]

Some figures here https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/ene...standby-energy
Puzzled by the microwave reference how can it use that much power when not on?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I read that leaving items such as a DVD recorder on standby uses very little electricity and turning them off at the mains will save no more than a few pence per year.

It's a better idea to look at the items that really do chew up the electricity/gas such as heating, washing machines, tumble driers, immersion heaters and electric showers and simply use them less in order to make a saving. The appliance that uses up more electricity than anything else, at least in my house, is the shower: my smart meter goes berserk when it is on! If you must use it, do so for a shorter period or have a bath instead. I used to have the immersion heater on timer for an hour first thing in the morning but find that the water will be sufficiently hot for being on for half that time. I also boil a kettle for washing pots - no dishwasher here!

The voice of reason.

I still follow the example of my late parents by going round the house last thing at night ensuring that all electrical appliances are switched off at the mains, apart from those items that need to be on such as fridge, landline phone, smart meter and DVD recorder on standby as above. This is to reduce the fire risk rather than to make any potential saving. For this reason, I would caution against charging up the mobile phone at night. You will also be leaving it on charge for far too long anyway thus wasting money and introducing a potential fire risk while you sleep.

Many phones being charged overnight do so more slowly to conserve electricity and battery health. But the fire risk is a consideration not to be dismissed so easily.

[muzzer]

Slight update but I understand phone and tablet batteries stop charging when full.

[cat]

The following things in our house are left “on” overnight i.e. not turned off at the socket or isolation switch, or via a physical switch on the appliance:

Fridge/freezer
Modem
Router
Cat feeding machine
Dishwasher
Oven
Microwave
Extractor hood
Treadmill
Rowing machine
TV
Bathroom fan
Philips table lamp
Printer
PC
Boiler and wireless thermostat controls
Cordless phone

Things that are definitely turned off:
The TV speakers and amp because they get hot otherwise.

According to our smart meter we use 60 watts per hour on average through the night while asleep, I suspect most of that is the fridge/freezer, but the modem, router, cat feeder, oven and microwave are busy doing stuff e.g. displaying the time, the other things just sit there brooding.

[Ein Heldenleben]

The following things in our house are left “on” overnight i.e. not turned off at the socket or isolation switch, or via a physical switch on the appliance:

Fridge/freezer
Modem
Router
Cat feeding machine
Dishwasher
Oven
Microwave
Extractor hood
Treadmill
Rowing machine
TV
Bathroom fan
Philips table lamp
Printer
PC
Boiler and wireless thermostat controls
Cordless phone

Things that are definitely turned off:
The TV speakers and amp because they get hot otherwise.

According to our smart meter we use 60 watts per hour on average through the night while asleep, I suspect most of that is the fridge/freezer, but the modem, router, cat feeder, oven and microwave are busy doing stuff e.g. displaying the time, the other things just sit there brooding.

So at current cap costs Of about 19p per KW hour. 10 hours overnight = 0.6 of 19p which is about 11.5 p .
That X 365 = £41 a year .
When the price cap per kw goes up to 27 you’ll save £59 a year by switching it all off
Not worth breaking out a bottle of champagne for …

[Bryn]

Remote control plug adaptors present a convenient way of switching off equipment when they are not required to be powered. Now that Maplins are history, Amazon is a possible source as a sensible outlay.

[oddoneout]

This might be of interest https://www.theguardian.com/money/20...ampire-devices
It confirms my doubts about some of the figures quoted.
I do get a bit fed up with these kinds of claims and figures. The more they get propagated in the media the bigger the figures get and the smaller the fact base. The "use a dishwasher" spiel is based on German figures and doesn't bear much relation to how this country uses the machines.The shower instead of bath started being pushed when the UK shower was a choice of trickle electric or erratic bath tap connection but the advent of power showers and the vast increase in use since makes a nonsense of the saving water aspect, something a water company person on a publicity stand ruefully admitted when I asked him about it. The figures about food waste and the cost to the "average family" seemed to increase by large amounts quite quickly in a way I found very odd, although there is no doubt they made good headlines.