Solution to the energy crisis (and incidentally, global warming...)

[jhetley]

Noticed that the backup power supply retains a warm spot on the top, even when turned "off".  Symptom of a universal problem in modern electronics -- "off" does not mean "off."  Computers, TVs, printers, game sets, electric toothbrush chargers -- those things still eat electricity when you aren't using them.  Why else do you think the TV remote can turn it "off" and "on"?

Parasitic power -- electricity used when the unit isn't actually doing what you bought it for.

We'd save a few billion KWH per year worldwide if consumer electronics actually did turn off.  Only way you can do it now, is to have a power strip outboard of the unit to provide that switching function.  Or flat-ass unplug the bastards.

(Also, how many of you dear readers remember 'way back when "Instant On" TV sets got implicated in a rash of home fires?)

Comments

[quilzas.livejournal.com]

Interestingly enough..

The powerbrick for my laptop doesn't heat up when it's plugged into the wall but unplugged from the laptop. Which I think is the first power brick I've encountered that seems to do this.

I've always had power bricks stay warm when plugged into the wall and yet are not, technically, in use.

[malkingrey.livejournal.com]

I can remember when televisions and suchlike had to warm up for a little bit after you turned them on. And I remember the hoohah over the advent of "Instant On" technology -- no more wasted seconds!

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

America -- the land of the free and the home of instant gratification...

[wolfette]

in our house the tv goes off - that's OFF - every night. If it's on, it's on, not on "standby"

The computers go OFF when not in use.

The phone chargers are unplugged when not charging a phone.

All the light bulbs are "energy savers" - though I might have to change the bathroom fluorescent for "tracked spots" - fluorescents are only cost effective when they're on for 30 minutes or more, bathroom lights are rarely on that long (apart from when you're taking a bath, how long do YOU spend in the bathroom on average?) (a track with three spots will neatly fill the same space as the present tube, so we don't have to re-tile the ceiling, direct the light where needed and won't need 5 minutes to warm up when you turn the darn thing on)

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Unless you actually do some outboard disconnect, like with those phone chargers, most recent computers are still on when you switch them "off."

[wolfette]

When I say "off" I mean it is no longer drawing power - I've checked the electric meter. It's normal to power down completely and switch off your computer here, not "log off" or go to "standby". (way safer, according to the fire brigade) Remember we have on/off switches on our electric wall sockets, so "turning off at the wall" means throwing a switch, not pulling out a plug.