Let’s say I have a computer plugged in, or a microwave, or phone charger plugged in. Isn’t the point of a device being off is that it’s not supposed to be using electricity? How much watts of power am I looking at that’s being consumed per hour?
Where does this apply and where does it not? Shouldn’t I try to unplug everything as much as possible to save money?
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The majority of electronics use negligible amounts of power when not in use, mainly for LCD displays, clocks, indicator lights(LEDs), etc, and you needn’t worry about them. One exception is TVs. Most TVs these days when you switch them off use a “standby mode” so they turn on fast. An average LCD TV might use 25-50w when it’s on, and maybe 1-5w in standby mode depending on its size and design. Although it’s not a huge amount, it’s probably more than all the other items put together.
It’s probably the only thing that you might consider turning off completely when not in use, although they usually have an option in the settings where you select to have the TV use standby mode or not when you turn it off. Selecting no standby mode will be just like unplugging it when not in use.
‘Power supplies’ generally consist of two parts: 1) a transformer to step up or down the voltage, and 2) a rectifier to change AC power to DC power. Modern electronics can be found to either have the power supply inside of them (like a microwave or a TV), or as an external device (like the wall warts you get with a laptop or an Alexa speaker).
By their very nature, transformers are still performing ‘work’ even when nothing else is plugged into the output end. This is called Vampire Power. https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/plug-in-transformer.htm. If you really want to know more, read up on how transformers work.
Because they do not turn off but enter into standby mode.
All those extra features require power to maintain them such as a clock or your internet connection on some models of smart TV. Pull the plug? the info is gone and it’s reset to default. Some devices simply go to sleep as they don’t think people want to wait the few seconds it would take to restart the device.
There’s lots of reasons why companies make things that don’t turn off.
Alright, little buddy!
Step 1: Imagine your electronic gadget as a thirsty pet.
Step 2: Even if they’re not active, they still sip some water (or power) just to stay “awake”.
Step 3: The plug is like a straw that lets them sip this power.
Step 4: So, when you leave your gadgets plugged in, they’re still sipping a tiny bit of electricity through their “straw”.
In short, even when not in use, plugged-in electronics use a little electricity, just like a pet sips water! 🐾💡
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