Why/how do things still use electricity when they are turned off but plugged in (or just plugged in like a charger not connected to anything)? Where does the electricity go?

Question

Why/how do things still use electricity when they are turned off but plugged in (or just plugged in like a charger not connected to anything)? Where does the electricity go?

In: Technology

Answer 1

A lot of devices when turned off still have part of their circuitry turned on and drawing power. The classic example was the old CRT TV for quick “turn-on.” Some of them drew more power off than modern TVs do when on.

Devices that use a “wall-wart” and other types of internal power supplies that convert ac current to dc still have electricity flowing through transformers (or the equivalent) when turned “off.”