Too much time on my hands?

[RaceDiagnostics]

Had a close look at my electricity bill today and saw that we we using 4700kWh per year for our electricity, given we have gas central heating, it started me wondering where all that electricity was going.

I turned off all the lights and fridges etc and measured the current on one of the meter tails, it was .84A.

So that burning non stop is 0.84X240 = 201W, x 24 hours a day is 4.84kWh, x 11.5p is 55.6p/day or £203 per year.

So that is 38% of our total yearly electricity consumption is from quiescent sources.

So next I went to track them down.

I turned off the following, one by one

TV/Skybox stack on staandby
Land line Phone cordless
2 x laptop chargers
Desktop PC on standby
WIFI router
Two further TVs on standby
Boiler controller on standby
Ariel amp in loft
House bugler alarm
Garage door opener

Bit by bit the current was coming down.... but at this point I'm thinking that's everything off and the meter current is still .42A.

So where the hell is the is going to, one more check round the house, the cooker was still on (standby), so there is a double oven with a clock and a 5 burner Neff induction hob on the cooker switch. I flipped that off and went for another look and the current was down to zero.

Just need to educate Kim to flip the oven switch when using it and that's £100 saved.

 

[Burdekin]

Wow, wouldn't have guessed that.

 

[rikrobson]

so what is burning 100W on a cooker that is off? a clock would be negligble.

I can understand 100W being used by all the other equipment even if they are on standy, but a cooker that is off sould only need enough to run the clock/timer.

 

[Woody.v8]

If I mention about stuff being left on I get told to Jeff off And get called a miserable sod

 

[ukracer]

Wow, wouldn't have guessed that.

Exactly. Now a real smart meter would be able to store that lot on a computer and calculate the cost of each item plugged in.

 

[rtbcomp]

so what is burning 100W on a cooker that is off? a clock would be negligble.

I can understand 100W being used by all the other equipment even if they are on standy, but a cooker that is off sould only need enough to run the clock/timer.

Do any of the elements feel warmish? One of the controls could be leaking.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Do any of the elements feel warmish? One of the controls could be leaking.

Not at all, but the Neff hob is never really off if you put something down in it it detects it immediately and starts to beep, my feeling it that it is taking most of the power rather than the oven.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I used to switch my sky box off at the plug until I was told it would end up costing me a new LNB, apparently it constantly sends power to the LNB, warming it to prevent internal condensation.

I thought it was an urban myth until I noticed one year the snow had melted off it but was still lying untouched on the dish and bracket.

 

[Wightsparks]

I was about to mention "power factor" and ask about the measuring device - but there is a whole article here about just that very thing relation to induction hobs - in fact the type of hob is largely irrelevant it is to do with the inductive supply for the standby electronics https://greengumption.co.uk/2013/03/induction-hobs-the-question-of-standby-and-the-power-factor/

Sorry to disappoint but most of the standby loads you mentioned are likely inductive so not such a big saving after all!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Before 'retiring' for the night I turn off TV/Sat receiver/DVD player, modem, cooker, microwave etc at the wall, more from fear of lightning strike than usage.

Got hit once and it cost me the fax machine I have surge protectors, but not on all devices.

 

[Shox Dr]

I used to switch my sky box off at the plug until I was told it would end up costing me a new LNB, apparently it constantly sends power to the LNB, warming it to prevent internal condensation.

I thought it was an urban myth until I noticed one year the snow had melted off it but was still lying untouched on the dish and bracket.

Well we’ve been turning ours off for 12yrs, and it’s not bothered it.

 

[Olderisbetter]

I have just put up a few xmas lights, We have a load outside normally but after seeing those savings i think i will leave them off and just put them on when people walk past.

 

[brightspark]

Had a close look at my electricity bill today and saw that we we using 4700kWh per year for our electricity, given we have gas central heating, it started me wondering where all that electricity was going.

I turned off all the lights and fridges etc and measured the current on one of the meter tails, it was .84A.



Just need to educate Kim to flip the oven switch when using it and that's £100 saved.

and then have to reset the clocks every time u want it on

 

[brightspark]

I have just put up a few xmas lights, We have a load outside normally but after seeing those savings i think i will leave them off and just put them on when people walk past.

stick em on a pir then very festive . tight as a camels ass in a sandstorm

 

[Olderisbetter]

Im not tight but i have just found a coin operated switch while looking for a PIR

 

[Shox Dr]

I dont understand the belittling attitude some people have towards others attempts to reduce a wasteful expense

Gloating over how much you waste, is nothing to be proud of.

 

[brightspark]

I dont understand the belittling attitude some people have towards others attempts to reduce a wasteful expense

Gloating over how much you waste, is nothing to be proud of.

lighten up or that should be turn em of in your case who s gloating /??not me

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Im not tight but i have just found a coin operated switch while looking for a PIR

Does it take Bitcoins?

 

[Olderisbetter]

Does it take Bitcoins?

Bit coins, choclate coins, old washers and naffi tokens...