I’m back home. Thanks to everyone who helped while I was offline with family medical issues. There are larger challenges ahead but for now things are back to near normal. Thanks to everyone who left kind words in the announcements thread – I feel like Jimmy Stewart at the end of “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
One thing I always like to do on trips south is to visit Fry’s electronics. There, I can take in the full measure of what’s new in the electronics world. While there, I picked up a gadget that solves an ongoing problem in my home. This is worth a read if you want to save money on your power bill.
While some of my incendiary foes like Joe Romm would like to make you believe that I’m anti-everything (his favorite word is “anti-science” when describing anyone who doesn’t agree with him), those of you who read WUWT know that I’m proactively energy efficient. For example, earlier this year I wrote about installing super efficient LED recessed lighting in my home. I’ve yet to see Joe Romm write a single positive thing about what he is doing personally to practice what he preaches.
I recently went through a home energy audit related to my recent Smartmeter installation (which is another story all by itself) and one of the things I decided I needed to do something about was the growing number of vampire power suckers in my home. As we added more technology, the number of always on power sucking wall-warts (120vAC to 12Vdc power transformers) increased.
Until now, there wasn’t any really practical way of dealing with them all, so I thought I’d share this solution since I’m sure many of you have similar problems with vampire power.
First some background. Here’s a video on vampire power from iGo:
Defining the problem:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has a whole website dedicated to standby power issues and offers this assessment:
An individual product draws relatively little standby power (see here for examples) but a typical American home has forty products constantly drawing power. Together these amount to almost 10% of residential electricity use.
That 10% for me is an issue, because on hot summer days when we need a/c the most, that standby power baseline adds to our allowed PG&E baseline use, and when we go over it, our electricity costs escalate rapidly. PG&E actually punishes residences who consume over the allowed 445 kwh baseline in tiers, such that by the time you exceed 200% of baseline, your cost per kwh is now at 40 cents per kWh, which is outrageous.
Unfortunately, PG&E is a monopoly, and the Public Utilities Commission in California actually approved this outrageous rate hike for over baseline use while simultaneously dropping the allowed residential baseline from 512 kWh/month to 445 kWh/month in the last year. It was a major blunder, and this is why Smartmeters have been getting such a bad rap. PG&E chose the worst possible time to start, in May. Combine new rates, smartmeter swaps, and summer temperatures and you get a PR disaster and people up in arms.
Here in the Sacramento valley, we have temperatures here that reach 110 degrees at times, requiring a/c use. My only option now with these new rates is to reduce energy use. Now that’s something I don’t mind doing, I’ve been proactive at it, but I must say I feel discriminated against compared to Californians who live on the more temperature coast, because I already live in an energy star rated newer (4 years) home. They don’t have a/c issues like we do in the central valley.
So in a nutshell, I’m hosed by my location and its summer climate. That’s why my July 2010 energy bill was $620.16 (electric, plus gas, plus loads of taxes and other taxes – like “public purpose programs”, part of which supports climate change research in California) last month for 2052 kWh of use. If it were at regular baseline rate the bill would be half that. So anything I can do to get closer to baseline will be helpful.
Measuring the problem:
I went around my home with an LCD meter called the Kill-a-Watt EZ and determined that I have 3 areas of significant vampire power use that could benefit from a makeover.
These can be ordered from Amazon for about $30 plus shipping and are dirt simple to use. They can show you instantly how much standby power is being drawn on any appliance or power strip. There’s also a graphing version and a power strip version.
While I had all sorts of spots all over the house, I identified three areas where phantom power was concentrated and working to kill the vampires would be a worthwhile effort.
- My computer workstation where I manage WUWT and research
- My wife’s computer workstation with central printer
- Our entertainment center and TV (#1 draw)
All of these had a collection of wall-warts for network switches, speakers, USB hubs, amplifiers, and accessories. The main devices like the TV, DVD player, DVD reorder, satellite box, all had “instant on” features and drew a fair amount of load and most of these were on 24/7. Just looking at them in infrared shows where that power was going:
So not only are they wasting electricity, they are dumping waste heat into the house 24/7, adding load to the air conditioning.
According to this interactive page at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, I had all the vampire family members. My own readings from the Kill-a-Watt meter were right in line with these:
What was the biggest surprise to me was how much standby power my set-top satellite receiver boxes were drawing. I have a newer model and older model from DirecTV. The older model was drawing 31 watts in standby! Again right in line with what LBL says:
You can see the LBL master list of appliance tests for standby power draw here.
Finding a solution:
One way to solve phantom power draw is with power strips. I already use these to corral wall-warts, and when we go on trips I make it a point to reach behind the computer, under the desk, and behind the TV to shut these off.
However, doing that every night is a bit of a pain, and often forgotten in my house. So, the little suckers live through the night and during the day when we aren’t home.
So while a switched power strip *does* solve the problem in principle, it doesn’t in practice due to access. The strips are all behind and/or below something.
I had been toying with the idea of making some sort of remote switch for my power strips so I could easily turn them off when I shut down my PC, or turn off the TV and go to bed. Fortunately, I found a solution at Fry’s yesterday that did just that.
A way cool plug-in gadget that kills power vampires:
I was really happy to find this power strip gadget at Fry’s:
Apparently this was introduced at CES in 2008, but this is the first time I’ve seen it. It pays to advertise I suppose.
In case it isn’t obvious, this is a power strip with a wireless remote switch. The switch can be handled like a TV remote or wall mounted, making it easy to remember to kill the vampire when you turn out the lights to leave the room.
The remote has a range of 60 feet and can be set for 8 different channels so you can have multiple outlet strips in the home. Here’s some features:
Here’s the manual (PDF)
Installation was quick and easy for me, I just daisy chained from my existing power strip and chose which devices to plug in to “always on” and which to put into the “switched” outlets. See below:
Of course I had to make two wall-wart exceptions: answering machine and my home weather station (which has a data logger and automatically updates a web page). Now that I have it working and can easily kill off most of my office vampires, I’m planning on buying two more for the other locations that have heavy wall wart populations.
I highly recommend this product. Amazon.com has the best deal on the base model at $34.99 and there are other models which you can see here. There are also UK/European and Australian power outlet versions I’ve found.
While we might disagree on climate change, saving money by reducing energy use is something I think we can all agree on.
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You indicate you “daisy-chained” 2 power strips. Be careful with that one. You may get an amp draw that overheats your wires. Fire hazard.
FYI
Handy rule of thumb: For every kilowatt consumed inside the home your air conditioner needs half a kilowatt to pump out the waste heat.
Kill-a-watt is available from NewEgg for $19. Highly recommended.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=killawatt&x=0&y=0
I’d been looking for a power monitor for years, ever since Scientific American made a ridiculous claim about home computers using a huge percentage of the national power usage. The dopes counted up how many computers had been sold, multiplied by the average 300 watt power supply, and apparently figured even the obsolete ones were running.
My computer runs 95 watts for surfing, and 130 watts when I’m 3d cruising Google Earth. Monitor runs 30 watts.
It may be worth going to the root of the problem – the Air Conditioning is using too much power, and having a go at this.
http://mb-soft.com/solar/saving.html
One thing people haven’t mentioned here: The thermal cycling caused by repeatedly turning PSUs on and off can lead to early failure. Much like light bulbs, PSUs and high voltage circuits tend to fail when they are first switched on – due, amongst other things, to current inrush.
Most of my electronics equipment is several years old and spares are no longer available. Each piece uses a different wall-wart – with different connector types, voltages and ratings. If one of those wall-warts goes pop it can be a MAJOR pain ITA finding a replacement – both in time and money.
Something to bear in mind when you’re looking to save 10Watts of standby power ( < 0.2 cents per hour where I live).
“………….PG&E actually punishes residences who consume over the allowed 445 kwh baseline in tiers…………”
In this side of the world this happens also with water, the more you consume the more you pay per cubic meter.
IMHO all this is against basic market principles. The more you buy an item from, say, a manufacturer a better price you get, this way employment and wealth may be generated.
What???
You managed to do all of that without the aid of a multi layered bureaucratic nightmare to “help” you??
I have only a few vampires in my house and do try to zap them when I remember.
My last electric bill was almost $50.00 and it was so high because I used the AC for 3 days.
Leon:
“My message for the greenie weenies: Don’t tell me to save the planet, tell me how I can save my poor wallet. Don’t send people off on a guilt trip, appeal to their self-interest.”
And thats why they have the california policies and tried to pass cap and trade. Jack up the cost of energy so much that you’re forced to find alternatives.
I recently took delivery of an electricity monitor ( manufactured under different names such as Owl, Electrisave, Cent-a-meter distributed in the UK under licence from
Wireless Monitors Australia Pty by JJS Trading Limited)
It’s a wireless affair that has a sender clipped over the live at your supply in and a receiver which will monitor all of your usage. This gives you the ability to shut down a single appliance or a whole room and see exactly what that part of your usage is costing you. Easily programmable with your costing data it will tell you to the penny what you are using at any point of the day and will record that information which can easily be transmitted to your PC and dissected with the help of software supplied.
All in all a great Item. Except that mine did not work ( the devices would not pair and a young lady on the telephone informed me “Ah yes, we’ve had a batch of these with this fault. Send it back” and i await it’s return 3 weeks later.
jorgekafkazar says:
September 5, 2010 at 10:48 pm
In American, that would be “Here’s some of it’s features.”
I’m afraid that even in American it would be “Here are some of its features.
Despite your incorrect usage of ‘it’s’ and ‘its’ You still fail to address the fact that ‘some features’ is plural and therefore ‘here’s’ is not applicable.
Not that it matters. The bastardization of the English language is a battle long lost 😉
I also meant to start my last post with:
Anthony, glad to hear that things are as back on track as can be expected. My continued good wishes for you”
Which I have now fixed 🙂
Going from memory, a long time ago “standby” was invoked because cost savings could be made in the design and manufacture of household electronics in that the cheaper components were not subjected to voltage jolts several times a day (and thus a reduced life) because people switched them between on and standby instead of between on and off.
Indeed, my new satellite receiver has an option for setting it to automatically go on “standby” if the machine detects a lack of zapping. Or is this all about “instant-on”?
Is there anybody reading this who has up-to-date information on whether this saving in costs is still a consideration in the houshold electronics field?
Of course, if “standby” is still important in respect of the life of your gadgets, then the people who generated the bogey-man phrase of “vampire power” (can I say Moonbats here?) will have won again in keeping the general public in a state of fear.
I know that the devices mentioned above ostensibly save money by cutting electricity consumption but does anybody know whether it costs more in the long run because the machines have a shorter life? I do not want to hear from people who change their gadgets everytime there is an updated feature, because obviously to them, the question of “life of the product” is irrelevant.
Colonial says:
September 5, 2010 at 11:52 pm
jorgekafkazar says:
In American, that would be “Here’s some of it’s features.”
A slight amendment: In American, that would be “Here’s some of its features.” As my English teacher drummed into my head half a century ago, with the apostrophe, “it’s” is identical to “it is”. Without the apostrophe, it’s the possessive.
Clearly you had an English teacher. If you had an American teacher you’re [sic] experience would have been different.
I’ve been using Smart Strips to cut down the the extra usage from computer parts:
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Strip-Protector-Autoswitching-Technology/dp/B0006PUDQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1283776637&sr=8-1
Basically, it turns off the power to devices connected to a device when that device is turned off. Should work for entertainment centers as well.
Live in the upper midwest, thanks for showing your rate schedule. If anyone ever tried something like that around here…. You are spending your extra money and time on the wrong thing, you should be stockpiling ammo. There are some politicians in cailf trying to ram this crap down the throats of the rest of the country. Be very worried about the future of your state.
“I went around my home with an LCD meter called the Kill-a-Watt EZ”
===================================================
Anthony, glad you’re home, hope everything is going great!
Biggest problem with KaW’s is people make the mistake of trying to read them too fast.
Say you plug in the KaW, take one minute to untangle the cord from the appliance, plug in the cord, then read the KaW for one minute.
You’ll get half the numbers you should.
The KaW has been reading for two minutes, but the appliance was only plugged in for one minute. 1/2 the watts will show up
Over a few hours, or over night, that lost one minute won’t matter.
Poor old Reddy Kilowatt just doesn’t get the respect these days he used to.
Reddy Kilowatt
It makes him sad.
FYI, “instant-on” isn’t the only reason for standby power. Manufacturers learned long ago that keeping an electronics box warm eliminated several problems: thermal shock of warming up electronics and moisture are two. Electronics just last longer when you don’t constantly cycle the electronics cool and warm, and keep them dry.
I’m curious if you considered the marginal cost of having to replace your expensive electronics sooner against the electricity cost savings of turning them on and off?
It’s the same calculation that gorebull warmerers fail to consider when figuring how much CO2 they can save by turning off their electronics. It’s CO2 intensive to throw a broken box in a hole and have a whole new one built and shipped to you from Tiawan.
blast that enter key.
to continue :
set top boxes, which belong to the cable company, are a different issue on the personal (but not global Co2) level. makes no sense to keep ’em on if you don’t have to pay to replace them.
transformers for phone chargers etc, that draw power even when nothing is attached are another good target for elimination.
But me, I’ll keep my expensive electronic toys nice and toasty, thanks.
I’ll come out of lurk to say glad you’re back, and in Capra mode, I truly hope you are the luckiest guy on earth and that everything continues well for you and your dear ones. You remain in my thoughts and prayers, and welcome back!
The Ill Tempered Klavier says:
September 5, 2010 at 10:58 pm
( Censored ) years ago, a common way to manage a computer and its accessories was a flat skinny switch box that you sat the monitor on top of. They seem to be out of fashion now, at least I haven’t seen any offered lately, but they still work just as well as they ever did.
I’m staring at one as I write this — a Belkin, no less — and it does no longer seem to be available. I didn’t realize this, that I might have a collectible on hand. My computer has been hooked up, recently, to one of my ham radios, and now I’m thinking about how to power it during power outages. The radios all fail over to 12 VDC when the 120 AC to the power supply goes out. But not the computer. And besides the computer, are all the wall warts with the way things are configured here, at least half a dozen.
So unlike Anthony, I’m thinking of how to keep them going 24/7, even when the power goes down. And it occurs to me to run everything through the Belkin “Surgemaster” under my monitor. I can run a couple of power strip/surge suppressors off of it to give me all the plugs I need. Then, if the power goes out, the one line to the Belkin is unplugged from the wall, and into a generator or inverter, and everything comes back on line.
Being the kind of person who always likes to have a redundant setup, the only thing that disturbs me now is that I might not be able to find another one of these Belkin devices, or one like it.
jeez says:
September 6, 2010 at 12:24 am
> None of you noticed that while Anthony and I both live in Norcal, we had to heat our place this summer while Anthony needed to cool his.
Thank goodness Hansen’s 1200 Km Arctic temperature radius fill only applies in the Arctic. Sometimes. http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/04/24/inside-the-eureka-weather-station/
http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/ lists a full range of LED lighting. I have no connection with them other than that of a customer. Some of their lighting is rated for 90V->240V AC input so that should be good for our overseas friends. Go with the SMD leds. The bulbs that are a million small normal leds eventually die by thermally stressing their connections to the circuit board. The Kill-a-watt is uber useful. Another useful article is the power strip that has a control outlet. It will only feed power to the other outlets when there is draw on that socket. I use it on my computer. Shut down the computer and it shuts down everything connected to the computer like the printer, both LCD displays, and so forth.
Smart strips a good idea smart meters that the power company can monitor your personal usage at any time a really bad idea.
Anthony,
“PG&E is a monopoly, and the Public Utilities Commission in California actually approved this outrageous rate hike” (Approved or required? There is a difference. Steamboat Jack)
“That’s why my July 2010 energy bill was $620.16”
**********************************************************
My condolences on your high energy bill. But…..
Consider it a sort of “stupid tax”. It is a tax put in place by stupid people. And it is a penalty that you must pay if you stay in California. And don’t blame PG&E-they are just passing along taxes that are required by the politicians THAT YOU ELECTED.
You as in the California electorate. The majority of those that vote.
If the taxes were spent on something useful, you could excuse it. But they throw your money, the money that you have earned, away on doo-doo and there is no excuse.
If you don’t like living under a grossly stupid regime, then move. I did. It’s called “voting with your feet”. As have many other Californians.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t see any way of staying in California and changing things. And staying in California would just give those fools more resources (my tax dollars) to perpetuate their stupidity.
We have room here in Texas for refugees. I am starting a half-way house to re-orient people that escape from California. If you want to escape, I can help you get acclimated here; just let me know.
It’s too bad, though, that we get Californians that leave California because it is un-livable, then come here and want to change it to what they left.
As they used to say in Oregon back in the early 60’s: “Don’t Californicate Oregon”. Too late for them. I just hope Texas is big enough that Californians can’t do here what they did in Oregon.
Regards,
Steamboat Jack (Jon Jewett’s evil twin)
Why don’t they make it programmable. I had a “Set-Back Thermostat” in my last house . . . we programmed it for weekdays & weekends and it controlled our central heating. Heat came on just before wakey time, turned down in the night etc. My little unit cost about $50 bucks at Home Depot and was a dead easy 5 minute installation – just swap out the old thermostat for the set-back device.
So rather than have to remember to switch this or that, it should just happen.