Evil Sid Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Saw a news item today about the fact that people were complaining that their energy bills were increasing because of all the equipment they have in standby mode. The advice was to switch offf at the mains that way you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. So why is it that manufacturers of electrical equipment have started to supply stuff that you cannot turn of unless you turn it off at the plug. Many years ago I had a TV that when you turned it off with the remote it turned it off and to turn it back on again you had to physically press the on switch. nowadays even radio/cd players do not have an off switch as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 I know - like your mobile phone charger - unplug it! I cannot unplug my computer as it has to be hooked up to the source or it take quite a while to reboot the sysytem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Some equipment, such as set top boxes and computers connected to the internet, need to be powered up, even if only on stand by, to receive updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 My set top box and pc get unplugged every time I go out and every night without fail and it's never been a problem The only thing ever left on in our house is the fridge freezer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Thats ok Dizzy. Some of us though have to go away for more than a few hours (try weeks) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 We unplug it when we go on holiday too Asp and have never had a problem but we are with virgin, I know BT say you should leave theirs on all the time though It's not safe to leave electrical items plugged in as it is a fire hazzard and like already said it uses almost as much elec on standby as it does when it's on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 So do Virgin. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 So what do you do about Glade plug ins? Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 So do Virgin. :wink: Do they ? They have never told us to Infact on the odd time we have had to phone them with cable TV or internet problems in the past their first suggesion was always to completely unplug, leave it for a few minutes then plug back in. So how come that always worked if you aren't supposed to unplug them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 So what do you do about Glade plug ins? Bill What... glade plug ins receive automatic updates, flippin' heck Bill I never knew that Only kidding.... I unplug them or switch the socket off when I go out. I never have them on for more than an hour or so anyway cos they make me sniffle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 I believe Virgin send updates to their boxes during the night when most of them are idle. Switching off for a few minutes is just a reboot to overcome a problem. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 At the end of the day, unless you are a mariner or a taxi programmer, it won't matter one iota whether you get the upgrades today or in a couple of weeks time. IF the message say that it will explode in 30 secs, don't worry, you aren't there!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 Not putting an on off switch on an appliance sort of makes sense because it not only reduces the cost of the product it also increases the overall reliability. One common misconception is that turning something off at the mains might make it last longer but in reality it’s just the opposite. Thermal shock apparently (a bit like the weather at the moment!) Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 I agree Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 I believe Virgin send updates to their boxes during the night when most of them are idle. Switching off for a few minutes is just a reboot to overcome a problem. :wink: Ahh that must be why we never have any problems as my other half often falls asleep downstairs with the TV/virgin box/modem still plugged in and on. I guess we must catch up that way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 What you say makes sense Bill but does thermal shock only apply if you haven't physically turned something off (or powered it down) before unplugging it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 It just means that the components cool down when you switch off and heat up again when you switch on. This is the same effect as bending a piece of metal back and forth until it snaps. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 Ok I get that. I wouldn't unplug my kettle, washer, drier mid cycle when they are on as they have a cool own period. But how does that work with TV's, stereos etc? Are you saying that I should turn my TV off, let it cool down for 10 minutes then unplug it as simply unplugging it while it's on or switching off and immediately unplugging it could damage it? OR are you saying leave it on all the time ? I always though that some metal snaps more easily if you kept bending it non stop until it's warmed up. A bit like spoons... rub them non stop until they get warm and they will go soft, bend then snap. Rub them a little bit every now and again and they will stay firm and in shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted October 5, 2011 Report Share Posted October 5, 2011 It depends on the appliance you're talking about. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Dizz Not talking about toasters and kettles but delicate electronic circuitry where extremely small components expand and contract slightly as the temperature changes due to current flow. Given the choice, an electronic component would prefer a constant temperature rather than repeated heating and cooling. A set top box for example would probably last longer if permanently left on rather than being switched on and off each day. So the power savings you achieve from turning in on and off should strictly speaking take into account the effects of premature replacement costs. It’s a very slender argument though that’s almost impossible to prove and in any case and the convenience factor of leaving it on far outweighs this anyway. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Thanks for the explanation Bill. I shall just carry on as I always have done then and not worry about any of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Forget the possible slight saving in power consumption and err on the side of safety. If an electrical appliance is not in use then unplug it !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 From the 'Dont Give Fire a Home' website Why Switch Off and Unplug at the Socket? Switching off at the socket AND pulling the plug out (the socket switch could be faulty) is the only way to be sure no electricity is flowing through an appliance. If left plugged-in, many appliances still have power flowing through them even though they appear to be switched off. The same is true of appliances in 'sleep mode' or on 'standby'. Lots of electrical appliances have transformers inside or as part of a separate power supply unit. Even when the appliance itself is switched off, electricity still flows through the transformer. If a fault develops, the transformer could overheat and cause fires. As well as keeping you safe, switching off and unplugging at the wall will save electricity and save you money! Always switch everything possible off and unplug at the wall before going out or going to bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 There you go !! What did I just tell you ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Indeed you did Victor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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