"Phantom Load"

[Earth_First]

Is your homes electrical device really turned off?

Most homes in the Unites States have what we call a Phantom Load. A Phantom Load is an electrical device which uses electric even though the device might not be turned on. These devices run 24 hours a day 365 days a year. While you might not think one Phantom Load is costly, well stop to concider twenty? The average home in the United States has well over twenty phantom loads and this figure is growing with technology. It is estimated that by the the year 2020 that the average home in the US will have over 50 phantom loads.

Typical appliances that produce a Phantom Load:

Door Bell
Dimmers for lights
Microwave
TV
Cordless Phone
Computer
Monitor
Printer
Cordless Telephones
Microwave
Cable Converter
Garage Door Openers
Stereo System
Motion sensors for lighting
Burgler system
Modem Hub
Thermostat
Toaster
Battery Charger
Tooth Brush Charger
Hot Tub
Coffee Maker
Any device with a transformer power pack which plugs into the wall.

et. al

I had no idea about any of this until we began to search out ways to leave a smaller footprint.

[RobertSeattle]

1. Is there a consumer device you can buy to test this kind of thing?

(Something you'd plug the device into and in turn that device would plug into the wall)

I'd love to know the wattage used by things I "think" are off.

I have a couple of Tivo's and I know they are sucking watts 7x24.

[mhr]

2. Just Go Watch Your Electrical Meter - If It Is Turning When Everything

Is off, then you have a phantom load.

[RobertSeattle]

3. I know but that's a pain

I want to know what specific devices are doing. Sound like a cool little device someone should make.

On Edit:
Found this
http://www.ordersomewherechaos.com/rosso/articles/2003/killawatt/

[John BigBootay]

4. There's an easy way to fix this---

Just install surge-protectors with on/off switches on your electronics. Turn off the surger-protector when not using the electronic item-- no phantom load.

[Earth_First]

5. Excellent.

Thanks!

That was my next step. Solving the issue.

[John BigBootay]

7. Glad to help--

I'm really into finding ways to cut my power consumption as well. It IS startling to see your meter slowly turning with everything turned off in the house.

Lately, I've replaced every lightbulb not on a dimmer with a compact fluorescent. The light is not as attractive as tungsten-- so I've actually put a little bit of diffusion and colored gel on some of them to make the light more pleasing. Now, they look great and don't bother me at all.

Everyone-- EVERYONE-- should use at least some CF bulbs in their house. If only as a porch light, work area light, garage light-- whatever. The savings are HUGE.

[Earth_First]

9. They had these last week at Home Depot for $1.79 apiece

I thought they had been mismarked.

[Liberal In Texas]

10. Skip Home Depot, go to Lowes instead.

HD is a big doner to repukes.

[rawtribe]

6. Here is an article from Home Power

Magazine on phantom loads.

http://www.homepower.com/files/phantom.pdf?search=phantom

[Earth_First]

8. An astonishing figure from that article:

"On a more serious, grid-connected note, our nation wastes about 43 billion kilowatt hours of energy on phantom loads anually. Enough to provide the countries of Greece, Peru and Vietnam with their electricity needs for one year."

[this_side_up]

11. We always unplug all equipment that have

heating elements - hair dryers, microwave, coffee maker,
toaster etc.

the reason is a relative works for a company who
manufactures heating elements and sees the lawsuits
that are filed after the house burns down due to
the heating elements overheating even though they
are turned off.

A surge protector might work? We just unplug.