Just a reminder - with a striking illustration in the National Geographic article below.
Adapter plugs keep using power even when the appliances they're connected to are turned off —as much in a year, in some cases, as the appliances themselves.
Energy Conservation — Photo Gallery — National Geographic Magazine
Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.
- J. Swift
Wasting energy should be a criminal offense. I advocate intelligent meters that will analyse energy usage and penalization of offenders. House inspectors with power to detain would also be a good idea. People would reform their behavior if they thought that an inspector could turn up at any time and check for compliance. We need to create new agency's and give them teeth.
Absolutley Greenscene, you can start with your chums in govt riding around in helicopters, - don' even need a meter just follow the falling doors.
How are adaptors using energy? What is drawing the power? In what case would they use the same energy as an appliance? This is about as credible as Mary White's text tax calculations.
Tinfoil helmets should be banned.Originally Posted by TradCat
because they convert our 220v electricity to a lower voltage for use by small items that can't handle 220v, such as mobile phones, MP3 players, and so on. This electricity turns into waste heate when it is not consumed.
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, published by Brandon. "A cracker!" - Eddie Hobbs; "Months of research" - Noel Whelan
I rely here on National Geographic, which supports the point with a striking photograph of warm adapter plugs (page 68 of the current issue, available also through the link I gave).
Do we have a physicist who can set out the whys and wherefores? In the meantime, sceptics are invited to pick up an adapter plug long after the appliance was turned off. Is it still warm? There is something going one, folks. Take out the plug.
Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.
- J. Swift
Very timely post.
Who says you can never find an electrician when you need one?
Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.
- J. Swift
There are transformers in chargers like mobile phone plugs, but also in small appliances that directly connect to 230V e.g. your sky box, cable box, radios, tvs, computers etc.
Increasingly major appliances like washing machines, microwaves etc are also electronically controlled and have no 'main switch' to isolate them completely from the mains when they're not in use. Something has to keep the electronics powered up, otherwise you couldn't switch them on with the electronic controls i.e. touch buttons / fancy electronic controllers.
We also have transformers in our bathrooms i.e. the shaver socket, which constantly consumes energy for no good reason other than we will not update our wiring regulations for some strange reason. Other countries allow normal sockets in bathrooms and just protect them with a 10mA RCD, which will ensure you don't get electrocuted. It also means you can safely use your hairdryer, radio etc in the bathroom!
People need to unplug devices when they're not in use, as the transformers keep running regardless of whether you're using them or not in a lot of cases.
I think the EU needs to address this issue in the following ways:
1) Appliances need to be designed so that when they're switched off the 230V power is disconnected, not just the internal low voltage from the power supply. So, it means an actual 230V on-off switch on the front panel. Perhaps the A,B,C.. energy rating should also include stand-by ratings.
2) I'm sure charger / adaptor plugs could be designed in such a way that they only operate when actually in use. All it would need is a relay that disconnects the 230V if there's nothing connected to the load side of the transformer.
3) Make 'switch sockets' mandatory, not just optional extras. People are more likely to switch things off if they can do it easily, without removing the plug. I've certainly noticed that I tend to switch off sockets rather than remove plugs, particularly in the kitchen and bedrooms etc. It's just quicker, easier and less messy.
Ireland really missed a massive opportunity to make buildings really efficient, we could have rolled out all sorts of great thing! We also could have rolled out fantastic broadband access by just putting public-owned ducts and access cabinets into housing estates to carry fibres, coax etc
But, we didn't so, we're now stranded with houses that basically comply with 1970s energy standards and have no provision for high speed broadband etc without ripping up the streets....
Planning is certainly not one of Ireland's strong points!
Inresting point. I'll make the effort on my part. I've quite a few of the things in my apartment and im gonna remove them after reading this informative post not only for the envoirments sake but saving money on my ESB also. Good post Gadfly!
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