[Pc_Support] Reducing Electricity Costs

[Phil Barnett]

On Wednesday 08 February 2006 16:05, Jason Boxman wrote:
> Phil Barnett said:
> > On Tuesday 07 February 2006 14:57, Jason Boxman wrote:
> >> Anyone know just how much waste is created from these 'always-on'
> >> appliances?  I just realized my TV is 'always' on.  The DVD player is
> >> more obvious, since it has a standby light.  What about CRT monitors in
> >> 'energy saver' mode?
> >>
> >> Is there any sizable savings in screwing with this stuff, or is it not
> >> worth the effort to calculate up how much power things draw?
> >
> > The guys who build solar electric houses call these loads 'Phantom
> > Loads'. Google it.
>
> Is there any long term risk to continuously cycling these devices at the
> wall with a switch?  Do the caps wear out sooner, or some such?  I don't
> want to kill my five year old TV before I replace it some day...

Of course, there are risks to doing anything. A risk to never unplugging 
anything is lightning damage.

In the past, full power cycling got a bad rap for several reasons.

1. Remote controls do not work.
2. The unit fully cools off. This makes the off to on temperature swing 
larger.
3. Large temperature swings have been associated with cold solder joints 
releasing and good solder joints becoming cracked. Most everything these days 
is put together with solder, so this risk still remains.

HOWEVER, it is my opinion that the quality of automated soldering has vastly 
improved over the last 25 years when these 'old wives tales' originated. I 
don't think it's anywhere near the problem that it used to be, both based on 
what I read and what I have experienced, so I'd say that the risk of damage 
from completely removing power during down time for a great majority of all 
appliances no longer carries much risk. YMMV of course.

-- 
"Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about 
Exchange Server next.