I watched a show on Oprah, and I understood that engery is still used. They recommended using something called a smart strip which you would plug your cords in and then turn everything off with one switch. Is this any different than a normal power strip?
2007-05-01 06:57:54 · 5 answers · asked by KAREN P 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
Here is some information about smart strips. They are quite different from a normal power strip.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/12/smart_power_str.php
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Hardware-Cable/Item/LCG1/
2007-05-01 07:05:21 · answer #1 · answered by gkk_72 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many appliances such as your tv, microwave, alarm clocks, computer, all use a very small amount of power in the standby mode to operate the micro controller which keeps the memory and clock and the ability to be switched on by remote active (where applicable) and should be left plugged in to a socket that is not switched off. Computers do not need this, and can be switched off after shut-down (recommended). Just buy a normal surge protected power strip for this. Anything more is a waste of money and may cause problems with your equipment.
2007-05-02 03:45:13 · answer #2 · answered by scott p 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The devices using the electricity determine if power is being used, for instance a light bulb, turned off uses no electricity, however a laptop computer still charges its battery when turned off.
The rule is if there is a charging system involved in the device electricity will be used even though its turned off.
Also some devices like vcr's go into a type of hibernation mode still delivering power to its clock and timer circuits even though power is turned off.
You must consider some devices can not function properly if they are denied electricity, like the terminating power strip does.
2007-05-01 14:07:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are appliances that still uses power when turned off. Mostly digital electronics are like that. Analog electronics like toaster, blender, christmas lights will turn off completely. Look at it like this, when you turn off a VCR, you still see the clock on the LED. That LED uses power, laptop computer that are turned off will eat power to recharge its battery, your TV even turned off uses power to feed the remote sensor for turning it on when power is pressed on the remote,...
The only sure way to cut power for good is to just unplug it or throw the off switch on the power strip. I really don't know what are these smart strip but any power strip you buy at your local hardware store has an on/off button in which case, the button will physically disconnect the power within.
Perhaps you are looking for the kill-a-watt strip. These kill-a-watt shows the total energy consumed when appliances are plugged in. These device are handy to determine which applicances are using how much power when turned off.
2007-05-01 14:25:53 · answer #4 · answered by IKNOWALL 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
yes, a smaller amount is used than when the thing is on. But a significant amount of energy is used.
2007-05-01 14:06:12 · answer #5 · answered by cats_on_brodway 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋