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Electricity Consumption of Standby Devices and Impact of Daily Power Disconnection

Juhas19 47950 42
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How much power do standby devices consume, is it worth disconnecting them daily, and can I safely switch them off with a power strip without waiting before turning them back on?

Yes—turning standby devices off can save some electricity, especially if you have many of them, and using a switched power strip or a timer strip is a practical solution [#6922672][#7273233] Modern devices are often limited to about 1 W in standby, while older equipment can draw around 5–10 W each, and some set-top boxes or PC power supplies can consume much more, so the total can add up noticeably over a year [#6926679][#6923064][#9443589] One user measured a home setup with TVs, receivers, chargers, and a computer at about 40 W idle, and another reported savings of up to PLN 100 per year after measuring with a wattmeter [#6926980][#6923064] Disconnecting and reconnecting them daily should not harm the equipment, and there is no need to wait after plugging them back in before using them [#6922645][#6922672] The main downside is that some devices may need their clock or settings reset after power loss [#6922645][#6922680]
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  • #1 6922594
    Juhas19
    Level 11  
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    Hello !

    For some time I have been tormented by the daily disconnection of electrical devices from the sockets. I ask myself - how much electricity is consumed at night by unused electrical devices, such as microwave, TV, set-top box, tower, etc. - that is, most devices remaining in stand-by mode. Is it profitable to disconnect such devices from the socket every day? Can he buy special strips with a switch. However, can connecting and disconnecting such devices from the power supply every day can harm such equipment, or should you wait a while before using it immediately after connecting it to the power supply?

    Please, clarify this matter.
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  • #2 6922645
    elektor18
    Level 18  
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    Well, over the course of a year, it will certainly save a bit, but in my opinion it's not worth it because some of the devices will require re-setting. As for waiting after turning on the power, there is no need, you can turn it on right away without worrying.
  • #3 6922672
    Zygicm33
    Level 14  
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    It is worth disabling devices from standby at night, it is best to use special sockets with a time switch. They consume very small amounts, but they always consume something. This can save you some money per year. Do you want to wait a while before turning on the device after connecting it to the mains? I don't think there is any need. Regards
  • #4 6922680
    Brosper
    Level 14  
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    Without exaggeration, the fact that one LED will not burn will not save the world. And as elector18 wrote, some devices will probably require re-setting. Well, it's not worth bothering about.
  • #5 6922681
    zezuama
    Level 23  
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    Hello.
    I'll tell you how it looks in my place. The set consisting of LCD TV, receiver, TV SAT decoder and PS3 console consumes over 40W from the network. The desktop computer that I currently have, at rest, consumes about 15W from the network, although it happened with cheap and old power supplies that the consumption was 40-60W! So if you put everything together, it accumulates a bit. Disconnect? In my opinion, it's not worth it, because when you turn on the power, the devices get a little hard, for example by the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction.
  • #6 6923015
    trzy8
    Level 21  
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    TV devices most often fail when turned on, but some models can consume several watts on standby.
    The choice is yours, one case less beer a year or off :) )
  • #7 6923064
    humungus
    Level 15  
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    Hello.
    This used to bother me too, so I bought an electronic wattmeter.
    After measurements, it turned out that I can save up to PLN 100 in a year, so I gave up.
    As TRZY8 wrote "a case of beer less" a small loss and the TV set -> priceless.
    Your choice.
  • #8 6923206
    MARCIN.SLASK
    Home appliances specialist  
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    When measuring the electricity consumption of devices turned on in standby mode, I got the average (active power):
    - receiver: 0.018kW/day,
    - two mobile phone chargers: 0.003 kW/day,
    - computer + LCD monitor: 0.092 kW/day.

    Measurement made: Energy Logger 3500
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  • #9 6924689
    michcio
    Electrician specialist  
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    Just out of curiosity... What is the counting threshold for an inductive meter? Isn't it by chance with 20W?

    zezuama wrote:
    Hello.
    I'll tell you how it looks in my place. The set consisting of LCD TV, receiver, TV SAT decoder and PS3 console consumes over 40W from the network. The desktop computer I currently have, at rest, consumes about 15W from the network, although it happened with cheap and old power supplies that the consumption was 40-60W! So if you put everything together, it accumulates a bit. Disconnect? In my opinion, it's not worth it, because when you turn on the power, the devices get a little hard, for example by the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction.


    What did you measure it with? A regular multimeter or a True RMS meter? Because electronics = a lot of reactive power.
  • #10 6926171
    zezuama
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    I measured with a wattmeter based on the ADE7755.
  • #11 6926198
    ajpier
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    Buddy Zezuam. Describe your devices in more detail, and in particular this old power supply draws 40-60W on standby every 40-60W.
  • #12 6926679
    Darrieus
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    Devices sold for some time (I won't make it up since when) can't stand-by consume more than 1W (the EU was dipping in it ...) so in about 40 days one device will charge 1kWh, if someone wants, let him count how much it's money.
    The author of the topic asked if there could be a strip with a switch instead of removing the plugs, maybe and why not....


    PS As we have older devices, you have to count 5-10W .... (per piece)
  • #13 6926980
    Romulus7874
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    acc. readings of the electronic meter, consumption "at idle", say - at night is about 40W. The "receivers" include: grid antenna power supply, two TVs and a sat tuner in standby, power supplies from the router, alarm and gate controller, and a turned off computer. So that a few zlotys are used for nothing. Some devices can be connected to strips, but e.g. pulling all the power supplies out of the sockets is almost pointless.
  • #14 6927625
    MiL999
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    @lubamet - this is unfortunately not the case, an example is the Multimedia TV set-top box. On or off, it consumes at least 18W.
  • #15 6927895
    Darrieus
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    Quote:
    Multimedia TV set-top box


    And what year of production?
  • #16 6928363
    MiL999
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    2009 - is new but made so that the software loads from the network and is turned on even in standby mode. Probably to prevent the software from being deleted. Generally hopeless.
  • #17 6930218
    romoo
    User under supervision  
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    Nevertheless, the refrigerator, light bulb, iron average night power outages.
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  • #18 6930404
    Darrieus
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    MiL999 wrote:
    2009 - is new but made so that the software loads from the network and is turned on even in standby mode. Probably to prevent the software from being deleted. Generally hopeless.


    You could say that there is no standby since it is able to update itself. Hopelessness indeed.
  • #19 6930611
    zezuama
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    Buddy Ajpier. This wattmeter is nothing original, I built it based on the AVT-592 scheme and the only, so called, modification was the use of a different microprocessor. As for the power supplies, I will describe only the two that somehow stuck in my memory the most. Well, both are atx 250W codegens which I got once from a friend. The one that consumed 60w the next day after the measurement made a loud boom when switching on, and since I had a second identical power supply, I packed it into the computer and immediately checked it with a wattmeter. This one was 20W more economical, but it did not give me it's peace of mind, so I measured a 350w modecom at my brother's and immediately bought an identical model and now the power consumption oscillates around 12-15W. I'm not complaining :)
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  • #20 7270440
    sebjaw
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    Hi.

    I'm all for turning devices off. Special sockets with a built-in switch may be best for this purpose. Standard in many countries - a rarity here.

    In general, it is not important whether one person can save a lot or a little in this way ... but what matters is how much a whole city or country can save in a whole year - if everyone had such sockets with a switch and used them ...

    Not to mention the ecological aspect (reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, etc...)

    An example of such a FunCo socket:
    Electricity Consumption of Standby Devices and Impact of Daily Power Disconnection

    Max 10A

    I greet and encourage you to be economical and ecological (2*E)
    sebastian j
  • #21 7271089
    djandriu
    Level 27  
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    MiL999 wrote:
    2009 - is new but made so that the software loads from the network and is turned on even in standby mode. Probably to prevent the software from being deleted. Generally hopeless.


    Doesn't it look like an ordinary "television n" decoder? I have an n recorder and it has an external power supply like for a laptop, so I don't think it consumes less in "standby" because sometimes at night, even in standby mode, I can hear the hard drive turning on and they had something. . .

    As for the equipment at the desk, I made my life a little easier: I took the 12V molex power supply from the computer, my computer is connected directly to the network, but the speakers, laptop charger and monitor to the strip in which I put the relay and connected it to the 12V from the computer. After turning off the computer, this strip automatically cuts off the rest of my devices from the network.

    I'm still thinking about using such a relay to cut off the DVD power supply, but I need to measure whether the scart OUTPUT from the TV shows a high state after turning it on ...
  • #22 7273233
    Anonymous
    Anonymous  
  • #23 8696546
    ekosz
    Level 10  
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    sebjaw wrote:

    Not to mention the ecological aspect (reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, etc...)

    I greet and encourage you to be economical and ecological (2*E)
    sebastian j


    Have you been told that CO2 emissions are harmful?

    Well, anyway, I support turning off the devices, but DON'T GET PARANOIA.
  • #24 8697322
    Samuraj
    Level 35  
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    And how I think that all these savings are a lot.. y
    Not that they are pointless, but how much we save, they will soon add an increase and we are back again.
    The same thing happened with my mother-in-law's water. Big bills because 5 people registered and the woman lives alone. It was the idea of a wonderful water meter. Of course, the bills fell for the first year and everyone, on the advice of the mother-in-law, installed water meters in the block. And after a year, the compensation came because the sum of the water meters does not equal the state on the main water meter - someone is stealing on the side. The compensation came as if 5 people still lived in the apartment and there is no explanation that the woman spends more time with her children than at home and uses enough water to water the flowers on the balcony on hot days :) Of course, the water meter is legalized and sealed, it is billed according to the water meter throughout the year, and at the end of the year they make an equalization :)
    So, the more we save, the energy company will raise the price, including constant transmission, variable transmission, energy component, cable thickness, and whatever else they come up with to rip off our money because less consumption means less profit and people want more and more salaries.
  • #25 8697871
    Piteros Electricos
    Level 11  
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    When it comes to saving electricity, you can set up a dual-tariff meter - the night tariff is half the price of the day one. but you have to lead a "nightlife" to make it profitable, because in a single-tariff meter you pay an average of 0.50 PLN per KWh, in a dual-tariff meter you pay an average of 0.60 PLN per day, and 0.30 PLN per KWh for a night tariff

    Regards ;)
  • #26 8883418
    CMS
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
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    djandriu wrote:
    As for the equipment at the desk, I made my life a little easier: I took the 12V molex power supply from the computer, my computer is connected directly to the network, but the speakers, laptop charger and monitor to the strip in which I put the relay and connected it to the 12V from the computer. After turning off the computer, this strip automatically cuts off the rest of my devices from the network.


    Maybe I don't know something, but if I understood you correctly, did you connect the relay - coil to 12VDC? Doesn't that sound suspicious to your friend? :)
  • #27 8883455
    ajpier
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    CMS wrote:
    djandriu wrote:
    As for the equipment at the desk, I made my life a little easier: I took the 12V molex power supply from the computer, my computer is connected directly to the network, but the speakers, laptop charger and monitor to the strip in which I put the relay and connected it to the 12V from the computer. After turning off the computer, this strip automatically cuts off the rest of my devices from the network.


    Maybe I don't know something, but if I understood you correctly, did you connect the relay - coil to 12VDC? Doesn't that sound suspicious to your friend? :)


    And in the event of an anomaly in the network, the desktop computer will burn and disconnect the rest. In fact, security for a twelve-year-old, but whatever, the point is to make your life easier.
  • #28 8883734
    LuckyDj
    Level 33  
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    I don't understand gentlemen.
    What is to be heated or burned?
    I had the same powered amplifier and equalizer, it annoyed me to turn everything on and off one by one. I turned off the computer, released the relay and everything went out. What's the problem?

    You may as well turn off everything with the switch built into the strip, here it depends on whether the computer is working.
  • #29 8883766
    Maticool
    Level 20  
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    A socket with a switch is an average idea in Polish small apartments, where most of the sockets are hidden deep behind the furniture. In addition, some do not even want to press the switch on the TV, let alone bend down to such a socket.
  • #30 8890913
    Pirosomack
    Level 10  
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    I have a question for users.
    I understand that connected to the socket, devices waiting for a signal from the remote control or having watches consume energy, but how would a turned off laptop or charger in contact not connected to any device consume energy. When they are turned off, the circuit is not closed, so no current should flow. Let someone with more knowledge on this issue chime in.

    I would like to point out that in the case of some equipment, the relay with the controller will pay off longer than the device can withstand.

    Greetings to believers in the greenhouse effect :)
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around the electricity consumption of devices in standby mode and the implications of daily disconnection from power sources. Users share insights on the potential savings from disconnecting devices like TVs, microwaves, and set-top boxes, with some estimating annual savings of up to PLN 100. While some argue that the savings are minimal and may require device resets, others advocate for using power strips with switches to facilitate easy disconnection. Concerns about the impact of frequent disconnection on device longevity are raised, with opinions varying on whether it harms devices with different power supply types. The conversation also touches on the ecological benefits of reducing standby power consumption and the importance of collective savings at a larger scale.
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FAQ

TL;DR: Switching off standby can cut 30–100 kWh a year (~€5-25) in a typical home; “one case of beer a year or off” [Elektroda, trzy8, post #6923015] You can power devices right after reconnection—no wait time needed [Elektroda, elektor18, post #6922645]

Why it matters: Standby power is paid-for energy that delivers no benefit and slowly shortens component life.

Quick Facts

• EU Ecodesign limit: ≤0.5 W standby for most products (Reg. 1275/2008). • Measured PC + monitor: 0.092 kWh/day = 33.6 kWh/yr [Elektroda, MARCIN.SLASK, post #6923206] • Legacy set-top box draws 20 W 24/7 → 175 kWh/yr [Elektroda, MiL999, post #8933146] • Typical power strip with switch costs €5–10 and handles 10 A (FunCo example) [Elektroda, sebjaw, post #7270440] • Old ATX PSU in standby reached 60 W and failed explosively [Elektroda, zezuama, post #6930611]

How much does standby really cost per year?

Add every watt left on 24 h. 10 W ≈ 88 kWh/yr. At €0.25 /kWh that’s €22. A home with 30–40 W phantom load pays €60–€90 yearly [Elektroda, Romulus7874, post #6926980]

Does repeatedly unplugging harm modern TVs or audio gear?

No evidence shows damage. Failures mostly occur during normal power-on surges, not at mains disconnect [Elektroda, trzy8, post #6923015] Solid-state supplies handle hundreds of cycles designed in IEC testing [IEC 62301].

Why do some new set-top boxes still chew 18–20 W when ‘off’?

They keep CPUs, tuners and HDDs alive for software updates and VOD caching [Elektroda, lukashb, post #9435888] This bypasses the 0.5 W rule because decoders class as networked standby until 2017 amendments.

How can I cut standby without crawling behind furniture?

  1. Plug cluster into a switched power strip.
  2. Mount strip where reachable.
  3. Flip one rocker at night. Smart Wi-Fi plugs (TP-Link Tapo, Shelly) add schedules and kWh logging.

Will a time-switch socket pay for itself?

A €10 timer that kills 15 W nightly saves ~55 kWh/yr ≈ €14, paying back inside one year [calc., EU price avg.].

Can chargers draw power with no phone attached?

Yes. Typical wall-wart idles at 0.1–0.3 W; older models up to 1 W [NRDC, 2019]. Two phone chargers measured 0.003 kWh/day (1.1 kWh/yr) [Elektroda, MARCIN.SLASK, post #6923206]

Will my electromechanical meter even register low loads?

Old inductive meters start spinning around 20 W [Elektroda, michcio, post #6924689] Digital smart meters count from 1 W, so hiding small loads no longer works.

Is dual-tariff (day/night) worth considering instead?

Only if >35 % of use shifts to off-peak. Day rate rises to about €0.12 higher, night halves [Elektroda, Piteros Electricos, post #8697871] For standby cuts, focus on elimination, not timing.

Does unplugging really lower CO₂ emissions?

Each kWh avoided saves ~0.7 kg CO₂ in coal-heavy grids [IEA, 2023]. A city of 1 M households cutting 20 W each would prevent 122,000 t CO₂ annually—equal to 55,000 cars off the road.

What about device lifespan—better always on or off?

Thermal stress when powered 24/7 ages electrolytic capacitors faster. Cycling 3–4 times weekly is gentler than permanent heat exposure [Texas Instruments App Note, 2020].
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