Question:
I have bought a new LG LCD TV which does not switch off unless the plug is pulled out. It only operates in an 'on' or 'standby' position from the set. Can anyone advise me how much extra electricity is used by this lack of 'off' function.
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Model number?
And have you checked the manual?
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Model No. LGRZ32LB1DB. I have spoken to LG and they tell me that this correct, the only way to turn the TV off is to pull the plug. I phoned them after I read the manual. They also inform me that leaving the TV on standby does not use any electricity!!!!! They also say that if a TV switches off and the plug is left in electricity is still being used - news to me but I am interested in other peoples' ideas.
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Model No. LGRZ32LB1DB. I have spoken to LG and they tell me that this correct, the only way to turn the TV off is to pull the plug. I phoned them after I read the manual. They also inform me that leaving the TV on standby does not use any electricity!!!!! They also say that if a TV switches off and the plug is left in electricity is still being used - news to me but I am interested in other peoples' ideas.
There is always a small amount of electricity used if something is in standby, otherwise it won't function. The advice from both safety and environmental aspects is to switch off the mains overnight for such eqpt. I use a switchable mains block which powers the TV and set top box.
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There is always a small amount of electricity used if something is in standby, otherwise it won't function. The advice from both safety and environmental aspects is to switch off the mains overnight for such eqpt. I use a switchable mains block which powers the TV and set top box.
Unfortunately for some (usually older) equipment that can be impractical, eg both my hifi and vcr would lose all their memory (channels, tuning, clock) if they were unplugged. Might be worth checking around all the electrical equipment and jotting up wattage usage, many things will be insignificant. Leaving the LG tv in standby for 20 hours a day (assuming 4 hours of tv being on) would probably cost you an extra £1.50 for the year. Whether that's significant enough to unplugging it every day is down to personal choice.
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They also say that if a TV switches off and the plug is left in electricity is still being used - news to me but I am interested in other peoples' ideas.
Unless a product is designed badly, they are talking rubbish.
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Unless a product is designed badly, they are talking rubbish.
As crox says, I'd be surprised if many appliances didn't draw some current when left plugged in even if completely switched off. The power side of the transformer will still be connected to mains and since nothing is 100% efficient it will still waste some energy but hopefully a good design will mean it is negligible.
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They also say that if a TV switches off and the plug is left in electricity is still being used - news to me but I am interested in other peoples' ideas.
They say that about phone chargers too, could be electricity trickling through the transformer...
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According to LG's own website it uses 3W in standby.
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Any correctly designed piece of electrical equipment should have the transformer isolated by the 'Off' switch. The only thing between the off switch and the plug should be the power lead and a fuse.
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Any correctly designed piece of electrical equipment should have the transformer isolated by the 'Off' switch. The only thing between the off switch and the plug should be the power lead and a fuse.
I suppose if you had another off switch internally wired to the input side of the transformer if it's internal, to be quite honest I don't know how modern electrical appliances are designed (my electrical engineering experience consisted of power generation scale, not home use appliances). If it's an external transformer then I don't see how it would be possible to have the input circuit broken by powering off the appliance on the output side.
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Fair point. I was assuming that the transformer was internal. I'd prefer that anything that uses an external PSU didn't have an 'off' switch. Anything that leaves a component live isn't really an 'off' switch and that might mislead people.
It is perfectly possible to design products with external transformers with proper 'Off' switches. It just needs another pole on the PS connector which either takes the live feed straight to the switch then back to the transformer or feeds a sense line driving a relay in the tranformer unit. However, the few pennies such measures would cost seem to outweigh the safety and environmental advantages.
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Fair point. I was assuming that the transformer was internal. I'd prefer that anything that uses an external PSU didn't have an 'off' switch. Anything that leaves a component live isn't really an 'off' switch and that might mislead people.
It is perfectly possible to design products with external transformers with proper 'Off' switches. It just needs another pole on the PS connector which either takes the live feed straight to the switch then back to the transformer or feeds a sense line driving a relay in the tranformer unit. However, the few pennies such measures would cost seem to outweigh the safety and environmental advantages.
Yeah I agree, I mean I did assume the LG tv had an internal transformer as well but now thinking about it I wonder if there might be a trend to go back to external ones now that they are trying to make them as thin as possible. But without knowing the internal design how would an ordinary consumer know whether it's "properly switched off" or not? I guess the most sure method is to switch off at the mains. I'm definitely considering one of those intelligent multiways for my pc and peripherals which certainly don't need any low power trickle.
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Yeah I agree, I mean I did assume the LG tv had an internal transformer as well but now thinking about it I wonder if there might be a trend to go back to external ones now that they are trying to make them as thin as possible. But without knowing the internal design how would an ordinary consumer know whether it's "properly switched off" or not? I guess the most sure method is to switch off at the mains. I'm definitely considering one of those intelligent multiways for my pc and peripherals which certainly don't need any low power trickle.
We're going OT here, but what intelligent multi-ways? I've been thinking of doing something about the plethora of live transformers under my computer desk, but I was just thinking of a switched multiway (but switching the router and a couple of other 'always on' items to another outlet). Is there a smarter solution?
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We're going OT here, but what intelligent multi-ways? I've been thinking of doing something about the plethora of live transformers under my computer desk, but I was just thinking of a switched multiway (but switching the router and a couple of other 'always on' items to another outlet). Is there a smarter solution?
You switch off your pc (or main tv or something) plugged into the master socket and it automatically cuts the power to all the other sockets (eg speakers, printer etc). I'm only thinking about it, we're talking very small savings but I like the idea. I never unplug my pc speakers as it's awkward to get to so the transformer does get quite hot and this would be a nifty solution for that kind of thing.
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i have same problem with a dvd player i got about 3 months ago at asda. its a durabrand make with no off button. i hate leaving things on standby.
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Of course you could end up going overboard and installing an entire home automation system such as and then you switch things on and off remotely from the mains but I'm sure the current the x10 modules etc draws would probably compensate any energy saving you were trying to achieve.
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Thank you all, this has been very useful. I won't worry about £1.50 per annum. However, I would like to know what an 'intelligent multiway' is.
To unplug my equipment I would have to pull out my furniture to get to the extention lead, ensuring that none of the scart leads etc. are not dislodged, pull the plug and then ensure that everything is returned to its correct position. Life is too short, I think I'll put up with the little red standby light and hope the 'red light police' don't come to get me for wasting leccy.
Thanks again.
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Thank you all, this has been very useful. I won't worry about £1.50 per annum. However, I would like to know what an 'intelligent multiway' is.
See my post above. (oneclickpower)