TV on standby

**ss30** · 27th September 2006

The wife had a go at me this morning for leaving the tv on standby last night saying that it use's almost as much electric as when it's turned on. Is this true?

ss30

**EvilBoB** · 27th September 2006

Check your TV models stats - most use milliamps when in standby and therefore use so little electric that its not worth even mentioning.

That said there are some models of TV that "supposedly" use the same amount of current when in standby as when on.

energy never just disappears - in televisions the energy transfer is manifested through electricity to heat. If it was using that much electric you would have to have some method of it being discharged and for example my plasma generates no heat in standby.

All that said its good practise to turn your appliances off if you leave them for any length of time to avoid things like power overloads etc that can cause fires.

So... don't do it to save electric - do it to save lives

**flipper321** · 27th September 2006

Although a US document this is quite interesting...

It probably isn't using as much as when it's on (remember it's in standby longer than it is on).. however it is a large percentage.

http://eetd.lbl.gov/EA/Reports/40909/

**BertRoot** · 27th September 2006

Our local fire service said tehy had more fires caused by TVs in standby thatn anything else on a recent check of our house and advised us to switch it off for comnsumption purposes as well as the fire risk.

**DJAd** · 27th September 2006

yeah i've heard about this. if im not at the crib everything is powered down. no standby here. pc might be left on so theres a nice batch of porn ready and waiting on arrival home but thats about it.

**dargha** · 27th September 2006

Leaving on stand-by also means you can get failure ofthe stand by switch on components. Biggest Tv fault in broken sets. It doesn't take much last thing at night to press power off button.

Saying that I leave all my hi-fi stack permanately on but for other reasons.

**ss30** · 27th September 2006

Thanks everyone

**kracken** · 27th September 2006

Leaving equipment on "standy" reduces stress on electronic components compared to switching them off then back on straight from "cold".

Compared to other equipment you have on in your house , ie fridge freezer , reduction in power consumption is negligible. You would be better off reducing room stat and tank stat by 1 degree on your central heating / domestic hot water.

**Nikki** · 27th September 2006

i never leave mine on standby as you hear all sorts of things ie catches fire etc. but i also did see somewhere that it uses a lot more leckie than when it is on.

**kracken** · 28th September 2006

Originally Posted by Nikki

but i also did see somewhere that it uses a lot more leckie than when it is on.

How can it be possible that a TV uses more power on standby than when switched on ? What a load of crap.

**flipper321** · 28th September 2006

Originally Posted by kracken

How can it be possible that a TV uses more power on standby than when switched on ? What a load of crap.

It's to do with the amount of time involved - a TV may only be on on avergae for 3/4 hours a day - that leaves 20-21 hours of "standby time"...

It is estimated that on average 10% of household electrical use is "standy" electricity...

**hmv4u** · 29th September 2006

must admit i have starting switching stuff off in an effort to save some of the ever rising electric costs,ref the pc downloading the daughters boyfriend left his on while at uni and luckily got home just in time to find his computer on fire !

**point blank** · 29th September 2006

We always leave ours on stand by, too lazy to get off our fat back sides to turn it on and off. At least I'm honest.

**mase** · 29th September 2006

some lcd tv use as little as 1 watt in standby but like people have already said still a fire risk imo. that said i know people who got as far as turning off at the plug now for that i am just to lazy

**matt1chelski** · 2nd October 2006

Just seen this, my lcd dosnt turn off off, it always has the red led on the front, and its green when turned on. Only way to turn it totaly off it to unplug it, so im guessing it cant be that much of a drain.

**DJ OD** · 5th October 2006

Originally Posted by matt1chelski

Just seen this, my lcd dosnt turn off off, it always has the red led on the front, and its green when turned on. Only way to turn it totaly off it to unplug it, so im guessing it cant be that much of a drain.

A lot of new electricals are like this. Cable receivers don't have a switch nor do some video players (Younger DF'ers going: what are they?!) or monitors.

I wonder how the safety and power consumption issues compare to other electrical items.

Cable modems, microwaves and ovens with digital clocks + more...

DJ OD