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How Can We Save Electricity Drawing?

Do power strips really save electricity?

  • I understand that electronics like TVs and DVD players draw electricity from the outlet, even when they are turned off. And I hear that plugging these devices into a power strip stops this "phantom drain". But I'm confused: Won't the power strip also pull electricity from the outlet because it is plugged in, too? What's the difference between a turned-off TV pulling power from the outlet and a turned-off power strip drawing electricity from the outlet? Plugged in is plugged in, right? Metal is touching metal and power is flowing, right? So, why do power strips stop "phantom drain"?

  • Answer:

    Here is what you need to understand: Any device with a transformer will draw a small "excitation current" when it is energized. Some devices have internal transformers, like your television or computer. Other small electrical devices have a box connected to the prongs that must be inserted in the outlet. The box contains a transformer, so it will draw "excitation current" when energized as well. The power strip has no transformer and will not draw a current just by being plugged into the wall. If nothing is plugged into the power strip, or if the switch is turned off, no current will flow and no energy will be consumed.

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you are correct, as you describe it, they will not save electricity. But if you use the switch on the strip to turn off the TV, etc, when not in use, that will ensure that there is no power consummed, whereas if you used the off/on on the remote, the TV, etc, may continue to consume a few watts. .

billrussell42

The power strip saves energy because you can shut it off, When you shut off the power strip, it is the same as unplugging all the equipment that is plugged into it. The only drawback to this is that all the clocks on all the equipment stop running when the strip is shut down, so you either have to keep resetting your clocks, or learn to ignore them.

gatorbait

You end up with one very minor phantom drain verses several major ones.

lunatic

The on/off switch on a TV or DVD does not disconnect from the line. Try this experiment. Plug TV into wall outlet and turn off. Using remote contol turn set on. Notice that the set turns on!! Now plug TV into a power strip. Turn power strip off. Now using remote control turn set on. Push remote 30 or 40 times, the set does not turn on. TV set, DVD and similar appliances that are remote controlled have an IR receiver built in that runs 24/7. Even when they are "off" this is the "phantom power" that is still connected to the power main. A power strip disconnects everything when off, including the IR receivers. Of course this means you have to turn appliances on with the strip because the remote control is defeated when it is off. The amount of electricty saved is truely microscopic, but if you are a purist, the power strip is the way to go. fyi don't do this to save money, the electricity saved will not pay for the purchase cost of the strip over its lifetime.

lare

You can shut the power strip off, and hence the devices plugged into the power strip will not draw electricity.

Bert Weidemeier

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