So, how much electricity does Zak's office/PC, drain in a week?

[Steve B]

yeah, i knew that.. but don't those things trip automatically?

Circuit breakers are for protection, not for switching things on and off. They're designed to trip when the current draw exceeds their maximum rated Amperage. It's just a reusable fuse.

What you really want is X10 modules plugged into each of the devices before they go to socket, so you can send status data through the mains, allowing a relatively easy (though not particularly cheap) retrofit.

And another thing: if the PCs are being switched off and on overnight, does prolonged switching on and off of the power supplies decrease their lifetime?
just something to ponder!

[Funkstar]

could i patent the idea now?

no

What you really want is X10 modules plugged into each of the devices before they go to socket, so you can send status data through the mains, allowing a relatively easy (though not particularly cheap) retrofit.

Nice idea, but those X10 modules are also drawing power

Remote shutdown and startup over a properly run network would suffice

[sammyc]

what would you say you done if someone asked what you do for a living?

an Energy Output Conservation Resource Management Operative...?

or a switcheroffer.

[matty-hodgson]

And another thing: if the PCs are being switched off and on overnight, does prolonged switching on and off of the power supplies decrease their lifetime?
just something to ponder!

possibly.. most office PCs will have generic power supplies so i suppose they'd me more susceptible to this sort of thing aswell, hmm.. good point

no

is that because you're filing the patent as we speak?

Remote shutdown and startup over a properly run network would suffice

but aren't we talking about the power draw while these machines are 'off'?
Zak's PC draws 35w of energy while 'off' so spread that across a whole office and you're talking a decent amount of power..

an Energy Output Conservation Resource Management Operative...?

or a switcheroffer.

i was thinking a switcheroffer but it sounded too childish

[Funkstar]

but aren't we talking about the power draw while these machines are 'off'?

Yes and no.

That's what the original thread was about, but i believe Salazaars original point was about someone going round and turning off PCs and monitors that were left powered on as opposed to being 'off' or in standby. The discussion escalated from there.

Steve's suggestion of using more active electronics to monitor and shut off sockets will get round the whole PCs-being-left-on problem, but doesn't take into account the power draw when 'off' as they will also be drawing power. So if that is all you are going to do, you may as well avoid the additional hardware and go for a purely network software solution instead.

[beanbandit]

What you really want is X10 modules plugged into each of the devices before they go to socket, so you can send status data through the mains, allowing a relatively easy (though not particularly cheap) retrofit.

I'll throw something else into the mix. Spending money to save money isn't going to work (directly) Those devices will cost the end user £30 (for argument sakes) But the true cost is going to be much greater than that. During the production process you are using electricity, vast amounts in fact, to just save a few pounds per year. It's one reason why i hate the selling process of the intelliplugs. If you want to save money, switch-it-off at the mains. Its free

but aren't we talking about the power draw while these machines are 'off'?Zak's PC draws 35w of energy while 'off' so spread that across a whole office and you're talking a decent amount of power..

Thats mainly down to the design madness that is pc's. Its now moved into just about every electronics design (even my own companies i'm afraid) Soft starts are used on most consumer devices, they need a power sense circuit to stay "alive" for it to be turned on..

[Vimeous]

If we can bump the demand for solar panels and hammer the cost down businesses might actually use them and remove themselves from the equation.
Granted one super-volcano later they might be a bit short .......

Servers should be run from UPS's supplied from a separate distribution board so switching off the office from a BIG RED BUTTON shouldn't be an issue.

The kettle. Cause of so many power-drains during soap-operas.
Invent a solar powered version?
Can we store geothermal energy from under our homes in super-capacitors for high drain scenarios?

AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!

M-A-G-M-A

Sorry just had to

[Zak33]

OK....48 HOURS PASSED.

it was "off" all day, while I was out...and I have now used 56p of electricity.
That is very sad, because when I left the house I had used 53p of electricity.

3pence daytime, for not doing anything.

[mycarsavw]

Dude, let me have your paypal address and I'll send you the 3 pence.

I enjoy your posts and your theories and I can't see you going short for the sake of another pioneering experiment.

(yes, i really do mean it)

[Zak33]

I'll throw something else into the mix. Spending money to save money isn't going to work (directly) Those devices will cost the end user £30 (for argument sakes) But the true cost is going to be much greater than that. During the production process you are using electricity, vast amounts in fact, to just save a few pounds per year. It's one reason why i hate the selling process of the intelliplugs. If you want to save money, switch-it-off at the mains. Its free
Thats mainly down to the design madness that is pc's. Its now moved into just about every electronics design (even my own companies i'm afraid) Soft starts are used on most consumer devices, they need a power sense circuit to stay "alive" for it to be turned on..

all true.

I am now sorting a budget to save the cost of the gadget that I brought (£10) and the cost of whatever I buy.

Most likely thing to buy is for Sair's PC, as mine is easy to simply unplug the lot with one plug.
Cost zero

Sair's 2 PC's are harder. Plug not close, likely under my desk, and if it aint dead dead easy, she just won't do it.

It wont be an Argos purchase though. Wickes have some great multiplug extensions, with major ON/OFF rockers for under a tenner. In fact I spent a little time wandering around town today, and these are the best places to buy plugs with either individual switches OR one master switch.

Wickes
Wilkinson

Both of these offer surge protector plugs with sensible amounts of well spaced plug holes for under a tenner.

It has to be said though, my PC has a VARYING loads drain when "off". I watched it this morning, (feeling glum) while it was "off" and after about 6 mniutes it dropped it's load by 12watts. However...it then popped back up for a few seconds.

I have nothing in BIOS set for wakeonlan or similar, so I think it's the mobo monitoring something.

[Zak33]

Yopu should have seen my miserable face on the M25 today....

For years I've been ignorant of the electricity wasted in my office. I switched off and walked away.

Now, with the knowedge that I'm DELIBERATELY leaving it on, KNOWING that it's using money up, even a few pence, I was quite.....low. It felt "wrong"....."dirty" ...and I revved four bails of exrement out of my car, uising far more fuel than needed, and destroying the enviroment, something I think nowt of every day

Sick minds like mine work in weirder and weirder ways

[Zak33]

11:17 pm, and PC is back on to fold for the night.

Current money reading is 64p.

Good night.

[Zak33]

8:50 am, after a night of folding on 4cores, cost is now

79p

So that's 15p for the 9 1/2 hours , mostly on economy 7.

PC goes off now as I'm off out all day.

[Marcos]

ive been a lot more conscious of what i leave on now thanks to this thread

[Zak33]

it's 7:15pm on Wednesday. Got home at 5pm switched on PC and activated folding, and then worked until now.

Lap top and PC on, with mobile charging.

Cost on meter so far

89p

[Zak33]

11:45 pm, one hour of folding and then until now playing CoD4, with desk lamp on.

£1.00 total