Phantom Electrical loads

[dirtyd]

Reading some of the stuff here inspired me to do some research in regards to how all my appliances are working, even when they’re not suppose to be. I’ve heard about phantom loads for a while and was curious which appliances are affected and how much of a “phantom” load there really is. I’m lucky that my city utility office loans out “kill-a-watt” meters to measure 120 volt appliances and track their electric consumption over time, which is handy for things like refrigerators where compressor cycle on and off intermittently. Here’s my findings:

TV-DVD player and surround sound. 4 watts phantom
In use - TV 91 watts
In use - TV w/surround 149 watts
In use - TV/surround/DVD 152 watts

Microwave 4 watts phantom

Coffee pot 3 watts phantom

Clock/radio 7 watts phantom

Garage radio 3 watts phantom

55 gal fish tank 15 watts $9.43/yr

Cordless drill charger (14.4v) 6 watts phantom

Float charger 3 watts

Personal Computer 8 watts phantom
In use 140-160 Watt

Work Computer 20 watts phantom
In use 160 Watt
Includes printer/router/modem/and Vonage box $72.65/yr

Garage fridge 95 watts $59.77/yr.

Garage freezer 63 watts $40.05/yr

Kitchen refrigerator / freezer 157 watts $99.24/yr.

The stuff I’ve listed annual cost for are appliances I tracked over time (several days) and I’m sure there are a lot of variables that skew the data. For instance, the kitchen fridge was monitored when we had out of town guests for the week, so we had twice as many people opening and closing the door.

And we pay $0.07176 per kilowatt hour.

Also to note a couple things that didn’t have a phantom loads: toaster, phone charger (when not in use), and for some reason another digital clock radio. I don’t know why I couldn’t get a reading on the clock radio even trying several times.

Anyway it was interesting to see exactly how much electricity is being used by all the stuff plugged in all the time. We're constantly reminded of things like lights but it's good to be reminded about some of the less obvious things.

[Admin]

Dirtyd,
This is an excellent post. I'm throwing you a few karma for this one. ;D It seems like the majority of folks that I talk to have electric bills that run from 250. to 450. a month. Honestly, I can't see how people can use SO MUCH electricty.
Our electric bill here often huvvers around 35.00 and our base rate (before usage) is 16.21 . Now we don't go without here and walk around in the dark. I have power tools running all the time, multiple freezers and fans and everything else. But I don't waste power. In most homes, more money is spent (wasted) on phantom loads lights burning where NOT needed than anything else. People must just like throwing money away.

Excellent post

[kyhunter]

Keep turning those lights on and off more power you use the more coal power plants have to burn that means more coal we get to haul to the plants that keeps me working. Just joking that was very interesting with 3 younger kids at home you are always going behind them turning something off then no sooner than you turn it off they turn it back on. When it gets dark my kids think they have to have every light in the house on but the older they get the better they have been getting about turning lights out. Some of the things you mentioned I never really thought much about such as the computer my electric bill isn't to bad around 130$ a month. We just put in a new heatin and cooling system couple years back and also new windows and front door we could tell pretty big difference once we did that. Thermostat we put in is programable so we set it where during the day when not home it's a little warmer in the house but not keeping unit running the whole time when no one is home.

[maritimer]

This is a great post! More Karma dirtyd ;D

I wish I was able to contribute, but we live in an apartment and our electricity is included in our rent.

[stomper]

Here is a little meter that can pay its way real fast.
www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07107638000P?vName=Appliances&cName=Accessories&sName=Refrigerators&sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=07107638000P

[dirtyd]

Yep, that's the same one I was using.

[yedi21]

great information here!!.... amazing all the little things we don't think about....I have to say it is tough to keep a handle on the electricity usage with children around....like kyhunter...as soon as it starts to get dark my boys go around and turn every light on in the house....thank god the new house I am moving into is smaller and doesn't have many overhead lights and I will be sure to have fewer lamps!!.... no microwave, no coffee pot, no electric clock radios!!.....I sure do hope to see a difference in the electric bill soon!!!