Best Energy Efficient/Saving (GREEN) Surge protectors?

[Meractik]

Anyone use these? The ones that can turn power on/off on certain plugs based off other plugs etc...

I heard my friend once speaking about how some of them have specific plugs ment for a PC and if you plugin a printer in another plug it will only provide power to the printer outlet if the computer outlet is utilized and on. therefore saving electricity..

Anyways, anyone have a specific brand or type they like... I would be looking to buy a few of them not just one...

 

[bignateyk]

You'd probably spend more on the surge protector than you'd ever make up in energy savings. I can't imagine a printer in idle mode uses very much electricity....

 

[Meractik]

You'd probably spend more on the surge protector than you'd ever make up in energy savings. I can't imagine a printer in idle mode uses very much electricity....

that was just an example I could think of, I've always heard that electronics when plugged in can draw power from the outlet whether they're being operated or not, but from what I hear these new surge protectors prohibit that by actively shutting off the outlet if the attached device is not powered on.... or is this all just a scam? and there is really no use in spending more money on these supposed "features"....

 

[DesiPower]

http://www.igo.com/power-smart-tower/invt/pm000110004

Bing iGo green for more results...

 

[Anonemous]

that was just an example I could think of, I've always heard that electronics when plugged in can draw power from the outlet whether they're being operated or not, but from what I hear these new surge protectors prohibit that by actively shutting off the outlet if the attached device is not powered on.... or is this all just a scam? and there is really no use in spending more money on these supposed "features"....

Depends on the device. Some devices idle and use very little power (like a cable box) while others like a plasma TV will idle at a higher power. I just use surge protectors at each of my outlets and if I'm not using them I just turn them off by shutting down the surge protector. I don't do this for all devices (like lamps/refrigerator/phones) but I do this for computers/microwaves/toaster oven/printers.

It's not a scam, but they do cost $$$. You can just do it manually if you are not too lazy.

 

[edro]

Your doorbell transformer probably uses more energy than all of your powered down electronics .

 

[phucheneh]

If you want to actually have any net savings, just quit being lazy. Unless I'm misinterpreting your post, it sounds like your solution is to a) turn off your devices when not in use and b) divide your power between surge protectors (or just power strips) so that you can flip the whole thing off without killing anything you otherwise have to have on.

Someone probably makes power strips with remote switches, if that's the problem. Or you can wire an outlet to a light switch, if you don't already have any (old houses tend to, new ones don't).

 

[smullet]

I use a Belkin F7C007 ($25). Its pretty handy. I use my computer as the control; it powers on/off my speakers, heated cat bed, monitor. I can hide the cables/surge protector behind my desk since I don't need to accesss the power switch.

 

[Meractik]

Well... that is quiet the price difference vs smart/dumb surge protectors... perhaps I would just buy 1 or two for PC and television devices while utilizing the switches to power off my legacy surge protectors. thanks for the inputs everyone.

 

[Meractik]

Your doorbell transformer probably uses more energy than all of your powered down electronics .

I don't have a doorbell, I still utilize the ol' "knock on wood" tactic... lol

 

[edro]

I don't have a doorbell, I still utilize the ol' "knock on wood" tactic... lol

I exaggerated to make a point. No load losses on a <50va transformer is probably <5W.
These "green" power strips would take 50 years to pay back the energy they save.

 

[MonKENy]

Bing iGo green for more results...

WTF is this devil you speak of. Dont bring your profanity into this forum again or ill report your post

 

[SparkyJJO]

I hate those "smart" power strips. Lovely when the detecting circuit dies and now the entire expensive strip is useless. I'd rather just manually flip the switch if I'm worried about those few miliwatts.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I've thought about one for the TV because the cable box gets fairly warm even when off so I imagine it probably uses a half decent amount of power, but it takes like half an hour to sync all the channels, so no thanks. The amount of idle power is probably rather low but if you add up every little thing there is probably a few 100w worth of stuff around the house that is sucking away power for nothing.

Timers would be better for these things though, have it shut off at certain intervals like at night.

 

[Wreckem]

I've thought about one for the TV because the cable box gets fairly warm even when off so I imagine it probably uses a half decent amount of power, but it takes like half an hour to sync all the channels, so no thanks. The amount of idle power is probably rather low but if you add up every little thing there is probably a few 100w worth of stuff around the house that is sucking away power for nothing.

Timers would be better for these things though, have it shut off at certain intervals like at night.

Cable boxes and Cable DVRs are two of the biggest energy hogs. Even when idling they use a good amount of power.

 

[Kelvrick]

I exaggerated to make a point. No load losses on a <50va transformer is probably <5W.
These "green" power strips would take 50 years to pay back the energy they save.

That depends on your devices though. For instance, my receiver uses 55 watts on standby. Roughly translates to 481.8 kw/h per year. At my current 9.11 cents per hour, that is $44.17 per year.

And it could be about more than just energy savings. It could be about saving energy in general.

 

[RossMAN]

Cable boxes and Cable DVRs are two of the biggest energy hogs. Even when idling they use a good amount of power.

Now you've got me curious, I should get my Killawatt out.

 

[Anonemous]

Now you've got me curious, I should get my Killawatt out.

Hmm I measured my cable box and it wasn't that much power usage (about a 1W difference between on and idle). (have a basic digital cable box) I just leave it plugged in because it takes like 2-3 min for it to boot up when unplugged.

18.7-18.8 W, about $1.30/month idle
19.2 W when ON

used one of these: http://www.belkin.com/conserve/insight/

 

[RossMAN]

Hmm I measured my cable box and it wasn't that much power usage (about a 1W difference between on and idle). (have a basic digital cable box) I just leave it plugged in because it takes like 2-3 min for it to boot up when unplugged.

18.7-18.8 W, about $1.30/month idle
19.2 W when ON

used one of these: http://www.belkin.com/conserve/insight/

Thanks for the link, do you agree with these glowing positive reviews? I wonder if they're legit or not?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003WV5DBU/

 

[Anonemous]

Thanks for the link, do you agree with these glowing positive reviews? I wonder if they're legit or not?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003WV5DBU/

It works well. I have the older version (FC7005q). http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._ya_os_product

I got it as a slickdeal around $15.

The only difference I can tell is that the new one has a kickstand. edit: Nevermind I can't tell the difference between the one I have and that one.

Pros
Very easy to use, big number display, and allows you to input $/kWhr so it can calculate $/month or $/year of the device being measured.

Cons:
I don't like the cord, it runs from the plug to the back of the display and it's thin as an Iphone 5 lightning cable (same texture too).

 

[RossMAN]

It works well. I have the older version (FC7005q). http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._ya_os_product

I got it as a slickdeal around $15.

I could probably Google it but what fun would that be ... what's the difference between the two models?

$15 is a slickdeal indeed, nice, wish this new model was closer to $20 shipped.

 

[Anonemous]

I could probably Google it but what fun would that be ... what's the difference between the two models?

$15 is a slickdeal indeed, nice, wish this new model was closer to $20 shipped.

Best guess would be it's the same thing but frustration free packaging?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Another option is to plug everything into a UPS, then plug the UPS into itself. Unlimited power!

 

[edro]

That depends on your devices though. For instance, my receiver uses 55 watts on standby. Roughly translates to 481.8 kw/h per year. At my current 9.11 cents per hour, that is $44.17 per year.
And it could be about more than just energy savings. It could be about saving energy in general.

Damn! 55W on standby!?
That's like having a... 55W... light bulb on all the time!

I just got rid of my DirecTV boxes, so I can't check those.

 

[Kelvrick]

Damn! 55W on standby!?
That's like having a... 55W... light bulb on all the time!

I just got rid of my DirecTV boxes, so I can't check those.

I keep my receiver on standby just to keep that 55watts from providing light to someone else.

That is just the receiver though, combined with the cable box, blu ray player, xbox, all my other electronics, I'm sure it adds up. My home theatre is the only place I really worry about it though.