UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances...

[WillsBabe]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

What I'd really like is for someone to invent a TV standby mode that doesn't suck up electricity. It surely can't be beyond human inventiveness to create a TV remote that allows me to turn a device on without it consuming a third or more of standard power when at rest. I've never been able to figure out why it sucks up so much power when you're not running the screen/tube. Hell, even a little remote battery-powered mechanical device to push the bloody on-button would surely use less power...

Is this what you're looking for? I picked one up at a trade show the other week. I'm not good with gadgets but this might be what you're talking about.

https://www.eonshop.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductCode=1100017&Category=8

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

What I'd really like is for someone to invent a TV standby mode that doesn't suck up electricity. It surely can't be beyond human inventiveness to create a TV remote that allows me to turn a device on without it consuming a third or more of standard power when at rest. I've never been able to figure out why it sucks up so much power when you're not running the screen/tube. Hell, even a little remote battery-powered mechanical device to push the bloody on-button would surely use less power...

Is this what you're looking for? I picked one up at a trade show the other week. I'm not good with gadgets but this might be what you're talking about.

https://www.eonshop.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductCode=1100017&Category=8

Hmm, I might have to think about getting one of those... My TV doesn't actually have an Off button, just a standby button. It's a right pain having to pull the plug every time I want it off.

 

[Jadzia]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

Hmm, I might have to think about getting one of those... My TV doesn't actually have an Off button, just a standby button. It's a right pain having to pull the plug every time I want it off.

If you have the skill, could you fit the power cable with an inline rocker switch (suitably power rated)? That could be hung in a position that's easy for you to reach.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

Hmm, I might have to think about getting one of those... My TV doesn't actually have an Off button, just a standby button. It's a right pain having to pull the plug every time I want it off.

If you have the skill, could you fit the power cable with an inline rocker switch (suitably power rated)? That could be hung in a position that's easy for you to reach.

I have a surge protector power board with a switch next to the tv but the problem is it only has a single power switch and my routers, xbox, ps3, media centre and phone are plugged in there too.

 

[cultcross]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

^ Tesco sell adaptors with independent switches, you can either get a full power board with individual switches or buy a two-way splitter and plug it in where your tv is, then put the tv into that - it'll introduce a switch in between the TV and the power board. I had the same issue with kitchen appliances - sandwich toaster and blender need to be turned off at the wall, but there's only one socket with a 4-way board feeding kettle and toaster as well.

 

[Jadzia]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

You shouldn't run a kettle on an extension lead/splitter. They're a 13 amp load, which maxes out the safety limits of UK mains plugs. That's why you can't buy kettles that draw more than 3.5kW. So you'd be unsafe having that and any other appliance fed through one plug.

My parent's had something similar on the go until I disconnected it for their own safety: kettle + washing machine + toaster + microwave on an extension lead is not good.

 

[John Picard]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

You shouldn't run a kettle on an extension lead/splitter. They're a 13 amp load, which maxes out the safety limits of UK mains plugs. So you'd be unsafe having that and any other appliance fed through one plug.

My parent's had something similar on the go until I disconnected it for their own safety: kettle + washing machine + toaster + microwave on an extension lead is not good.

Allow me to fix your formula: kettle + washing machine + toaster + microwave on an extension lead = electrical fire

 

[cultcross]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

You shouldn't run a kettle on an extension lead/splitter. They're a 13 amp load, which maxes out the safety limits of UK mains plugs. That's why you can't buy kettles that draw more than 3.5kW. So you'd be unsafe having that and any other appliance fed through one plug.

My parent's had something similar on the go until I disconnected it for their own safety: kettle + washing machine + toaster + microwave on an extension lead is not good.

Well they're not all running at once, they're only plugged into the board so I don't keep having to swap plugs.

 

[John Picard]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

You shouldn't run a kettle on an extension lead/splitter. They're a 13 amp load, which maxes out the safety limits of UK mains plugs. That's why you can't buy kettles that draw more than 3.5kW. So you'd be unsafe having that and any other appliance fed through one plug.

My parent's had something similar on the go until I disconnected it for their own safety: kettle + washing machine + toaster + microwave on an extension lead is not good.

Well they're not all running at once, they're only plugged into the board so I don't keep having to swap plugs.

That's still a bad idea. Also, people are so anal and scared about plugged in appliances being vampires. The unless the toaster, washing machine, and kettle have electronics in them, they are not drawing any power when plugged in but not operating. The microwave will be if it has a clock, but even then the power draw is minimal.

 

[cultcross]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

That's still a bad idea. Also, people are so anal and scared about plugged in appliances being vampires. The unless the toaster, washing machine, and kettle have electronics in them, they are not drawing any power when plugged in but not operating. The microwave will be if it has a clock, but even then the power draw is minimal.

Well I don't have a microwave plugged in, the board has a kettle, toaster, blender and sandwich toaster, all in plugs which have individual on/off switches, so all are off and cannot draw power, vampire or no, unless an appliance is specifically in use, and never more than one. So there is no significant difference between that and plugging them in one at a time, except for the labour saving.

 

[John Picard]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

That's still a bad idea. Also, people are so anal and scared about plugged in appliances being vampires. The unless the toaster, washing machine, and kettle have electronics in them, they are not drawing any power when plugged in but not operating. The microwave will be if it has a clock, but even then the power draw is minimal.

Well I don't have a microwave plugged in, the board has a kettle, toaster, blender and sandwich toaster, all in plugs which have individual on/off switches, so all are off and cannot draw power, vampire or no, unless an appliance is specifically in use, and never more than one. So there is no significant difference between that and plugging them in one at a time, except for the labour saving.

I'm lost in your logic, but whatever floats your boat.

 

[trekkiedane]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

There's gotta be something else to this...

We need all the power we can get to raise the global defence shield when they come...

 

[Holdfast]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

What I'd really like is for someone to invent a TV standby mode that doesn't suck up electricity. It surely can't be beyond human inventiveness to create a TV remote that allows me to turn a device on without it consuming a third or more of standard power when at rest. I've never been able to figure out why it sucks up so much power when you're not running the screen/tube. Hell, even a little remote battery-powered mechanical device to push the bloody on-button would surely use less power...

Is this what you're looking for? I picked one up at a trade show the other week. I'm not good with gadgets but this might be what you're talking about.

https://www.eonshop.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductCode=1100017&Category=8

That's exactly the sort of thing I mean. Perfect for using in the bedroom where you want to be able to turn the TV & peripherals off from bed without getting up (or leaving them on standby which is what I've always done instead for years and years). Thank you so much for knowing this device existed and what it's called!

I searched on eBay and found someone selling them for just £5.99 so I ordered one. Fab! Should pay off just in a year or two, I suspect.

 

[WillsBabe]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

Thank you so much for knowing this device existed and what it's called!

You're welcome!

 

[Tim]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

What I'd really like is for someone to invent a TV standby mode that doesn't suck up electricity. It surely can't be beyond human inventiveness to create a TV remote that allows me to turn a device on without it consuming a third or more of standard power when at rest. I've never been able to figure out why it sucks up so much power when you're not running the screen/tube. Hell, even a little remote battery-powered mechanical device to push the bloody on-button would surely use less power...

Well, the whole point of the standby mode is to keep the filament in the picture tube warm so that the TV doesn't take as long to warm up (to appease our collective need for instant gratification, no doubt). So, by definition, standby mode will consume a not insignificant amount of power. My TV has a second switch on the front panel that completely cuts the power to all internal components; I only do this when I'm on vacation for a few days or more.

 

[Holdfast]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

I see. I didn't actually know that, though guessed it must be channelling power to keep something in there warmed up.

You know, I've never noticed a significant difference between the time between it takes to power up from standby compared to from completely off. Well, maybe it takes a second or two longer for the colours/picture to fully stabilise, but that's about it and I don't really notice it.

What I use standby for - and I suspect what nearly everyone who uses it uses it for - is so I don't need to get up to turn the TV or or off. I don't really care whether it takes a second longer to warm up or not, but I do care if I have to get up to turn it on or off. That's why I like the idea of the device WillsBabe linked to. Hopefully it works!

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

I see. I didn't actually know that, though guessed it must be channelling power to keep something in there warmed up.

You know, I've never noticed a significant difference between the time between it takes to power up from standby compared to from completely off. Well, maybe it takes a second or two longer for the colours/picture to fully stabilise, but that's about it and I don't really notice it.

What I use standby for - and I suspect what nearly everyone who uses it uses it for - is so I don't need to get up to turn the TV or or off. I don't really care whether it takes a second longer to warm up or not, but I do care if I have to get up to turn it on or off. That's why I like the idea of the device WillsBabe linked to. Hopefully it works!

I think this may be an difference between our TVs and American ones. Most consumer electronics over here have had to meet a low power stand by standard for about 10 years now anyway.

 

[Holdfast]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

Do big exporters like Sony, Panasonic, whoever bother to regionalise their TVs that much? I guess they must do, if the cost of meeting the different region standards is less than the economies of scale gained from standardising production worldwide to the strictest standard. Quite a tricky calculation for the corporate beancounters to weigh up though.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

Do big exporters like Sony, Panasonic, whoever bother to regionalise their TVs that much? I guess they must do, if the cost of meeting the different region standards is less than the economies of scale gained from standardising production worldwide to the strictest standard. Quite a tricky calculation for the corporate beancounters to weigh up though.

Well I suppose they have to, at least in as much as putting V-Chips and NTSC/ATSC tuners, 110v power supplies etc. in US models and PAL/DVB tuners and 240v ones etc. in UK

 

[Holdfast]

Re: UK Government plans to install remote control for your appliances.

Do big exporters like Sony, Panasonic, whoever bother to regionalise their TVs that much? I guess they must do, if the cost of meeting the different region standards is less than the economies of scale gained from standardising production worldwide to the strictest standard. Quite a tricky calculation for the corporate beancounters to weigh up though.

Well I suppose they have to, at least in as much as putting V-Chips and NTSC/ATSC tuners, 110v power supplies etc. in US models and PAL/DVB tuners and 240v ones etc. in UK

True, true. I wonder if there's an incremental added cost to making the changes to power utilisation or whether making all the other changes you mention makes that cost negligible. Well, well, I'm glad I don't need to do the sums to work this sort of thing out!