Phantom Electric Loads

 

 

Information  from Care2 site

 

Excerpted from Real Goods Solar Living Source Book, edited by Doug Pratt and executive editor John Schaeffer.

Many modern appliances remain partially on when they appear to be turned off. Anything that can be powered from a remote control must remain partially on to receive the "on" signal from the remote.

 

Simple Solution:

  • Anything with a clock-VCRs, coffee makers, microwave ovens-also use a small amount of power all the time. And anything that uses a "power cube" in the AC socket, such as answering machines and electric toothbrushes, use very tiny amounts of power, maybe only a watt or two, but they make the inverter stay turned on and running 24 hours per day.
  • The solution for clocks is battery power. A wall mounted clock runs for nearly a year on a single AA rechargeable battery. Look for good quality battery powered alarm and other clocks. Clocks on house current are ridiculously wasteful.
  • Watch out for those small cube-shaped transformers that plug into the wall outlet to power a lower voltage appliance. These villainous wastrels usually run horrible 60 percent to 80 percent inefficiency (which means that for every dime's worth of electricity consumed, they throw away six or eight cents worth). We recommend that power cubes be kept on plug strips or switchable outlets that can be switched off when not in use. Electronic toothbrushes, for example, use very little power themselves, but their charging systems are grossly inefficient. If it has a power cube put it on a switchable outlet that can be switched off when not in use.

 

Is a 'Phantom' Stealing Your Electricity?

 

Phantom Loads (PDF) Open this result in new window
... November 1993 Energy Efficiency Phantom Loads Richard Perez Just because the switch says “OFF” doesn’t mean a device is not consuming electric power. ...

 

Electric Homes (PDF) Open this result in new window
... It’s also important to watch out for “phantom loads.” A phantom load is an electric device that continues to draw power even though the device is not switched “ON”

 

Positive Energy : Guide for Electricians

 

Electric Consumption Open this result in new window
... answers can be found with a little bit of investigation and one of the newly available portable electric meters ... We call these on-while-off loads Phantom Loads. ...