This may have been posted one time or another but I figured I would pass it along. I was watching TV this afternoon and they were discussing how to make your house a little "greener" by saving electricity. They mentioned that most people weren't aware that things like cell phone chargers and some other plug in appliances equipped with plug in transformers aka to us a "wall wart" use power if they are plugged in even if they are not hooked up to the item they are supposed to be powering or charging. I have everything in the layout room now controlled by wall mounted switches so when I leave everything except the computers are shut down. I just thought as well as saving some electricity it may also extend the life of your wall wart.
That's true. We do waste a lot of power with these things. I always unplug my cell-phone charger when it's not in use, but many people opt for the convenience of not having to do this, and just leave it plugged in.
While where forming the Wall Wart Preservation Society, think about using small fuses. I have a number of wall-wart-like power supplies. A while back, I toasted a wall wart by overloading it. I measured the current after I replaced it with a beefier supply, and this noble black slug had been putting out 3 amps for months, even though it was only rated at 1.5. I've since put a fuse in that line to protect the new supply.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Besides saving money, it's also good from a safety standpoint (especially true with some of the layout wiring I've seen over the years! )
The fuse is a very good idea, I have a bunch of inline auto fuses that you can plug in any size fuse you want I think I know where I am going to use them now. Even though I have the whole house surge protector and where I do use power strips I always use the UL approved one's with the circuit breaker I figure a little more protection never hurts
Leaving them plugged in and on is called "Phantom Power". Many devices are like this today.
http://tinyurl.com/34plgg7
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
To the OP, Why leave the computers turned on? They might consume more power (even in sleep mode) than your entire railroad.
Also, beware if a wall wart that is warm even when not connected to a load. They are an inefficient design and are prone to overheating and possibly catching fire!. I found many older, salvaged, units to act this way. I threw tham all away.
73
Bruce in the Peg
I hadn't thought of this until just now but when I started my layout a few months ago, I placed double outlets at various locations on the benchwork so I would have power almost anywhere within a 6-8 foot distance. The whole system is plugged into a wall outlet which would make it very easy to install a single on/off swtch and power down/up everything on the layout. This will be my next project, to locate a master on/off switch. Thanks for the lead into this solution.
Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Bob,
I have all of the wire and boxes sitting on the floor under the bench work to do exactly that. I also rewired the feed going into the train room to a wall switch. It was a snap being as the other half of the basement isn't finished so I just traced the wire from the panel box and cut in a switch.
As far as leaving the computers on I was told by the IT guy where I used to work that two things computer don't like starting up and shitting down. So i have the power setting set so the hard drive and monitor **** down using hardly anything. A computer uses less electricity then a 40 watt light bulb
Blind Bruce To the OP, Why leave the computers turned on? They might consume more power (even in sleep mode) than your entire railroad. Also, beware if a wall wart that is warm even when not connected to a load. They are an inefficient design and are prone to overheating and possibly catching fire!. I found many older, salvaged, units to act this way. I threw tham all away.
I have been turning off my two desktops and two laptops for over six years and no issue. By the way, laptops are turned off and on by many. I do not know of anyone who travels with a laptop on all the time.
Over heated wall warts are usuall;y caused by people who do not know how to figure out how much current their stuff requires and over work the wart. I see this in forums quite often.
With the used wall warts I have, I never draw more that 50 percent of the rated value. For a 1 amp wart, not over 0.5amps.
Allegheny2-6-6-6As far as leaving the computers on I was told by the IT guy where
You might want to correct the spelling in this paragraph
Just unplug them. That's the wisest course of action.
Alton Junction