Standby mode is both a blessing and a curse. Fast startup times and background processes are convenient, but have you ever stopped to ask how much these services are worth to you per year?
Inevitably, you pay them.
What is phantom power drain?
Some things take power even when they are off
Phantom power drain refers to the amount of energy consumed by devices that are plugged in and turned on at the wall, but not necessarily in use. In order to consume a small amount of energy, the device does not necessarily need to have a standby mode; this can also happen in the “off” state.
According to the Department of Energy (according to information provided by such institutions Columbia School of Climate), these “vampire” appliances can add between five and 10 percent to your electric bill. For many families, this adds up to hundreds of dollars a year—the more devices you have, the more drain (even if you don’t use them often).
Devices with an obvious standby mode are some of the biggest culprits. This includes audio-visual equipment such as smart TVs, game consoles, receivers and soundbars, and smart home devices such as smart speakers that always listen to the wake-up call. Using power-saving modes where possible can significantly reduce passive power consumption, but not eliminate it entirely.
Some of the devices responsible for drawing phantom power will surprise you. For example, phone chargers that aren’t actually plugged into the phone will still use a small amount of power. Kitchen appliances like the microwave that most of us will never turn off in the wall do the same. Anything with a display like an oven that works when your device is “off” will do this.
While most of us have come to terms with commercial energy drains for convenience, when you consider the bigger picture, it can be hard to ignore the problem. This “death by a thousand cuts” approach can really add up to your annual electric bill.
Smart chips can identify and fix the problem
Energy monitoring or not
Smart plugs for energy monitoring are the most capable smart plugs you can buy. As the name suggests, these devices detect how much power is being drawn from the plug at any given time. You can use a smart home system like Home Assistant or a dedicated app to collect data and estimate how much energy the device is using over time.
This can be useful for measuring value, but it also has other benefits. For example, it allows you to detect when your washing machine is running get notifications when the period ends. You also don’t have to plug a device into a smart plug; the total permissible energy consumption (plus Heavy duty finders are available for more demanding devices).
Connecting your entertainment center or homelab power strip to a smart plug that monitors energy is a great way to tell how much power is being used when everything is off. No matter what you read, there is only one solution: to turn off the plug when they are not in use.
For this, even the cheapest and simplest smart plug will do the job.
- Dimensions
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2.36 x 2.76 x 1.52 inches
- Hub Required
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no
The latest Eve Energy HomeKit smart plug supports the Matter and Thread network, a protocol that extends the range of your smart home devices. It can also monitor power usage.
All devices must not be disconnected
Choose your battles wisely
Whether you like it or not, some appliances are best kept plugged in and turned on at all times, even if they cost you money. A good example of this is a modern OLED smart TV or monitor. These displays use a pixel refresh process to reduce the chance of image retention, which typically runs after hours after meeting the threshold. A standby mode is necessary for the panel to look good.
Frequently used game consoles may also be worth ditching. Modern Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo consoles download software and software updates in the background, and it can be a godsend to have your console ready to go when you turn it on. You can even start remote downloads for some devices, which is great for preparing a game while you’re out so you can play it when you log in.
If you want to reduce phantom power draw as much as possible, you’ll want to intelligently separate your devices into power strips that can be turned on and off. There are various ways to automate this process, such as:
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Turn off the stripes when you activate the Goodnight scene.
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Use time triggers to automatically turn on these devices in the morning before you need them.
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use device triggers such as Xbox or PlayStation power triggerto power your TV and soundbar.
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Use presence detection based on devices like smartphones to turn these strips on and off depending on who’s out of the house.
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Lock the power state into holiday modes for easy savings when you’re away for long periods of time.
The one device you don’t want to turn off automatically is your Home Assistant server (or smart home hub of your choice)!
Looking for more ways to get creative with smart plugs? Check out why a smart plug is the ultimate upgrade for your home router.
