How to determine how much your TV consumes
There are several ways to find out how much electricity your TV consumes. Naturally, a lot depends on which model we are talking about. As an example, consider an economical device that was purchased relatively recently.
First, take a look at the labeling. It is located on the back of the TV device. You will also find information regarding the class of electricity consumption in the instructions, which are included in the basic package.
Back in 2010, the relevant authorities of the European Union determined a single standard for the energy consumption of plasma and LED TVs:
- A+.
- A++.
- A+++.
What is the essence of the marking? The more pluses next to the letter A, the less energy the TV consumes. In 2021, a new class appeared - A++. Equipment manufacturers do not stop at the achieved results. The largest companies plan to release TVs with class A+++ by 2021.
Is it worth overpaying for equipment with an optimal energy saving class? It all depends on exactly what amount we are talking about. However, the fact remains that A++ models will use much less power than older devices.
Such marking performs not only an informational function. There are also additional benefits. For example, if there is a corresponding sticker on the TV, then the user will have more confidence in such a device. This is good advertising. Nobody wants to overpay for electricity. Therefore, users will always give preference to models with minimal electricity consumption.
Labeling is very important, but not all TVs correspond to the declared characteristics indicated on the sticker. Many devices do not have such stickers at all. But on TV screens there are other, more informative stickers. Latin letters from A to G are drawn on them.
The standard level of energy consumption is F. The sticker also contains information regarding the power of the TV. This parameter is measured in watts.
Secondly, you should always consider screen brightness. For example, the brightness of the LCD screen affects how many watts the TV uses. If the user makes the picture dimmer, then the amount of energy consumed will noticeably decrease.
THE TV IS SLEEPING, BUT THE MONEY IS COMING IN
The magazine has already written about saving electricity (see “Science and Life” No. 3, 1996), but it is interesting how much electricity different equipment consumes and what savings there will be if you turn it off.
Science and life // Illustrations
It is very easy to install a pass-through switch into a break in the network cable.
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In every apartment at night you can see glowing lights - electronic equipment is in the so-called sleep mode - it is just waiting for you to press a button on the remote control.
Of course, it is very convenient to turn on or off the TV or stereo system without leaving the couch.
However, let’s estimate how much such a service costs.
So, a TV with a medium-sized screen - with a diagonal of 20-21 inches in sleep mode (standby mode) consumes a current of 75 mA (milliamps), a network voltage of 220 V (volts) and, therefore, power consumption according to Ohm's law P = I x
U (power in watts, current in amperes and voltage in volts), for our sleeping TV - P = 0.075
x
220 = 16.5 watts. It seems to be quite a bit, smaller than the dimmest light bulb. But now let’s estimate how much TV sleeps per day (suppose you watch TV six hours a day, which means it has 18 hours left for sleep). While you are at work, or at the dacha, or just sleeping, it consumes 297 kWh per day, and in a month - 8910, that is, almost 9 kWh.
And if you also have a music center, which requires 65 mA to maintain sleep mode (and with eighteen hours of sleep, it will spend 7.7 kWh per month). The VCR takes less -30 mA (for a month - 3.5 kW•h). A radiotelephone consumes approximately the same amount. Even the antenna amplifier manages to consume 15 mA, as do electronic watches and other devices equipped with power supplies (called adapters in the trade).
Now let’s think about how we can save these “sleepy” kilowatts of electricity without creating much hassle. The easiest thing is with a TV: a real TV has a “Network” button, which actually disconnects it from the network, and if you are not too lazy to go to the TV and press this button when leaving for work or going to bed, the TV will turn off completely (by the way, you don’t You will only save electricity, but also protect yourself from such a nuisance as spontaneous combustion of the TV in your absence). True, there are also TVs with a “Network” button, which turns off only the high voltage, but the entire power supply of the TV remains in operation - the TV seems to be turned off from the network, but is under voltage. If you come across such an instance, then you need to either remove the plug from the socket or put a switch on the wire. (TV: saving - 9 kW
•
h per month.)
It is more difficult with the VCR; it does not disconnect from the network even when the network button is pressed. To completely turn off, you need to unplug the power cord from the outlet, but this will make the parameter settings disappear (those who often have power cuts encounter this problem). But this is not the only difficulty. If your antenna is connected to the VCR, and from it to the TV, then when you turn off the VCR, you will not see anything on the screen; you need to either connect the antenna from the VCR to the TV, or install an antenna splitter. If you frequently record programs using programming, it is best to leave the VCR connected to the network. (VCR: saving - 3.5 kW
•
h per month.)
The settings of the music center should not be lost when the voltage is lost, so you can also put a switch on its network cable and apply voltage only during operation. (Music center: savings - 7.7 kW
•
h per month.)
By the way, a radiotelephone power supply disconnected from the network is the best protection against saboteurs who will not be able to use your device for long-distance or even international calls. Just keep in mind that when the network is turned off, the handset's battery will not be able to recharge.
ATTENTION!
If you want to check my calculations and try to measure the current consumption of your equipment yourself, then, firstly, do not forget that the current is measured by connecting an ammeter to the break in the network wire. At the same time, the tester must have a measurement range of alternating current, and the main thing is that switching power supplies found in modern equipment (TVs, computers, monitors) consume a current of several amperes at the moment of switching on, and if you set the ammeter switch, for example , to a range of 200 mA, turn on the TV, the surge current will burn out your device, so set the tester to measure the maximum current (3-10 A).
What affects electricity consumption
Screen size is a key parameter that determines how much electricity a TV consumes. For example, if the screen diagonal is approximately 50 centimeters, then the device takes 0.07 kW. An incandescent lamp consumes approximately the same amount.
However, there are other factors that influence the amount of energy consumed:
- color;
- type of TV device;
- duration of active work;
- white balance;
- duration of stay in sleep mode.
Don't forget that when the TV is in sleep mode, it still uses energy. For example, devices with a 21-inch screen will consume about 16.5 watts. At first it may seem that this is not a lot, but if you multiply this figure by the number of hours, you get a very significant figure.
How to save money? Everything ingenious is simple. Simply unplug the TV device from the network. This method will save approximately 8.8 kWh.
Some users, in order to determine which TV consumes less energy, carry out the necessary calculations themselves. To do this, you need to use a special device that allows you to measure the power of the TV. It's called a wattmeter. Some device models take measurements and also save the results. Modern wattmeters automatically calculate the cost of electricity. The user preliminarily indicates the price per 1 kW.
If you do not have the opportunity to carry out the calculations yourself, then simply open the instructions for the TV. Manufacturers indicate exactly how much electricity the device consumes. The numbers are also shown during active operation and when entering sleep mode.
How much energy does a TV consume in 1 hour of continuous operation? The average power depends on the type of device: plasma, LCD, kinescope model, etc.
Types of TV and their power
Full information about the power consumption of a specific model can be found in the technical data sheet of the equipment. Manufacturers provide this information because it allows consumers to immediately know the maximum power consumption of the TV.
It is also possible to obtain information about energy consumption when the TV is in standby mode. But if the instructions are lost or damaged for a number of reasons, then you can also find the information on the Internet if you know exactly the code of your TV.
All necessary data is printed on the back of the purchased device. To get information about the power of the TV, you need to go to the official website of the manufacturer and enter the found code in the search bar. After this, the user will go to a page where all the characteristics of the device are precisely described.
If this method is not suitable, then you can take measurements yourself, but for this you will need to have some tools on hand. You can find out the power using a wattmeter, which determines the indicator in a few seconds.
Different types of TVs consume completely different amounts of power. With this information, you can decide on a specific TV model in the store.
It is important to understand that the energy consumption of different types of TVs depends not only on the device itself, but also on the time it operates during the day.
By “look” we mean not a specific brand (Samsung, Philips), but the features of the screen. It can be a plasma panel or liquid crystal panel. It is this indicator that affects the “eating” of energy in the house. On average, a person spends, for example, 5 hours watching TV. Thus, 150 hours can be accumulated in a month. With this information, you can find out which TV model burns the most electricity.
Plasma models
Users purchase plasma TV models because of their high-definition picture, color rendition, and image saturation. But the problem is that they are very powerful, and therefore are extremely far from ideal in terms of energy efficiency. If you study different operating modes, you can get a figure of up to 190 W - this is how much energy the TV consumes per hour in active operation and 0.5 W in standby mode. Approximately 28.86 kilowatts will be released in a month.
LCD TVs
If we compare LCD TVs with plasma TVs, the former are much more economical in terms of power consumption. But at the same time, the size of the selected diagonal plays a big role in the power of the TV. You should never forget about this when you go to the store to buy something. The larger the diagonal size, the higher the TV's power consumption.
Approximate indicators depending on the selected device size:
- If the diagonal is less than 32 inches, then the figure will be from 40 to 55 W per hour. In standby mode, the TV will consume 1 W.
- With a screen size of 49 inches or larger, power consumption will increase to 150 W per hour, and up to 22 kW per month.
In other words, LCD TVs will be much more profitable in terms of power consumption than plasma options. This class of TVs is preferable to buy for people who want to save on electricity, but at the same time have a full-fledged home theater with wide functionality. It is important to note that lower power will not affect the built-in hardware. All Smart TV functions will also be present on the TV.
Types and power
The key parameters are the type of TV device and its power. Part of this has already been said earlier. It is clear that a television receiver with a cathode ray tube will consume more energy than an LCD. It is also necessary to take into account the operating time of the TV.
If you spend about 5 hours a day in front of TV, then this will ultimately add up to a significant amount at the end of the month. Modern models are equipped with useful features that allow you to save money. For example, many devices have an “Eco” mode. Activating this mode involves automatic optimization of settings. The level of illumination is taken into account. The environment is scanned by special sensors.
Recently, manufacturers are increasingly introducing such functions as presence sensors. The TV automatically turns off if no sensors detect a viewer in front of the screen.
But to a greater extent, the power consumption of a TV depends on its type. Now let’s look at different devices to demonstrate with a clear example how the amount of energy consumed changes.
CRT TVs
Let's start with cathode ray tube devices. Looking ahead, we note that models with a kinescope consume quite a lot in 1 hour. Tube TVs are characterized by a bulky screen. They are good because they are easy to maintain and have a long service life. In 60 minutes the device consumes about 60-100 W.
During the day, the TV consumes about 0.5 kW. Over a month, this figure rises to 15 kW. The device also works in standby mode. In a month it accumulates up to an additional 18 kW.
Plasma models
Plasma TV is a more modern solution. The introduction of innovative technologies into the production process allows us to create devices that reproduce images with maximum detail. The picture turns out very rich and realistic.
However, you will have to pay for a high-quality image on a plasma TV. This applies not only to the direct cost of the device, but also to paying for utilities. Let's take as an example a TV from LG with a 32-inch screen diagonal. In operating mode, about 160 W are consumed. In sleep mode approximately 0.5 W. As a result, we get an average of 25 kWh.
These figures make it clear that plasma owners will have to pay much more for light than users who prefer electronic models. What is the situation with liquid crystal devices? Let's find out now.
LCD TVs
Users are most interested in how much electricity LCD TVs consume per month. Why? Firstly, these TVs are presented in the widest range. Therefore, the user will be able to purchase a model that will fit perfectly into the room.
Secondly, there is another very interesting point. LCD TVs consume energy in proportion to the diagonal of the screen. For example, a compact device with a 32-inch screen from Samsung consumes about 50 W in 1 hour. In standby mode – 1 W. We receive only 8 kWh per month.
To save money on TV, buy a model with an LCD screen and LED backlight. The best option is a device with a diagonal of 32 inches. This technique will consume the least amount of energy.
Models with a large screen, for example, 49 inches, have impressive power - up to 150 W during active operation and about 1.5 in standby mode. We get a significant difference. In a month it accumulates about 20-22 kWh.
Modern TVs use LED backlighting. The use of LEDs significantly reduces energy consumption. As a result, the device will consume approximately 40% less. Therefore, liquid crystal models with LED backlighting are the most economical option.
How many kilowatts does a TV consume per month?
The monthly energy consumption required to operate a TV depends, first of all, as already mentioned, on its type. Electricity consumption is also affected by the diagonal size of the device, its operating time and whether the device is in standby mode. If we do not take into account CRT models, the most energy-intensive modern TVs are rightly considered plasma TV devices, and the most economical are liquid crystal devices, namely their LED varieties.
It is worth noting that each manufacturer has its own energy intensity indicator for the models they produce, so the energy consumption indicators for Samsung, Haier, LG, Alfa, Thoshiba, Sony and other devices of popular brands may not be the same, but they do not differ too significantly.
How to save
To optimize the operation of your TV as much as possible, as well as reduce the number of kilowatts, you need to follow a few simple tips:
- Install the TV device in a room with even lighting. As a result, you will be able to choose the optimal balance between brightness and contrast. Therefore, the equipment will not move much.
- Brightness must be adjusted for different types of lighting. For example, in the dark you can reduce the brightness without losing comfort during viewing.
- As mentioned earlier, TVs also consume a fair amount of electricity in sleep mode. Therefore, it is better to unplug the equipment.
- Use Eco-functions wisely. Then you can spend a minimum amount of money on paying electricity bills.
Each of these recommendations reduces energy consumption on average per day. So try to stick to them to save on your electricity bills. This is especially true during a time of ever-increasing utility rates.
So we looked at the main factors influencing the amount of TV energy consumed. Each user will be able to quickly calculate the potential costs associated with paying electricity bills.
