Saving power - computers on or off overnight?

[Mandi]

What is the current thinking on leaving home systems on overnight, vs. turning everything off and rebooting the next day?

Is it a big enough power suck to really substantiate an electricity savings overnight - say, shut down for 8 to 12 hours . . . or does modern equipment power down sufficiently that it's negligible? What about wear and tear on the system via rebooting? (Once upon a time, like 13 or 14 years ago, I remember people stressing about this.)

My own preference is to just leave everything running, but we also had a really obscene electric bill last month, so we're examining every last little thing.

[johnfl68]

According to my power company (they have a online calculator with various typical home items) it costs $3.60 a month for a computer running 24 hours a day, versus $2.40 a month for a computer running 16 hours a day (based on 8 cents per KWH - taxes and franchise fees not included).

John

[Kevin]

According to my power company (they have a online calculator with various typical home items) it costs $3.60 a month for a computer running 24 hours a day, versus $2.40 a month for a computer running 16 hours a day (based on 8 cents per KWH - taxes and franchise fees not included).

John
I wonder how many watts they think the "average" computer uses. I also wonder if they consider the increase in heat that the A/C must work against.

Since I run servers at home I keep them running 24/7 but computers that aren't doing something or serving something get shut off.

[TVB]

I usually turn mine off if I'm not home or sleeping. I've never really noticed a difference in the power bill but I don't think I ever kept track either.

The main reason I turn it off is in case there's a rogue worm that does undetected by AVP trying to send out email on my behalf or something.

[Kevin]

The main reason I turn it off is in case there's a rogue worm that does undetected by AVP trying to send out email on my behalf or something.
Unless you are examining the network packets yourself you are just as likely to get a worm while you are awake as when you are asleep.

This is what firewalls and NAT are for.

[Andilinks]

I think the risks in general, whether lightning strikes, power surges or firewall piercing demons, are less when the power is off.

Then there is also power consumpsion and heat considerations already mentioned. I power down when I plan to be away from my computer for more than 5-6 hours but I'm not compulsive about it--sometimes I just forget and leave it running.

Andi

[Joseph]

I will turn my monitor off when I'm not using it, and I also have my computer setup with the most "Power-Saving Options" enabled possible - but I rarely actually shut down.

A lot of times I will have many applications open in regards to any number of projects I may be working on at the time, and it's quite a pain to restart all of them.

Another thing around here is, there's so many computers running that can't be shut off anyway (network, development servers, etc), it's hardly going to make any difference if I turn off mine. :P

[Jeff]

I also wonder if they consider the increase in heat that the A/C must work against.
Here in Michigan, 9 months of the year we subtract that cost instead of adding it ;)

[Randall]

Here in Michigan, 9 months of the year we subtract that cost instead of adding it ;) My old CRT was good for warming a room. :winky: The LCD puts out more heat than I expected, but I don't think it makes much of a difference in winter. A lot of times I will have many applications open in regards to any number of projects I may be working on at the time, and it's quite a pain to restart all of them. Same here. Sometimes it takes me days to get through my web reading, email and other stuff just so I can install the latest Windows updates (When do you want to restart today?(tm)). Oo, looky that. More updates just came in. :rolleyes:

It's always running while I'm at work, just in case I need to log in remotely. But I do turn the monitor off.

But given that I'm currently exiled to dial-up land, :blah: I won't be needing that remote access for a while...

Randall

[Wassercrats]

You also have to figure the cost of wear and tear on the computer by turning it on and off. It's a good idea to watch it while it's on, but I only turn mine off every few days, and usually when I won't be home for a while. I disconnect from the internet when I'm not around, and I'm still considering turning off my modem/router's switch overnight if the computer is on. I dust my computer at least once a week, so I want it off for that anyway. I also like it off when I'm not around because I heard that some chips could cause a fire if the fan goes out.

[Jarrod]

PC Pro (UK Computer Mag) has recently launched a campaign to reduce energy consumption. This article (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/71029/electric-shock/page1.html) will probably be of interest. Registration required.

Jarrod

[Wassercrats]

PC Pro (UK Computer Mag) has recently launched a campaign to reduce energy consumption. This article (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/71029/electric-shock/page1.html) will probably be of interest. Registration required.I didn't have to register for any of the 9 pages. They're biased though. Page 8 says:The CAMPAIGN

This article is just the beginning. We want to get as many home users and businesses saving power as possible, which is why we have teamed up with two companies that are committed to conserving energy and protecting the environment.Sounds like they wouldn't care about damaging your computer.

[Andilinks]

...damaging your computer.Yes, I've heard for many years that the initial surge that accompanies the power on switch is hard on the components, particularly the hard drives. But has there been any research on newer equipment? Many things, like screen savers for instance, are hold overs from the days when computers were much more primitive.

The initial power surge could be supressed somewhat with more modern equipment, and newer components should be better able to withstand it...

Laptops, now more popular than ever by their very nature often cannot be left on the way desktops can. I'd think this initial surge problem would be something that has been improved in recent models.

But like I said, I haven't heard any recent authoritative opinions.

Andi

[louyovin]

But like I said, I haven't heard any recent authoritative opinions.
Andi
Well, I am not an authority but I worked in the reliability area in a previous life and we used 3 factors to try to model failures. Power on hours, operating temperature, and on/off cycles. Temperature seemed to be the primary factor followed by hours.
OTOH, I just took an IBM Netfinity server out of service that had been running 24/7 since 1998. I think we powered it down less than a half dozen times. Once was to replace the hard drive with a larger one. Never did we have to replace anything due to failures. That is probably a good argument for the on/off cycle parameter.
In todays environment, most components become obsolete before they die...
You should also keep in mind that most electronic devices are powered by smoke. If you see the smoke escape, they no longer work. :)
Another argument for powering off, besides power conservation, is safety. My daughter's neighbors had their computer catch fire while no one was home and their house was almost totaled from smoke damage.

[Andilinks]

Thank you Lou, these are good to know.

You should also keep in mind that most electronic devices are powered by smoke. If you see the smoke escape, they no longer work. :clapper:

[Mandi]

I've heard that "on fire while you're out" argument for every single plugged in item though - blenders, toasters, fridges . . . I've also heard you shouldn't run the dryer while you're out.

I dunno. I just cannot devote that many hours a week to unplugging/replugging all the crap that runs our lives. I know that sounds short sighted, but everyone here seems kind enough not to bump this thread should we actually be house fire victims . . .

[Wassercrats]

I'm not that kind. And I'd ask for money too.

[sheila]

I'm not that kind.
Well, at least your honest. And in touch with yourself.
And I'd ask for money too.
I'm missing something here...what is the basis for the monetary request?

FWIW, I'm with Mandi on this one.

I'm probably doomed now to being chastised by Wass for burning my house down through the use of unattended modern appliances.

[Wassercrats]

what is the basis for the monetary request?Is it unusual to have things of value in your house?

[sheila]

Is it unusual to have things of value in your house?Not at all. I just didn't see why you would be asking for money when Mandi's house burned down.

I'm not that kind. And I'd ask for money too.
The first sentence refers to the fact that you would "itoldyouso" Mandi if her house burned down...using pronoun "I". In second sentence you continue with same pronoun, so it reads as though you would also ask for money in response to Mandi's house burning down.

If my house burns down will you be coming around to collect for the valuable items we used to have?

[Wassercrats]

The first sentence refers to the fact that you would "itoldyouso" Mandi if her house burned down...using pronoun "I". In second sentence you continue with same pronoun, so it reads as though you would also ask for money in response to Mandi's house burning down.Mandi saidbut everyone here seems kind enough not to bump this thread should we actually be house fire victimsI read "we" as being the same people as "everyone," not as being Mandi, so when I said "I" I meant the subset of people that is me, in both cases.

[Wassercrats]

If my house burns down will you be coming around to collect for the valuable items we used to have?Yes, and I might give you a percentage too.

[Andilinks]

You should check the amperage ratings on all your connections and avoid overloads. If any power bar, cord or outlet cube feels warm while in operation consider spreading the load. If you leave cheap appliances plugged in be sure they are positioned away from drapes and other fire hazards.

Buy fire insurance. Pitch a tent in your back yard and sleep outdoors.

[Randall]

In second sentence you continue with same pronoun, so it reads as though you would also ask for money in response to Mandi's house burning down. And this surprises you, Sheila? I read "we" as being the same people as "everyone," not as being Mandi, so when I said "I" I meant the subset of people that is me, in both cases. Until Andi gets around to growing those mutant Wasserplants, in which case you'll be a "we" too.

Randall

# We are Lettuce of Borg

[Wassercrats]

I'm already plural.

[Randall]

I'm already plural. Ahem. We are already plural. :teach:

Randall

[Wassercrats]

You're not even one since you buried yourself in the sand. I should have said "myselves are already plural."

[sheila]

And this surprises you, Sheila?It does not surprise me that he would ask for money. I was trying to determine the reason he felt entitled to do so. Apparently that was my error. I guess the entitlement is inherent in his personas.

[Andilinks]

Since he is already plural that would be "personae," not to be nit picky or anything.

[sheila]

Since he is already plural that would be "personae," not to be nit picky or anything.
Thanks, Andi. I don't know where my head is this morning. I'm multi-tasking, and I guess that is reflected in the quality of my forum posts.

We would never call you picky. We would call you precise. ;)

[sheila]

We would call you precise. ;)But only under the most pragmatic of circumstances, of course. :P

[Randall]

You're not even one since you buried yourself in the sand. Hey, I was a head! (And not a magenta one with a dangerous nose, I might add.) That counts for something.

Let's see how good you look buried up to your neck(s) in Andi's garden, eh?

Besides, I haven't been near a beach in months. We would never call you picky. I would, but only when I'm not being picky myself.

Randall

[Wassercrats]

Since he is already plural that would be "personae," not to be nit picky or anything.I only have one personality. I don't know why pluralities with a single personality are ignored by the medical establishment. I feel so empty. Me too.

[Randall]

I only have one personality. I don't know why pluralities with a single personality are ignored my the medical establishment. Perhaps that falls under the jusridiction of exorcists?

Randall