Cost of Keeping Components on All the Time?


Hi Everyone,

The original poster in the thread below asked whether he should keep his equipment on at all times. The answer was pretty much "it depends."

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1228170308&openflup&39&4#39

My question is more about cost: I'm curious if anyone has noticed an increase in their electric bill from keeping things like SS power amps, tube amps, AVRs on all the time. Of course I realize that too would depend on various factors, but I'm just looking for some overall guidance. Are we talking a few bucks a month, or more/less? My components are listed below to give you a sense of the scale I'm talking about. I'd prefer to leave everything on all the time except when I'll be away overnight.

Logitech Squeezebox (for streaming WAVs from my PC)
Cambridge Audio DacMagic
Cary SLP-05 (for stereo pre)
Adcom GFA-555 (for stereo amp)
Arcam AVR-600 (for HT/surround)
Oppo BDP-103 (Blu-ray video and SACD)
Vandersteen 2ceSig IIs (mains; bi-amp/bi-wire capable)
Vandersteen 2W (subwoofer)
Vandersteen VSM-1 (surrounds)
meowist

Showing 1 response by internetmin

Jedinite24 is correct. Try using a Kill-A-Watt meter. It's very simple to use. I use one at my house. Otherwise, you're just guessing. You enter in the cost of your electric rate and then plug in your devices. It then calculates the daily, monthly, and yearly cost. Leave it on with the equipment running on idle for about an hour and that's all you need. The Kill-A-Watt is designed to go between equipment and then accurately calculate draw. However, since you only want to figure idle time, that's all you need to do is plug it in and leave it. In reality, you will have results in as little as 5-10 minutes.

In your case, plug everything into a power strip and then put the power strip into the Kill-A-Watt and you'll have an accurate idea of the total draw of the entire system.