"Jim Lesurf"
When I bought a DAB tuner (Pure 701ES) some months ago I discovered that
it
was yet another of those modern items of consumer equipment that didn't
have an actual on/off mains switch. Instead, it goes into 'standby'.

I had encountered the same thing with the Nokia 221T DTTV tuner I bought a
few years ago.

In both cases I actually switch off overnight the entire systems in which
the tuners are used, using a switch on the mains distribution board to
which their mains plugs are connected.

So far as I can seem neither tuner is bothered in the slightest by being
unpowered for many hours at a time. They remember the main settings, etc,
despite this.

Is it now the norm for tuners to not bother with an actual mains switch,
yet be quite happy to be unpowered for reasonably long periods? if so, I
wonder if we should be suggesting either that:

a) The makers spend the vast fortune required and fit a mains switch.

b) people should note that they can buy a 'torpedo' switch to fit to the
mains cable of such units, and be able to switch them off when they aren't
needed. Thus if you have such a tuner, but don't use it most of the time,
being able to leave it unpowered.

Thus saving a little electric power, and a little money... :-)


** The Sony " DVP NS51P" DVD player I got just recently has no AC supply
switch either.

So, I was concerned about deterioration of those SMPS components that are
active and often quite HOT on a 24/7 basis.
This is the case with my Sanyo DVD1500A player, so much so that I now
un-plug it from the AC outlet out when not in actual use ( = very tedious).

No need to worry, however, with the new Sony - in standby mode it draws
virtually zero AC power and all components are cold.

I verified the SMPS is inactive, ( ie no oscillation) in standby mode and
the front panel switch simply enables and disables the supply. AC supply
draw for the Sony is about 8mA rms in standby ( due solely to EMI filter
caps) and a meagre 90 mA rms or so when operating.

Nice one, Sony.



........ Phil