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.

oe

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... :-)

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

Jim Lesurf wrote:
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.

oe

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... :-)

Slainte,

Jim

With the last increase in energy costs, I went round the house working
out what the approximate consumption is of all the stuff left on standby
or on permanently, and I come to something around 400W. That's 3500KWh
per year! Some of the stuff, like fridge, freezer, cooker hob, ovens
etc can't be switched off without risking damaged food or the hassle of
resetting clocks, but other stuff certainly can be. Turning off just the
hi-fi and TV equipment when not being used saves 584KWh a year, more if
I also turn off the wireless router and the computer at night. As you
say, they don't seem to mind being left off even if we're not watching
TV for a day or two, or longer if we're away.

My small contribution to Kyoto.....

S.

Jim Lesurf wrote:

b) people should note that they can buy a 'torpedo' switch to fit to the
mains cable of such units

You can ? I thought they must be illegal by now - I never thought they ever
looked very safe.

Graham

On Fri, 07 Jul 2006 14:17:25 GMT, Bob Latham
wrote:

I have done this more than once but found that most switches of this type
are very low rated (current) and poor quality such that they drop apart
after a couple of years. May I ask if you've found something a little
better than this?

Possibly the wall socket has a switch? :-)

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...
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.

snip.
Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics
http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

Remote switch with two plugs and remote control from Maplin. All with timers
on one, all without on the other. Bedtime - all go off of one channel

--
John the West Ham fan

In article , Bob Latham
wrote:
In article , Jim Lesurf
wrote:

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.

I have done this more than once but found that most switches of this
type are very low rated (current) and poor quality such that they drop
apart after a couple of years. May I ask if you've found something a
little better than this?

I haver simple bought them for a couple of quid a go from out local DIY. No
idea what their long term reliability may be, I'm afraid. We have had one
or two on lamps that are used on a daily basis, and these have been in use
for some years with no problems, but no idea of exactly how long they've
been in use...

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

In article , housetrained
wrote:

Remote switch with two plugs and remote control from Maplin. All with
timers on one, all without on the other. Bedtime - all go off of one
channel

Must admit the above made me wonder if the timer and the 'remote
controllable' switch implied that *these* would be drawing some power when
the items they controlled are 'off'... :-)

What I had in mind was somewhat lower-tech. Just old-fashioned, "You
operate the switch and it opens/closes the contacts by mechanical means".

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

"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

On Fri, 07 Jul 2006 17:22:16 +0100, Jim Lesurf
wrote:


What I had in mind was somewhat lower-tech. Just old-fashioned, "You
operate the switch and it opens/closes the contacts by mechanical means".

Do your wall outlets REALLY not have switches?

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...
In article , housetrained
wrote:

Remote switch with two plugs and remote control from Maplin. All with
timers on one, all without on the other. Bedtime - all go off of one
channel

Must admit the above made me wonder if the timer and the 'remote
controllable' switch implied that *these* would be drawing some power when
the items they controlled are 'off'... :-)

What I had in mind was somewhat lower-tech. Just old-fashioned, "You
operate the switch and it opens/closes the contacts by mechanical means".



"Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler......"

:-)