I've just turned my induction hob off at the wall.

[TalkinPeace2]

Listening to the report on the news about "standby" use of electricity.

Anything that is touch sensitive - like an induction hob - is using electricity every minute of every day running the sensors waiting for you to touch it.

Anything that has a light or screen on it - like a microwave or breadmaker - is using electricity 24/7 even when not in use.

Off switches no longer mean off. They mean standby.
No wonder our utility bills are rising.

jsut checked mine but it doesnt react at all unless I touch the power button?

That power "button" is the sensor that is drawing power every minute since you had it installed.
UNLESS it is a press button that operates a manual switch away from the glass

Have just altered the power saving settings on my computer too.

I turn everything off.

There is now no indication of what the time is - as I switch the microwave off at the wall, and the oven. Drives DH crazy.

The DC (and DH) seem to like to leave their laptops and phones plugged in too - I go around the unplug them all. mwah ha ha hah ....

We pay quite enough for electricity as it is.

Have always switched telly, HDD, radio etc off at the wall ever since we've had the new versions. I have to say I really don't fancy having to reset the clock on the hob every time I use it though. The cooker is AAA energy rated- I'm hoping that means it consumes very little while effectively on standby?

My clock is on my oven and I'm happy to pay that electric as it is my kitchen clock.
Its the fact that there is NO SIGN that these things are drawing power that bugs me - we are told to reduce usage but do not realise what we are using.

Right - I have tested a few things with my energy meter.

Switched off - no lights showing - my Neff hob is drawing 15 watts of power.
That is like leaving a light bulb on day and night since I bought it.

Ooh I'd love an energy meter, that would give me hours of satisfaction .

Seriously! :o

A touch sensitive hob? That sounds horribly dangerous.

I have only recently started switching things off at the wall, we've always switched the cooker off but DP complained when I started turning the microwave off too, as that's our kitchen clock. Haven't seen how it has affected the bill yet.

I realised the other day that I normally use my laptop from the power, when it has a battery that could save a few hours' worth of electricity per week! So now I use it on the battery until it needs charging. (And try not to use it so much, but that's another matter completely.)

Do you not think the lights are a sign of it using power? Out of curiosity, what did you think was powering the lights/clocks/screen?

There are no lights on my induction hob - the lights only come on when you press and hold the on button.

I suppose it uses a bit of electriciy on standby mode but I would rather spend x amount than be reduced to a screaming rage of frustration turning plugs on and off and resetting clocks every day.

i think some of these things cost about 50p per year to be on standby.

so am not bothered.

and a touch sensitive hob is not dangerous if used properly.

induction ones don't even get hot to touch.

Choice of energy meters.

My computer printer was using a ridiculous amount of power while "off" - you could actually hear it humming. The washing machine was another culprit - that or the socket was faulty, as it was drawing a good 5W when off.

We now have all sockets at in reachable places and switch off when not in use.

I think induction hobs must be the safest things ever - no naked flame, don't get hot, easy to clean, switch off automatically when a pan boils over.

Plus they boil a great big pan of water in a lot less time than normal hobs.

I love 'em.

Thanks Serial - I've already bought one just from this thread :o Getting very excited about it now :)

Have just been reading about induction hobs, they sound amazing! I had no idea they didn't get hot. Unfortunately our cooker works perfectly well and is therefore not likely to be replaced any time soon, which is why I hadno idea about these fancy new-fangled induction jobbies :)

It's a sad hobby to have.

~~now drawing 131W~~

~~now drawing 182W~~

You can get an energy monitor free from British gas and most suppliers if you call them.
Also the new smart meters (again British gas are the front runners and have fitted thousands) that must be fitted in all homes by 2020 do this and will be fitted free your supplier.

Mm. Smart Meters do an awful lot more than tell you how much power you're using though, and a lot of it is quite scary. There's a thread somewhere, hang on.

Smart Meters thread

~~now drawing 165W~~

I will read that thread in whole when dcs are in bed but I can tell you that the OP is very wrong in most points. For example, currently smart Meyers do not support pay as you go functionality. Also a supplier can very easily get a warrant and enter your property to install a pay as you go meter anyway. Getting a warrant is not difficult.
The paper work that will be included before switching a meter to pay as you go, by remote will be lengthier than it currently is.

Also its the energy companies that are doing it. Its the government that have forced it. It has cost the big six hundreds of millions in technology development and implementation. 5 of the big 6 have actually asked the government to scrap the plan because of the logistics and money it will take. These five are already on track to miss the deadline.

Its not the energy companies, not it is.
The energy monitors that are free are different from smart and the same as you can but on the internet.