Comments on: Vampires! http://techbypc.com/blog/2008/11/01/vampires/ Technology news, commentary, and reviews. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:31:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Energy Saving Technology | Tech by PC http://techbypc.com/blog/2008/11/01/vampires/comment-page-1/#comment-1227 Energy Saving Technology | Tech by PC Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:51:08 +0000 http://techbypc.com/blog/?p=316#comment-1227 [...] wall warts when you aren’t charging your phone or using whatever device they connect to. See my past article on vampires for more information. Rate this: [...] [...] wall warts when you aren’t charging your phone or using whatever device they connect to. See my past article on vampires for more information. Rate this: [...]

]]> By: Allison http://techbypc.com/blog/2008/11/01/vampires/comment-page-1/#comment-571 Allison Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:05:46 +0000 http://techbypc.com/blog/?p=316#comment-571 Between my TV, my decorative lights, my blowdryer and hairstraightener (which, albeit, isn't on all the time), radio and cellphone charger, I could sure use a kill-a-watt. Honestly, I was wondering how to save on electricity. I know a few cents don't seem like they matter, but they do! I'm just imagining where those few extra pennies could go to instead of my *sigh* electric bill. And I thought garlic was the only way to kill a vampire =) Between my TV, my decorative lights, my blowdryer and hairstraightener (which, albeit, isn’t on all the time), radio and cellphone charger, I could sure use a kill-a-watt. Honestly, I was wondering how to save on electricity. I know a few cents don’t seem like they matter, but they do! I’m just imagining where those few extra pennies could go to instead of my *sigh* electric bill.

And I thought garlic was the only way to kill a vampire =)

]]> By: PC http://techbypc.com/blog/2008/11/01/vampires/comment-page-1/#comment-516 PC Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:18:09 +0000 http://techbypc.com/blog/?p=316#comment-516 Even your computer will pull some power when turned off. That's even with the battery backed clock. The idea to flip everything off at night might be viable in some circumstances. For me, it is important to keep lighting available at night for safety and for the children. It is also not possible to see the clock on the wall if the lights are out. My computer stuff needs to stay on, etc. My PVR records shows I set up at night. My laptop backs itself up to Mozy at night. So on and so forth. It would take some engineering to get everything to work properly. For example, if I disconnect my cable modem, router, servers, printers, and computers from the network I would have to make sure everything came back online every morning in an orderly fashion. 1. Cable modem 2. Router 3. Linux server that runs DHCP, DNS among other things 4. Packet 8 VoIP ATA 5. Windows Server for media share and family member's data 6. Network printer That would probably be 7-10 minutes, and if all that was turned off I would not get my laptop backed up and my automatic scripts to back up my server wouldn't run. Not to mention there would be no phone overnight. It's a mess. Even your computer will pull some power when turned off. That’s even with the battery backed clock.

The idea to flip everything off at night might be viable in some circumstances. For me, it is important to keep lighting available at night for safety and for the children. It is also not possible to see the clock on the wall if the lights are out. My computer stuff needs to stay on, etc.

My PVR records shows I set up at night. My laptop backs itself up to Mozy at night. So on and so forth. It would take some engineering to get everything to work properly. For example, if I disconnect my cable modem, router, servers, printers, and computers from the network I would have to make sure everything came back online every morning in an orderly fashion.

1. Cable modem
2. Router
3. Linux server that runs DHCP, DNS among other things
4. Packet 8 VoIP ATA
5. Windows Server for media share and family member’s data
6. Network printer

That would probably be 7-10 minutes, and if all that was turned off I would not get my laptop backed up and my automatic scripts to back up my server wouldn’t run. Not to mention there would be no phone overnight.

It’s a mess.

]]> By: David G Smith http://techbypc.com/blog/2008/11/01/vampires/comment-page-1/#comment-515 David G Smith Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:20:20 +0000 http://techbypc.com/blog/?p=316#comment-515 You'd think that in this day and age - with the technology we have along with our concerns surrounding the climate and energy use - appliances like TV's, VCR's, DVD players and the like would have internal clocks in them powered by small batteries, like the ones in our computers do. But until then, if you're not too bothered about your appliances showing the correct time (get a watch or put a clock on your wall) and you also want to do your bit to conserve energy, here's a little tip for you... On your way to bed at night, get into the habit of passing by your main fuse-box and simply flicking the circuit breaker switch that controls all of your wall-sockets for the downstairs or main living areas of your house. The only thing you really need to be powering over night is your fridge/freezer, so be sure that they are wired up on a separate circuit. Or you'll be eating stinky sludge for breakfast... You’d think that in this day and age – with the technology we have along with our concerns surrounding the climate and energy use – appliances like TV’s, VCR’s, DVD players and the like would have internal clocks in them powered by small batteries, like the ones in our computers do.

But until then, if you’re not too bothered about your appliances showing the correct time (get a watch or put a clock on your wall) and you also want to do your bit to conserve energy, here’s a little tip for you…

On your way to bed at night, get into the habit of passing by your main fuse-box and simply flicking the circuit breaker switch that controls all of your wall-sockets for the downstairs or main living areas of your house.

The only thing you really need to be powering over night is your fridge/freezer, so be sure that they are wired up on a separate circuit. Or you’ll be eating stinky sludge for breakfast…

]]> By: Candace http://techbypc.com/blog/2008/11/01/vampires/comment-page-1/#comment-433 Candace Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:15:55 +0000 http://techbypc.com/blog/?p=316#comment-433 I really had no idea that something like a radio without a clock could suck the power out. I know things like the television and computer but I didn't realize it was all of them. When I think of all the things that I keep plugged in on a regular basis...it's astounding. I'm probably paying a ton in extra money each money. Thank you for this, I am going to start unplugging my stuff from now on and see what the difference is in the bill! I really had no idea that something like a radio without a clock could suck the power out. I know things like the television and computer but I didn’t realize it was all of them. When I think of all the things that I keep plugged in on a regular basis…it’s astounding. I’m probably paying a ton in extra money each money. Thank you for this, I am going to start unplugging my stuff from now on and see what the difference is in the bill!

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