Outlet Plugs
Outlet Plugs
Do electric cords/power plugs still use electricity when you only have one end plugged into the outlet?
I almost never unplugged any electric cord (a power cord) from my wall outlet unless I plan to move it to a different room. So I was wondering, does energy still run through the cord when one end is plugged to an outlet (and the other end is connected to nothing)?
Ex: My cell phone charger is connected to my wall outlet but my cell isn't connected to the charger.
Another Question: If it does use electricity, is it better to use outlet boxes ?
Hey Chrome, good question. There are two possibilities. If you're talking about an extension cord and nothing is plugged into the other end, then no, it is not using power. Many things do have something called a, "Phantom Load." This was mentioned in a previous answer refering to VCR's, TV's and other appliances. Anything that can be turned on and off with a remote, anything with a clock built in, like a microwave, and anything with a transformer will be using a small amount of power all the time, even if you turn it off. Your little cell phone charger utilizes what is known as a wall pack transformer. Even with the phone unplugged, it is using about 1 watt 24/7. Not much, but if you look around your home, you probably have 50 phantom loads.
We have a home that is powered by the wind and sun, and phantom loads are a huge problem for people that live on a finite amount of electricity. Our entertainment stand is plugged into a surge arrestor power strip. At night or if we go away, we just turn off the strip. We have another in the kitchen with all those little chargers plugged in, the cordless vacuum, cell phones, razor chargers and such. The strip is on if someone is charging something, the rest of the time it is off.
If you're really curious about power usage around your house, there is a great device called a, "Kill-A-Watt Meter." It looks like a lamp timer, just plug it in, then plug in anything you like, a cell phone charger, or chest freezer. It tells you how much power it is using, and can track it for a week or a month, and tell you how many Kilowatthours it used, or KWH. Then you can look at your electric bill to see how much you pay for a KWH, and figure out exactly how much it costs in dollars and cents to run your freezer, fridge, TV, or whatever. The meter costs about $30 online. Google it and look for some vendors.
Good luck, and take care, Rudydoo
How to reset a GFCI receptacle duplex outlet plug
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