Stoopid computer question?

**GasoLane** · 29-01-2007, 05:40 PM

I've often been curious about the power used by the PC-Screen-Printer etc.
Anybody have a rough idea?

Please dont say 240v

29-01-2007, 05:48 PM

Inside a computer there are 12v rails and 5v rails as well as others... but the power supply unit PSU normally run off 230v or so (240v hasn't been used for a while in households :P)

If you wanted to run a computer from a car 12v system there is a DC to DC PSU but can only be used on old, non power hungry computers, otherwise an inverter is probably needed.

For the printer, they generally run off 9-18v, but I'm seeing more and more putting the 230VAC to whatever VDC converters inside the acutal units, as opposed to a adapter or the like. Older Canon printers run of 14v i think using the inline power adapter

CRT Monitors is definatly 230v, LCD monitors only need low voltage but most only take the 230VAC input.

Why do you ask?

If you want to run of solar panels or in a car, get a laptop and the 12v car plug, it'll save some hassles.

**GasoLane** · 29-01-2007, 05:54 PM

Sorry, I should have been more specific. What I meant was that a 100w light globe uses more electricity than a 60w globe, so how much power does my PC use?

AU2PWR · 29-01-2007, 05:55 PM

12V for Printer

pertuan · 29-01-2007, 05:56 PM

I'm assuming you mean power in Watts? Well.... I believe the breakdown is usually in the order of...

Mobo - 15-20W
GFX - 20-150W
HDD - 10W
FDD - 5W
Sound - 5W
Keyboard and Mouse - 5W
Monitor - 40-100W

I think those are the approximate figures. Of course, those figures are what I had about 3 years ago when I still had a desktop. I have a lappy now and its 65W total :P

**GasoLane** · 29-01-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pertuan

I'm assuming you mean power in Watts? Well.... I believe the breakdown is usually in the order of...

Mobo - 15-20W
GFX - 20-150W
HDD - 10W
FDD - 5W
Sound - 5W
Keyboard and Mouse - 5W
Monitor - 40-100W

I think those are the approximate figures. Of course, those figures are what I had about 3 years ago when I still had a desktop. I have a lappy now and its 65W total :P

Thats the word I was looking for, 'Watts', thanks pertuan. I should have said desktop as well

pertuan · 29-01-2007, 06:04 PM

No probs GasOLane

GFX cards nowadays are just crazy for power consumption. A single nVidia or ATi card can burn more watts than my entire loungeroom lighting!

29-01-2007, 06:07 PM

Yeah a computer power supply averages around 300w its able to supply, CRT monitor is about 140w, an LCD is about 1/3 of that.

A laser printer uses around 800w when printing, about 20w idle. A inkjet uses about 4w idle, 15w when printing.

Thats why its a good idea to set the computer sleep and hibernation times, Start > Control Panel > Power Options. Brings computer running consumption way down.

pertuan, are you an electrical engineer in the Navy?

TURBO_GHIA · 29-01-2007, 06:46 PM

so how much a year do you reckon it would cost to run a computer on 24/7 365 days a year just a computer ,monitor and rotor??

pertuan · 29-01-2007, 06:57 PM

You can calculate that yourself. Power you get from the electric company is calculated in KW/h.

So... say your computer takes... 500W to run.

24hrs a day x 365 days = 8760hrs.
Electricity at 15c/KWhr x 8760hrs = 657 dollars.

I think that looks right.

pauljh74 · 29-01-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pertuan

You can calculate that yourself. Power you get from the electric company is calculated in KW/h.

So... say your computer takes... 500W to run.

24hrs a day x 365 days = 8760hrs.
Electricity at 15c/KWhr x 8760hrs = 657 dollars.

I think that looks right.

500W would be the maximum it would use. Alot of PCs with a decent graphics card (but not top end), 1 HDD, a DVD burner etc wouldn't top 250W at any point in time. When not utilised to the max, they will use a fraction of the power. CPUs now reduce power consumption when the full CPU power isn't needed. The monitor can be set to go into standby mode after 10 mins. In standby mode power consumption is usually about 2 or 3 watts.

I run 1 PC pretty much 24/7, the other on average 5 hours a day, and my total power bill is around $160 for 2 months normally.

pertuan · 29-01-2007, 09:37 PM

Yeah... agree with that. I was only using 500W as an example cause its an easy fraction of KW/hr. hehe

normxb · 29-01-2007, 11:18 PM

Maybe a little O/T , but my wife & I used to run an "Auction Program" on computer for country auctioneers doing "On Farm Clearing Sales" In 1991 it was the latest whiz-bang thing out in the country , until then it was all done by hand (docket books / calculator) .

GasOLane , coming from Wagga , you've probably seen this type of thing .

A couple of sales were in the middle of paddocks , miles from power , so I bought a J Car Power Inverter 12v - 240 v (300w I think) . Using an old 286 , 386 or 486/66 & Epson LQ2400 Dot Matrix printer (needed for 2 part invoice paper), we used to get about 1 1/2 hrs out of a car battery , then we'd swap the battery & I'd go for a drive for a recharge .
Don't know what power usage newer computers use , but I found pentium 1's onwards wouldn't handle the the "knocking about/dust/dirt/heat/cold etc" . We used to work 6-7 weekends out of 8 .

Nowday's they use Laptops , (no inverters needed) with software that matches their Office Systems , but we originally got about 8 years work .

Who says computers must be in a "Dust Free Environment" , take a look at this , here's the Mrs at work :-

Just thought this would be something different .

Norm

**GasoLane** · 31-01-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normxb

GasOLane , coming from Wagga , you've probably seen this type of thing .
Norm

Aw, C'mon. We're not quite that backward here in the stix! ... our Trucks have wind up windows in them!

jonk · 31-01-2007, 10:33 PM

Try this:

http://files.pcapex.com/details.php?file=19

normxb · 01-02-2007, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Aw, C'mon. We're not quite that backward here in the stix! ... our Trucks have wind up windows in them!

Hey GasOLane
Don't worry mate , I'm only 1 1/2 hrs Nth of you & so do ours the last couple of years

: ..that one sold for $7,000 I think , with 2 pallets of spares including a spare reco motor . I thought It would have sold for a lot more than that.

There ya go , you could have had a spare for your Limo ..... :evil3:

dan.76 · 01-02-2007, 08:41 AM

my pc, lcd, phone/fax/printer and small stereo cost just under 3 cents an hour going by my centameter

bathurst77 · 01-02-2007, 12:44 PM

If you can claim tax for PC usage you will be right.
A few years ago My accountant worked out my tax deduction for electricity bill for necessay PCs in my home office. He worked it out according to the tax dept table.

Cant remember the number, but it was quite a good hit. Problem was the deduction was MORE then my entire electricity bill for the year, and I had to agree to occasionally using some electricity for lights, fridges, TV, stove, etc....

coupdy do · 01-02-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pertuan

You can calculate that yourself. Power you get from the electric company is calculated in KW/h.

So... say your computer takes... 500W to run.

24hrs a day x 365 days = 8760hrs.
Electricity at 15c/KWhr x 8760hrs = 657 dollars.

I think that looks right.

Try 24 x 365 x 0.5 = 4380 KWH
0.15 x 4380 = $657 same result hmmm

My old computer (2002) has a 400W power supply that powers everthing (including things you may not have added)
Most newish computers power down to much less (10W?)

**GasoLane** · 02-02-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normxb

Hey GasOLane
Don't worry mate , I'm only 1 1/2 hrs Nth of you

Wyalong... Young?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan.76

my pc, lcd, phone/fax/printer and small stereo cost just under 3 cents an hour going by my centameter

Ok, I'll show my ignorance (again). Whats a 'Centameter'?

b2tf · 02-02-2007, 02:21 PM

Rog, honestly who cares? :hihi:

BeStRaFe · 02-02-2007, 02:26 PM

i being an IT nerd have a watt-o-meter on my power here...

on a months average usage... my room

SERVER, PC, 2 x LCD - i chew about 90$ a month if they are left on all the time...
if its just my pc i get about 20$ a month ... (yeah my server is a whore)

dan.76 · 02-02-2007, 06:13 PM

http://www.centameter.com.au/features.htm

sorry , its a meter i use at work when people say their power bills are too high,

yes mam it is true air cons use that much power lol

**GasoLane** · 02-02-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan.76

sorry , its a meter i use at work when people say their power bills are too high,

yes mam it is true air cons use that much power lol

Cool! Can they be moved from appliance to appliance and where can I get one?

normxb · 02-02-2007, 10:43 PM

[QUOTE=GasOLane]Wyalong... Young?QUOTE]

"The Cherry Capital"

(Did a couple of sales near Wagga on the road to Coolamon .)

**GasoLane** · 02-02-2007, 10:46 PM

[QUOTE=normxb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Wyalong... Young?QUOTE]

"The Cherry Capital"

(Did a couple of sales near Wagga on the road to Coolamon .)

Ok, your safe then.. I dont drive through there at night

normxb · 02-02-2007, 10:50 PM

Hahaha,

If you're ever over this way , let us know , call in & say "G'day"

dan.76 · 03-02-2007, 08:33 AM

one part goes into your switchboard so you need an electrician to fit. you can buy them from elec wholesalers.
i have made up a test lead to check individual appliances , but its not for puplic use lol.

**GasoLane** · 03-02-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan.76

one part goes into your switchboard so you need an electrician to fit. you can buy them from elec wholesalers.
i have made up a test lead to check individual appliances , but its not for puplic use lol.

Bugger. I wanted one to show The Dragon Lady how much the clothes dryer costs and also to see how much power is used by all the things on 'stand by'