Re: CFL database

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

RickH <passport@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Funny how they are not mandating eliminating "wall warts" which run
>365/24 drawing their 5 to 10 watts of continuously wasted energy
>simply because manufacturers want easy UL approval by not putting the
>power suppies in devices anymore with on/off switches.

Here's a link to the thread I mentioned...

http://groups.google.com/group/comp.home.automation/browse_frm/thread/2f6a96e12b6d687b/d3ba11d3f333d0da?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=andrew+ward+power+supply#d3ba11d3f333d0da

A very quick measurement with my Kill A Watt of 3 different wallwarts...

5V 2A SMPS (ETA-USA WCS10-05SX-Y-2) NO LOAD 2VA 1W 0.4PF

5V 200mA LINEAR (CUI DV-530R) NO LOAD 0VA 0W 1.0PF (TOO LOW TO MEASURE IN
WATT OR VA MODE)

12V 500mA UNREGULATED (JAMECO ACU 120050) 6VA 1W 0.24PF

It would take a rather large and inefficient unregulated PS to waste 5-10W
when not loaded. However, the 6VA reading would be a problem for the utility
as they have to supply that much current (and have sufficient
infrastructure) even though it's doing no work and (in most residential
settings) they do not charge for it.

In Watt & VA mode, Kill A Watt accuracy is only ±1 unit so anybody wanting
more accuracy would have to use the kWh mode and measure over a lengthy time
period.

Much of Asia, most of Europe and California have mandated efficiency
standards that can only be met by using SMPS.

SIDEBAR 1: Control4 has proposed a TV channel to show the total power used
in a residence in real time. My utility (Duke) recently changed all the
meters in my neighborhood to ones that can be read remotely, so the basic
technology is mostly in place.

SIDEBAR 2: To me, it makes more sense to require the utilities to put
scrubbers on their stacks to capture mercury than to pretend that CFLs will
result in significant reductions in mercury. If they also capture the waste
heat and use it to generate electricity, it might pay for itself. But it's
probably cheaper to buy a politician.

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