Clock Radio USB stick player and low power usage

Forums › Off topic › Clock Radio USB stick player and low power usage

Jimmy22

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Ultimate Geek

#87413 28-Jul-2011 13:52

Hi All Im currently looking for a clock radio that plays from a usb mem stick and uses the lowest power possible because it will be on 24/7 and im sick of waking up to the voice of a DJ instead of actual music. That said has anyone found something they are happy with recently ? I have considered a 12v solar powered unit also . Im hoping to get something pretty smart that only lights up when someone is in the room and doesnt power up the usb until its required etc but maybe the price of power is not high enough to have those released ...yet. Your input is much appreciated.

Regards Wayne

timmmay

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#498941 28-Jul-2011 14:07

iPod dock clock radios are common and not too expensive. I bet they use so little power it shouldn't even be a consideration.

Jimmy22

377 posts

Ultimate Geek

#498989 28-Jul-2011 15:18

i have checked a couple of those out Timmay roughly $100-200 dollars and 10W odd

i discovered these ... http://consumersave.co.nz/product.php?printable=Y&productid=450

so basically zero watts and even saves watts by charging up other equipment, so that is top of the list currently. hopefully another 24/7 vampire appliance cast into the past. :)

......and then make my AA charger that runs of the phone line power ?!?! joking...

timmmay

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#498993 28-Jul-2011 15:29

10W is about $18/year. I guess it all adds up but I think in most houses there are bigger wins to be had - I guess if you shorten your shower by 10 seconds a day and you'll save more money than that.

Jimmy22

377 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499020 28-Jul-2011 16:14

hehe ,

yes the item will pay for itself over its life time even at my 22 dollars savings per year 25.7c/kwh. But it doesnt stop there so i expect that if i look at every item in the same way ill eventually save up to $200.00 per year from always on items . i was at 120w always on when i started this project, now savings are paying for the next items which will then save even more. 40w always on to go...

The 80/20 rule sort of applies, you can put 20% of the funds and effort in to get he first 80% of the result and then use the savings to pay for the rest and finally , um proffit ? ;)

timmmay

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#499022 28-Jul-2011 16:20

OCD win ;-)

Jimmy22

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Ultimate Geek

#499024 28-Jul-2011 16:31

yeah ocd or getting poor and wanting to save a bit of the plannet im not sure which so lets say both... you should read my book , ocd on a budget.

timmmay

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#499030 28-Jul-2011 16:42

I'm doing things to save power, and considerable expense, but i'm still on the big picture. There's no point me looking at clock radios when I run a fan heater in my office because it doesn't hold heat well! I should start a thread about those light fittings actually... also still tweaking my insulation, which is between my old and new ceilings so I need to have a go at it will a skill saw. My flatmate turning on the heat pump but leaving windows open isn't helping either.

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Jimmy22

377 posts

Ultimate Geek

#499044 28-Jul-2011 17:26

ah right ill elaborate a little .
well so far i have sold both tvs and got an led one , sold active power filter (100w always) got every light in the house bar a couple replaced in led and sold some old equipment and got replacments that are all low watts (standby) and added a few 6 way individually switchable boards so i can run just what i need to. Added a timer to my pvr to shut down between 12am and 630 am and got an old laptop on linux instead of simply surfing on 200w main computer...... But i still play xbox 360 and when i watch the telly i always have my amp running for sound etc so im just trying to eliminte the things i can with out destroying my enjoyment. i have worked through quite a few of the basics so its down to the small stuff now and then im done , i just cant let the job sit there unfinished as every morning i wake up im reminded that thats one of the few things that has escaped the chop ( yeah probably ocd hehe ) i think poor came right after the LCD/led TV...

you should post up your power saver projects , i know at least one person keen to see them !

last power bill was $140.00 in the middle of winter and although i close the doors / windows etc i still do all he same things i used to when it was $250.00 +   .

next plan is this toilet ...

http://www.caroma.co.nz/products/profile-5-with-integrated-hand-basin/?p=14

auckland council are about to charge for waste water in my area so that is the next plan... its a very smart design and could save 30% off my water bill too.

haha all this over an alarm clock :)

timmmay

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#499115 28-Jul-2011 20:27

Friend of mine has one of those toilets. Quite cool though not 100% practical - it's kinda a small basin.