Standby power or idle power is the electric power electrical appliances consume while in standby mode. It only occurs because some devices claim to be "switched off" on the electronic interface but are actually in a different state (standby mode) such as to power a clock or allow for remote control power-on. Idle current is the electric current electrical appliances draw while in standby mode. In the past, standby power was primarily a non-issue for users, electricity providers, manufacturers, and government regulators. In the twenty-first century's first decade, awareness of the issue grew, becoming essential for all parties. Up to the middle of the decade, standby power was often several watts or tens of watts per appliance. By 2010, regulations were in place in most developed countries restricting standby power of devices sold to one watt (and half that from 2013). Vampire power, also known as vampire draw, vampire load, phantom power, phantom draw, phantom load, or ghost load, is the electric power electrical appliances consume while energized but not in any use (including standby mode). Vampire current is the electric current electrical appliances draw while energized but not in any use. A vampire device is one that draws vampire power. Vampire devices still consume a small amount of power despite not being in use and such power is a complete waste. For all vampire devices, just turning off the power plug or power brick (where possible) or disconnecting it from the power point (mains) can completely solve the problem of vampire power consumption. Having a mains outlets with power switches or a power strip with a power switch eliminates the need to disconnect all devices from the power-point.
Definition Standby power is electrical power used by appliances and equipment while switched off or not performing their primary function, often waiting to be activated by a remote control. That power is consumed by internal or external power supplies, remote control receivers, text or light displays, and circuits energized when the device is plugged in, even when switched off. While this definition is inadequate for technical purposes, there is no formal definition; an international standards committee is developing a definition and test procedure. The term is often used more loosely for any device that continuously must use a small amount of power even when not active; for example, a telephone answering machine must be available at all times to receive calls, and switching off to save energy is not an option. Timers, powered thermostats, and the like are other examples. An uninterruptible power supply could be considered to waste standby power only when the computer it protects is off. Properly disconnecting standby power is, at worst, inconvenient; powering down completely, for example, an answering machine not handling a call, renders it useless.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages Standby power is often consumed for a purpose, although in the past there was little effort to minimize power used.
It may enable a device to switch on very quickly without delays that might otherwise occur ("instant-on"). It was used, for example, with CRT television receivers (now supplanted mainly by flat screens), where a small current was passed through the tube heater, avoiding a delay of many seconds in starting up. It may be used to power a remote control receiver so that when infrared or radio-frequency signals are sent by a remote control device, the equipment can respond, typically by changing from standby to fully on mode. Standby power may be used to power a display, operate a clock, etc., without switching the equipment to full power. Battery-powered equipment connected to mains electricity can be kept fully charged although switched on; for example, a mobile telephone can be ready to receive calls without depleting its battery charge. It enables devices to either turn on or off into a standby state automatically without human intervention (for example, a timer or Wake-on-LAN).
Disadvantages The disadvantages of standby power mainly relate to the energy used (each watt of continuous standby consumes about 9 kWh of electricity per year) and the cost thereof. Devices often used ten watts or more before adopting the One Watt Initiative.
Magnitude Standby power makes up a portion of homes' miscellaneous electric load, including small appliances, security systems, and other small power draws. The U.S. Department of Energy said in 2008:
Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These "phantom" loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.
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