Cost of Keeping Components on All the Time?


Hi Everyone,

The original poster in the thread below asked whether he should keep his equipment on at all times. The answer was pretty much "it depends."

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1228170308&openflup&39&4#39

My question is more about cost: I'm curious if anyone has noticed an increase in their electric bill from keeping things like SS power amps, tube amps, AVRs on all the time. Of course I realize that too would depend on various factors, but I'm just looking for some overall guidance. Are we talking a few bucks a month, or more/less? My components are listed below to give you a sense of the scale I'm talking about. I'd prefer to leave everything on all the time except when I'll be away overnight.

Logitech Squeezebox (for streaming WAVs from my PC)
Cambridge Audio DacMagic
Cary SLP-05 (for stereo pre)
Adcom GFA-555 (for stereo amp)
Arcam AVR-600 (for HT/surround)
Oppo BDP-103 (Blu-ray video and SACD)
Vandersteen 2ceSig IIs (mains; bi-amp/bi-wire capable)
Vandersteen 2W (subwoofer)
Vandersteen VSM-1 (surrounds)
meowist

Showing 1 response by almarg

As you realize, the cost will vary dramatically depending on the particular components that are in the system, especially power amplifiers and components that contain power amplifiers (receivers, integrated amplifiers, powered subs). Although the $30/month figure Elizabeth provided is in the right ballpark for your system.

I looked up the power consumption specs for your components, which are available for all of them other than the Squeezebox (which undoubtedly draws almost negligible power):

DACMagic: 5 watts
SLP-05: 25W standby; 75W operating
GFA-555: 72W idle; much more when playing music at high volume
AVR-600: 3W standby; 120W idle; much more when playing music at high volume
BDP-103: 0.5W standby; 35W operating
2W Sub: 10W idle; much more when playing music at high volume
Squeezebox: ~5W (my guess)

Using "idle" or "operating" values as applicable (although I don't know how optimal leaving the SLP-05 "operating" would be with respect to tube life), that all adds up to 322 watts, or 0.322 kilowatts. Multiplying by 730 hours in an average month results in 235 kilowatt-hours per month.

Multiply 235 by your cost per kW-hr to get $/month. The additional power consumption that occurs when you are playing music would add to that.

Regards,
-- Al