California enforcing TV-set efficiency laws

[newhallone]

And while they are at it they should cut down on RF noise emissions as well.

[Robert Grant]

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned in the discussion of flat panel TV and electrical consumption: The huge number of flat TVs that are on 24/7, with nobody watching them, in stores, offices, restaurants, etc, even when they are closed, and some of these are locked in rooms which may have people in them maybe five times a year!

[zenithfan1]

There is one at my work that is on all night like that locked in a display case. It displays children's artwork, how exciting and worth the waste of electricity.

[Eric H]

AFAIK 600 watts for a Plasma is the worst case scenario, i.e. bright white screen, average is probably considerably less.

LCDs use the same amount no matter what, unless it's a dimming type set.

[Eric H]

Mitsubishi has come out with a DLP set using Lasers for the light source, it's super efficient using 135 watts for a 58" screen!

Reports are it has an outstanding picture but the drawback is it's $7000 price tag, this will probably come down of course as electronics tend to do.

[zenith2134]

Cool Eric. Haven't heard about that Mitsubishi yet. I like the look of Samsung's new LED models but they too are pricey at ~3999 for a 55incher IIRC.

About the RF noise, it certainly would be nice to see that issue worked on. The powerlines are getting very noisy due to all of the computers and related equipment and now all the tv's and other entertainment electronics utilizing a switchmode supply....

[ChrisW6ATV]

Originally Posted by Robert Grant

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned in the discussion of flat panel TV and electrical consumption: The huge number of flat TVs that are on 24/7, with nobody watching them, in stores, offices, restaurants, etc, even when they are closed, and some of these are locked in rooms which may have people in them maybe five times a year!

Well, they better not even think about public information displays, then. Lets see, for a while I had 240 29" color CRT sets, 40 15" color CRT sets, and at least 60 23" B&W sets, all on 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and that was just ONE airport terminal!

Some of the 29" and 15" sets have been retired since the peak, though.

[Tom_Ryan]

Originally Posted by ChrisW6ATV

Well, they better not even think about public information displays, then. Lets see, for a while I had 240 29" color CRT sets, 40 15" color CRT sets, and at least 60 23" B&W sets, all on 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and that was just ONE airport terminal!

Some of the 29" and 15" sets have been retired since the peak, though.

Where do you see the majority of CRT use now? I think most of the major airports are starting to use flat panels.

[Ed in Tx]

Originally Posted by RCAkid

I purchased two Sharp LCD sets, one a 32" and one a 46" and I was absolutely amazed to find out they draw 280 and 350 watts respectively. HOLY COW!!!!!

Have you tried turning down the backlight? (Assuming the Sharps have that - a Viewsonic I bought had no backlight control so I got rid of it.) My 40" Sony LCD will draw a maximum of 225 Watts up at "5" which is way too bright anyway, down at 2 or 3 where I watch it, it only draws 90-100 Watts, produces a bright enough picture with excellent black levels, and runs a heck of a lot cooler.

[OvenMaster]

Originally Posted by site123a

But it makes you think tho, first "the man" tells you what kind of lightbulbs you can get ...

...which is why I'm stocking up on incandescents. Seriously.

Tom

[zenith2134]

I'm sure y'all know this but the CFL bulbs can be a hazmat-grade mess when they break since they release mercury everywhere. Progress? hmm...I like the warmth of incandescents too

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by zenith2134

I'm sure y'all know this but the CFL bulbs can be a hazmat-grade mess when they break since they release mercury everywhere. Progress? hmm...I like the warmth of incandescents too

If that's true, there's a lot of mercury in the ground here. Each time one of those bulbs melts down, the tube falls out and smashes on the ground below the fixture. I quit using them inside the house after our barn almost burned down from a CFL bulb bursing into flames. Scary!

Charles

[kc8adu]

Originally Posted by RCAkid

LCD sets can run off of AA batteries, why should the tv's be so power hungry? IMHO Just laziness in the design department. There is really no reason for that kind of power consumption....and no wonder the caps crap out....that is a lot of juice for those little, cheap caps to deal with.

Tone down power consumption and reliability will probably be boosted.

Roy

i have a few of those lcd pocket sets.
lucky to get an hour of play on 4 aa alks.
still energy hogs.

[Geoff Bourquin]

...is standby power. I have a Mitsubishi DLP from 2004. The silly thing uses about 60 watts when it is off. There is a fan on the chassis that runs 24/7 to keep it from overheating. I'm pretty sure that they cut that back a lot in their second generation DLPs. In the summer that's wasted power, but in the winter it contributes to keeping the house warm, so I don't worry too much about it.

[OvenMaster]

Originally Posted by zenith2134

I'm sure y'all know this but the CFL bulbs can be a hazmat-grade mess when they break since they release mercury everywhere. Progress? hmm...

Originally Posted by OvenMaster

...which is why I'm stocking up on incandescents. Seriously.