3 way sockets for electrical plugs

[hershal]

Hi,

We're doing a new build home, and I had the idea that all electrical sockets for plugs should have 3 way switches:
1 - always on
2 - on or off controlled by master
3 - always off

This should allow for when leaving the house, flicking off the master switch, and thereby should save energy.

Do such sockets exist?
How much energy might it save?

I'm not keen on having a separate switch next to the socket as a work around, as this would look messy in my opinion.

 

[sparksburnout]

that's your fault for not getting it calibrated.

Well you can't rush a good Rogan Josh so no point watching the time. Anyway you can fit a few more beers in if you lose track.

 

[NDG Elecs]

When my kids are older and they refuse to go to sleep I am going to have their individual bedrooms on there own 20A radials. I will have two 20A DP switches next to my armchair and will disconnect them from there! Although it will be entirely pointless as most gadgets they will have will likely be wireless and battery operated..

 

[HandySparks]

I just had a thought that many items may be sapping electricity where the plug is on, but item not being used

The thought was that these items ideally would be switched off for the sake of saving electricity, but practically we don't bother at the moment

The amount of power being sapped by most modern appliances on standby will be trivial. Don't bother. It'll cost you more in extra wiring and sockets than you'll ever save.

 

[Dave OCD]

Although if the new Consumer Unit is fitted at the correct height and properly labelled you could easily switch the relevant circuits on and off from there.

 

[KEV 1 N]

Although if the new Consumer Unit is fitted at the correct height and properly labelled you could easily switch the relevant circuits on and off from there.

Probably not a good idea to use the mcb as an on/off switch on a regular basis.

 

[NDG Elecs]

Probably not a good idea to use the mcb as an on/off switch on a regular basis.

I disagree slightly Kev. A dedicated DP switch would be a better solution, and I presume you are hinting that a 60898 (or similar) is likely not designed nor tested for constant repetitive switching. But as far as I am aware, without the BYB to hand, a MCB can be used for switching purposes.

So I slightly agree and slightly disagree with both Kev and Dave! Moi, a fence sitter? !!

 

[KEV 1 N]

So I slightly agree and slightly disagree with both Kev and Dave! Moi, a fence sitter? !!

Sometimes the best place to be, perched on the fence!
A garage owner was using the mcb to operate a compressor for a while, in the end the mcb felt mechanically slack and sometimes would not stay on.....so the mcb had to be replaced and told them to use the isolator that was already there!

 

[Dave OCD]

I wasn't suggesting under load, only to remove the 'standby' power consumption from appliances that were standing by. But anyway whatever method it's a lot of faff for negligible gain.

 

[StephenRowley]

I wouldnt bother saving standby energy if you actually work it out its a few quid a year. Modern appliances don't use much juice on standby

 

[w0z]

A saving of only 10W for 11 hours a day, every day, saves 40kWh a year. Ok not a bank breaker but not negligible either.
I agree it isn’t practical to switch off appliances with clocks, and this now includes TV sets with built in recorders, (if you use your TV to record). AV amps and sound bars have quite significant standby wattages (well the ones I’ve measured have.) For convenience sake I use a cheap remote radio switch to kill power to a couple of different sockets, ( they don’t remember the remote if there’s a power cut, but that’s very rare).
On a slightly irrelevant note my Panasonic microwave has a stupidly low power factor, VA were about 10 x W! I wonder if anyone else has measured theirs, I tried 2 different meters but not tried a fluke yet.

 

[dmxtothemax]

With the current interest in home auto mation and saving electricity, their may be a market for it. But you need to do your home work and be sure that the money spent implimenting the system is justified by the savings made. You would need to change the switchs and possiblly provide a second "master" circuit, which is not insignificant.

 

[w0z]

Agreed, that’s why I think the radio controlled plug-in sockets is a good solution and it’s flexible, you can move the sockets around as things change.

 

[Squid]

Just install wireless controlled sockets that you turn on or off remotely, with the savings you make you should get your money back in about 10 years.

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