I have just received a home energy monitor and spend a while trying to track
down where my last 2p of electricity was being used.

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference. This
circuit feeds an adjacent Freidland transformer (house built in 1988) which
feeds a satisfyingly loud buzzer and an illuminated button.

I wondered if there is a more modern equivalent to the iron transformer that
is suitable for this purpose as I recall reading that switched mode power
supplies do not have a resistive load.

Please don't shoot me down for being tight - but this thing is on
continuously and if there is a simple alternative then I would like to
consider it - but I quite like the illuminated button and the loud buzzer
which is only the size of a cotton bobbin. Most bing bongs look naff IMHO.

On Nov 26, 9:33*am, "John" wrote:
I have just received a home energy monitor and spend a while trying to track
down where my last 2p of electricity was being used.

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference.

Is your energy monitor the kind that actually measures current, not
power (e.g. it clamps around the incoming cable)? If so the actual
power consumption of the bell transformer is probably a lot less than
it indicates, because it will be largely 'wattless' (inductive)
current.

Richard.
http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/

On Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:33:38 -0000, John wrote:

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference..
This circuit feeds an adjacent Freidland transformer (house built in
1988) which feeds a satisfyingly loud buzzer and an illuminated button..

How warm is the transformer? If it's taking any significant power
it'll be warm if not hot. TBH I'd be surprised that one of the energy
monitors can reliably see just a bell transformer, I'd be looking for
something else on the same circuit.

I wondered if there is a more modern equivalent to the iron transformer
that is suitable for this purpose as I recall reading that switched mode
power supplies do not have a resistive load.

They are more effcient and don't waste as much when idle.

Please don't shoot me down for being tight - but this thing is on
continuously ...

Small 24/7 loads soon add up. At 10p/unit 1W 24/7 costs 87.6p/year.
If your bell transformer is wasting (ie as heat not powering that
little bulb in the push) 5W thats just over £4/year. A small SMPSU,
if you can find a suitable one, is going to be £10 to £20.

What is the rating of the bulb in the push? You can probably make
more savings by changing that to a modern LED. Best would be modern
LED and SMPSU. In fact with a modern high effciency LED it might be
practical to go to batteries, but the buzzer may not buzz if it
relies on the AC from the mains.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:33:38 -0000, "John"
wrote:

I have just received a home energy monitor and spend a while trying to track
down where my last 2p of electricity was being used.

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference. This
circuit feeds an adjacent Freidland transformer (house built in 1988) which
feeds a satisfyingly loud buzzer and an illuminated button.

I wondered if there is a more modern equivalent to the iron transformer that
is suitable for this purpose as I recall reading that switched mode power
supplies do not have a resistive load.

Please don't shoot me down for being tight - but this thing is on
continuously and if there is a simple alternative then I would like to
consider it - but I quite like the illuminated button and the loud buzzer
which is only the size of a cotton bobbin. Most bing bongs look naff IMHO.

Most of that consumption (unless you have an awful lot of callers) is
probably being eaten up by the bulb in the pushbutton.

--
Frank Erskine

"Richard Russell" wrote in message
...
On Nov 26, 9:33 am, "John" wrote:
I have just received a home energy monitor and spend a while trying to
track
down where my last 2p of electricity was being used.

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference.

Is your energy monitor the kind that actually measures current, not
power (e.g. it clamps around the incoming cable)? If so the actual
power consumption of the bell transformer is probably a lot less than
it indicates, because it will be largely 'wattless' (inductive)
current.

Richard.
http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/


Yes - It clamps around the incoming main cable from the meter.

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
ll.co.uk...
On Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:33:38 -0000, John wrote:

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference.
This circuit feeds an adjacent Freidland transformer (house built in
1988) which feeds a satisfyingly loud buzzer and an illuminated button.

How warm is the transformer? If it's taking any significant power
it'll be warm if not hot. TBH I'd be surprised that one of the energy
monitors can reliably see just a bell transformer, I'd be looking for
something else on the same circuit.

I wondered if there is a more modern equivalent to the iron transformer
that is suitable for this purpose as I recall reading that switched mode
power supplies do not have a resistive load.

They are more effcient and don't waste as much when idle.

Please don't shoot me down for being tight - but this thing is on
continuously ...

Small 24/7 loads soon add up. At 10p/unit 1W 24/7 costs 87.6p/year.
If your bell transformer is wasting (ie as heat not powering that
little bulb in the push) 5W thats just over £4/year. A small SMPSU,
if you can find a suitable one, is going to be £10 to £20.

What is the rating of the bulb in the push? You can probably make
more savings by changing that to a modern LED. Best would be modern
LED and SMPSU. In fact with a modern high effciency LED it might be
practical to go to batteries, but the buzzer may not buzz if it
relies on the AC from the mains.

--
Cheers
Dave.





I don't know the wattage - I got the bulb from a model railway shop when the
original one failed - I have the transformer voltage on a low setting so the
bulb isn't driven too hard. It is like a grain of rice. At the time there
wasn't much choice of Brass illuminated buttons. This one certainly won't
made with changing the bulb in mind. I guess I could consider doing away
with it now the council has installed a new lamppost across the road that
shines into my porch.

On Nov 26, 9:33*am, "John" wrote:
I have just received a home energy monitor and spend a while trying to track
down where my last 2p of electricity was being used.

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference.


Now there's an idea. If I connect a few more bell transformers in the
cupboard under the stairs, a couple of watts of heating in there will
help to keep it dry. I'd spend money and energy to do that!

On Nov 26, 9:33*am, "John" wrote:
I have just received a home energy monitor and spend a while trying to track
down where my last 2p of electricity was being used.

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference. This
circuit feeds an adjacent Freidland transformer (house built in 1988) which
feeds a satisfyingly loud buzzer and an illuminated button.

I wondered if there is a more modern equivalent to the iron transformer that
is suitable for this purpose as I recall reading that switched mode power
supplies do not have a resistive load.

Please don't shoot me down for being tight - but this thing is on
continuously and if there is a simple alternative then I would like to
consider it - but I quite like the illuminated button and the loud buzzer
which is only the size of a cotton bobbin. Most bing bongs look naff IMHO..

If you believe what the typical "energy monitor" (which it isn't)
tells you you are deluding yourself

On Nov 26, 9:33*am, "John" wrote:
I have just received a home energy monitor and spend a while trying to track
down where my last 2p of electricity was being used.

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference. This
circuit feeds an adjacent Freidland transformer (house built in 1988) which
feeds a satisfyingly loud buzzer and an illuminated button.

I wondered if there is a more modern equivalent to the iron transformer that
is suitable for this purpose as I recall reading that switched mode power
supplies do not have a resistive load.

Please don't shoot me down for being tight - but this thing is on
continuously and if there is a simple alternative then I would like to
consider it - but I quite like the illuminated button and the loud buzzer
which is only the size of a cotton bobbin. Most bing bongs look naff IMHO..

http://www.screwfix.com/cats/A332960.../Door-Knockers

On Nov 26, 9:33*am, "John" wrote:
I have just received a home energy monitor and spend a while trying to track
down where my last 2p of electricity was being used.

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference. This
circuit feeds an adjacent Freidland transformer (house built in 1988) which
feeds a satisfyingly loud buzzer and an illuminated button.

I wondered if there is a more modern equivalent to the iron transformer that
is suitable for this purpose as I recall reading that switched mode power
supplies do not have a resistive load.

Please don't shoot me down for being tight - but this thing is on
continuously and if there is a simple alternative then I would like to
consider it - but I quite like the illuminated button and the loud buzzer
which is only the size of a cotton bobbin. Most bing bongs look naff IMHO..


It might be wasting a couple of watts, total cost £1.70-£2 a year. The
lightbulb might be wasting another watt, maybe another 85p a year. I
cant see it being worth doing anything about, there are marginally
more energy efficient supplies available but they come with their own
issues, and I'd sooner stick with an iron one myself.


NT

On Nov 26, 9:33*am, "John" wrote:
I have just received a home energy monitor and spend a while trying to track
down where my last 2p of electricity was being used.

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference. This
circuit feeds an adjacent Freidland transformer (house built in 1988) which
feeds a satisfyingly loud buzzer and an illuminated button.

I wondered if there is a more modern equivalent to the iron transformer that
is suitable for this purpose as I recall reading that switched mode power
supplies do not have a resistive load.

Please don't shoot me down for being tight - but this thing is on
continuously and if there is a simple alternative then I would like to
consider it - but I quite like the illuminated button and the loud buzzer
which is only the size of a cotton bobbin. Most bing bongs look naff IMHO..

http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Doorbell


NT

on 26/11/2010, Frank Erskine supposed :
Most of that consumption (unless you have an awful lot of callers) is
probably being eaten up by the bulb in the pushbutton.

Budget around half a watt or so for that. You could reduce it by
replacing it with a suitable white LED.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On Nov 26, 9:33*am, "John" wrote:
I have just received a home energy monitor and spend a while trying to track
down where my last 2p of electricity was being used.

I found that isolating the door-bell circuit breaker made a difference. This
circuit feeds an adjacent Freidland transformer (house built in 1988) which
feeds a satisfyingly loud buzzer and an illuminated button.

I wondered if there is a more modern equivalent to the iron transformer that
is suitable for this purpose as I recall reading that switched mode power
supplies do not have a resistive load.

Please don't shoot me down for being tight - but this thing is on
continuously and if there is a simple alternative then I would like to
consider it - but I quite like the illuminated button and the loud buzzer
which is only the size of a cotton bobbin. Most bing bongs look naff IMHO..

If you are that way inclined, don't forget your electric ooker (if ou
have one and if it's left turned on) The clock and associated
electrics uses power.