[RMCF]

I was wondering does anyone know how a CRT compares to either Plasma or LCD in running costs?

[mikej]

My 32" Panasonic CRT is rated at 150W IIRC.

A quick check on the Panasonic website shows that their 32" LCDs look to be between 100-150W (they seem to have both max and average energy ratings)

However - most people seem to take the opportunity to increase their screensize when they make the move to a plasma or LCD

Their 42" LCDS look to be around 150-200W and plasmas use more power, at around 200-350W.

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by mikej

My 32" Panasonic CRT is rated at 150W IIRC.

A quick check on the Panasonic website shows that their 32" LCDs look to be between 100-150W (they seem to have both max and average energy ratings)

However - most people seem to take the opportunity to increase their screensize when they make the move to a plasma or LCD

Their 42" LCDS look to be around 150-200W and plasmas use more power, at around 200-350W.

Thats a big difference.

If India and China all get themselves a Plasma then thats the end of planet Earth.

[clemenzina]

I think the LCDs are very economical in standby.

I phoned Daewoo to ask about my 28" wide/flat screen CRT, they said it uses 1 watt in standby. It was a very quick answer and I was left a bit sceptical.

clemenzina

[fallenangle]

No need to be sceptical: 1W in standby is not unusual for many CRTs. If you check the instruction manual which should have come with your TV they usually tell you the typical power consumption both when on (max) and on standby.

I have manuals for several CRTs and these are the figures quoted :-

Two old ones:-

Sharp 28" 4:3 87W/<3W standby
Grundig 21" 4:3 65W/6W standby (surprisingly high but as I've never left it on standby no big deal)

Two slightly more recent ones:-

JVC HV-32P37S 32" WS 137W/2W standby

Sony KD-32DX15OU 32" WS 154W/1W standby

I've seen it claimed that all Philips CRTs use <3W on standby although, oddly, none of my Philips manuals (for a 21" and a portable 14" ) actually quote power consumption figures.

Anyway you can see it is simply wrong to say that LCDs and Plasmas necessarily use less electricity than a CRT even comparing equal screen sizes. As we all know most LCD/Plasma buyer 'upgrade' to a bigger screen that in operation may use more than twice the power of their previous CRT. Standby mode power consumption seems very similar across all types typically <3W.

Even if it was the maximum 3W and left on standby for a ridiculous 24/7 that would mean approximately one (KW/HR) unit of electricity used every 2 weeks. At current UK prices that would cost you around £5/year whether it's a CRT, LCD or Plasma.

[stevefish69]

My old Panasonic TX-36PD30 IIRC used about 150W

My Panny Plasma (depending on what's on) can use upto 480w

[NST]

Yes it seems that plasma TV's use the most power when running. All three (CRT/ LCD/ Plasma), normally have very low standby power consumption.

Personally I don't see why you'd want to leave a TV in standby, more so if it's only used a few hours a day. Best to turn it off at the wall imo.

[kruum]

Currently got a Sony KV-32FD1 FD Trinitron Wega that consumes about 180W.


Out the top of my head I know the current Samsung UE 32B* consumes around 90-95W, Sony KDL-32W5500 is 99W and the Samsung 32" LCD is higher offcourse.

[fallenangle]

Originally Posted by NST

Yes it seems that plasma TV's use the most power when running. All three (CRT/ LCD/ Plasma), normally have very low standby power consumption.

Personally I don't see why you'd want to leave a TV in standby, more so if it's only used a few hours a day. Best to turn it off at the wall imo.

I tend to agree with that last point, it's certainly what I have always done. But on other threads discussing this issue it has been stated that the current 'authorative' recommendation is actually not to turn off TVs and better to leave them on standby unless they're not likely to be used for a long time.

I think the theory is that electrical equipment fails most often during powering on and so in the longer term it's actually 'greener' to keep it on standby. There has also been mentioned the rarely thought about factor of the using the TV's power on/off button. They're often not that robust and if they break just how much will it cost (in all ways) to get it repaired? Far better to switch off at the socket but how many people can do that easily let alone want to do it?

Just think - if your TV fails you have to have it taken to a dump in a fossil fuel using vehicle and most of it'll probably end up in a landfill site. You then buy another TV likely delivered in another fossil fuel using vehicle to start the whole process all over again.

Alternatively you get in a repair man who has to travel to your home in a white van. He takes the TV away, repairs it, probably using a part shipped in from other side of the world, and then returns it. Just how much fossil fuel would all this use?

Weigh either scenario against standby running electricity costs and ironically it could well be that leaving your TV on standby might really be both the better 'greener' and financial long term option.

[clemenzina]

And, your borked TV may be shipped to India where innocent children may be paid 1 rupee a day for taking it to bits for the parts and be poisoned and injured

clemenzina

[NST]

Well, regardless of the pros and cons, if the Tories get their way it's goodbye to standby.

[Fozzybear]

Just dug out the user manual for my Sony 28" (28LS35) and found that it runs to about 90W in use and 0.5W in standby... far less than I expected. I'd thought that the standby power would be quite high. Glad I looked now!

[bonzobanana]

When you think about it power consumption seems fairly consistant for screen size. You don't go far wrong by assuming a bigger screen needs more power. Plasmas and CRTs tend to vary consumption with brightness where as lcds are more consistant.

[clemenzina]

Originally Posted by Fozzybear

Just dug out the user manual for my Sony 28" (28LS35) and found that it runs to about 90W in use and 0.5W in standby...

I'm glad you looked too, Fozzy, and thanks for posting that here. Now I don't find it so unbelievable that my Daewoo only does 1w in standby.

clemenzina