Would I be right in thinking that Apple Macs' sleep mode actually draws very little (negligible) current? 6 answers

Asked by clagnut 6 months ago

1. 
   dctanner

   I'd think so, considering it lasts a good week.

2. 
   Steviebee

   Check it out ,<a href="http://www.apple.com/environment/energyefficiency/>here</a>

3. 
   nicepaul

   @dctanner - Clagnut might also have been asking about desktop Macs in sleep mode.

4. 
   Matt

   I try and turn it off when possible, but I reckon sleep mode is still quite energy efficient.

5. 
   Cyfer13

   Negligible yes, but it still exists. There is a term used recently called Vampire Power. http://www.grinningplanet.com/2004/10-26/vampire-power-electricity-article.htm

   Many appliances use power even when off. Computers, cell phones charges, steroes, tv's, etc all use electricity even when they are not on.

   So if you're trying to reduce your waste, then turn off and unplug your appliances when not in use.

6. 
   SharpSharp

   A couple of years ago I bought a plug in power meter which tells me how much current, voltage and power a device is using. It also tracks power consumption over time i.e. how many units your using. It's great and realy concentrates the mind when it comes to turning things off.
   Anyhow, I currently have it on my iMac and when I put it to Sleep it draws 3 watts, so next to nothing. When I shut it down it continues to draw 2 watts! When I unplug it, it draws 0 watts.
   So, if you don't flick the switch on the wall then you might as use Sleep! I tend to Sleep it during the day and turn it off at the wall at night.
   Now the real power savings come with screen brightness. As I type this on my 20" iMac with my brightness at minimum the meter reads 47 watts, give me a second... OK my screen is now at full brightness and the meter reads 69 watts!
   That's getting close to a 50% increase in power consumption!!