Category Archives: Power

How long do power supplies last?

Published April 24, 2023 / by EnergyEfficianado

Hello there! Today we’re going to answer the age-old question: how long do power supplies typically last? I suppose the question is only as old as computers have been around, but you get the idea. Well, the short answer is that it depends on a variety of factors including what you do with the computer, what the climate is like where you live, and who made your power supply unit. Generally you should get at least a few years out of any well-made power supply unit. Luckily with a coupon for 10% off, they aren’t expensive even when they do need to be replaced.

I thought it would be helpful to first understand what exactly a power supply does. The power supply is responsible for converting the AC power from your wall outlet into the DC power that your computer needs to operate. Without a power supply your computer simply won’t work at all. It’s a critical component of your system that needs to function properly.

A major factor that contributes to the lifespan of a power supply is how it’s used. If a computer is used for long periods of time or is subjected to heavy usage (such as running demanding applications like graphics editing software or playing games), the power supply may wear out more quickly than if it’s only used occasionally for basic tasks like looking up recipes and cat pictures. In general, a power supply is designed to last around 100,000 hours of use, but this can vary greatly depending on the quality of the components used in its construction.

Something else to consider is the environment in which the computer is used. For example, if you live in a hot & humid climate the power supply may not last as long as it would in a cooler and drier environment. Higher temperatures and humidity can cause components to degrade more quickly. Even in a cool & dry climate, if the computer is used in an area with a lot of dust or other particles in the air the build up may cause the power supply to wear out faster.

Brand and manufacturer are also important to think about. Not all power supplies are created equal, and some brands and manufacturers produce more reliable products than others. It’s always a good idea to do some research and read reviews from other users to get an idea of which brands and models of power supplies are the most reliable and which ones people haven’t had such good experiences with. Some of the most well-known and respected power supply brands include Corsair, EVGA, and Seasonic.

You should also keep in mind that not all power supplies are interchangeable. Different computers require different wattages and voltages so it’s important to double check that the power supply you have is compatible with your computer. Some high-end computers even require specialized power supplies with features like modular cabling or high efficiency ratings. If you’re not sure what type of power supply your computer requires you can consult the manufacturer’s specifications or seek the advice of a qualified technician.

Las but not least, it’s worth noting that power supplies can fail for a variety of reasons even if they’re relatively new or of high quality. The most common reasons for sudden power supply failure are power surges, electrical storms, and component defects. In some cases a power supply may simply stop working for no apparent reason. If you suspect that your power supply has failed you should get it checked by a professional to avoid potential damage to other components in your system.

While power supplies are generally designed to last for a long time, it’s important to keep an eye on their performance and replace them if they begin to show signs of wear or failure. With some care and maintenance your computer’s power supply should last for many years.

vpn energy usage

Can You Save Energy By Using a VPN?

Published July 30, 2019 / by EnergyEfficianado

Do Virtual Private Networks Help or Hurt Your Overall Power Usage?

VPNs are all the rage right now. People want to be able to use the internet while knowing that their information is not being monitored or sold in any way. And VPN’s boast of having thousands of servers world-wide that they use to anonymize you while you surf. There’s also discounts for virtual private networks that make it much more budget-friendly for a lot of people.

Does that mean that when you use a VPN, it uses less energy resources than regular internet surfing?

What We Found Out:

VPN’s use more energy because of a thing called ‘standby power’. VPN’s need to keep pinging servers to keep their connections alive, which means that, when your VPN is active on your computer or portable device, it’ll use energy even when you’re not using the internet.

Here’s some more ways to cut down on a big problem with energy usage: standby power

Save Energy by Cutting Down on Standby Power 

A big source of wasted energy that many people do not think about is that which is caused by standby power. Standby power refers to the energy that your appliances are absorbing when they are plugged in. Even if appliances, such as your coffee maker, hairdryer or blender, off, they’ll be absorbing energy as long as they remain plugged in. It may not seem like they should be absorbing much energy since they are switched off, but you might be surprised: roughly five to ten percent of energy use in residential homes is a result of standby power usage. By cutting down on the amount of standby power you use, you can save up to $100 a year. The following are three ways in which you can lower the amount of standby power you use: 

• Unplug your appliances – This is probably the easiest way that you can reduce standby power. Simply unplug the appliances that you are not using. Obviously, some things need to remain plugged in, such as your refrigerator. However, smaller appliances such as toasters and microwaves don’t need to be plugged in all the time. Larger appliances that you use throughout the day, such as TV’s and computers, should be unplugged if you go out of town for more than a day to help save energy. 

• Invest in a power strip – Unplugging your appliances may be easy, but it’s also somewhat inconvenient, especially if you make use of a lot of different appliances throughout the day. A power strip makes it easy to cut down on standby power because you can plug in a number of things into the same power source. Power strips come with a switch that allows you to shut off the flow of energy to everything plugged into it – much easier than having to unplug each appliance separately. Not to mention that power strips also act as protection against potential power surges.

• Invest in products that have been approved by Energy Star – Energy Star is a label of excellence that designates certain products as meeting or even exceeding the energy efficiency standards that have been set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Products with the Energy Star label tend to have much lower standby power usage than products without the Energy Star designation. They also tend to use less energy overall. While these products may be more expensive, they will help cut down on your energy use, thereby saving you on your energy bills over the long run.  

These are just three easy ways in which you can cut down on the energy you are wasting through standby power use.