Eliminate Vampire Power
Vampire power - or phantom load - is the power used by devices whey they are turned off.
This may enable the device to come on quickly (such as your television) or provide secondary function (such as the digital clock on your microwave). This may also do nothing at all (like the power adapter for your laptop or cell phone).
You can reduce or eliminate vampire power by using a power strip. Several types of enhanced power strips are available on the market.
Motion-sensing Power Strips
These strips use motion sensors like those that control lighting in public areas to turn power on and off.
- Mount the motion sensor in a location that will detect your normal movements while working at your desk.
- Plug devices to be controlled into the bank labeled Motion Controlled.
- Set the timer between 30 seconds and 30 minutes.
That's it! There are even uncontrolled outlets for your desktop computer and other sensitive equipment.
If your office is in an active Planet Blue building, you can request a motion sensing power strip for your workspace.
Smart Strips
These strips control peripheral devices based on the power drawn by your computer.
- Plug your computer into the control outlet.
- Plug peripherals into the automatically switched outlets.
- When your computer goes into standby mode or is turned off, the peripheral devices will automatically turn off.
As with the motion-sensing power strips, there are uncontrolled outlets for sensitive equipment.
You can find these by typing the words "smart power strip" into your favorite search engine.
Remote-controlled Power Strips
Don't you hate it when you have everything plugged into a power strip but the strip is way under the desk and you have to crawl to get to it? This is where remote-controlled power strips come in handy.
Thes strips allow you to mount an on/off switch within easy reach, while the power strip with its unsightly cords is hidden away under your desk.
You can find these by typing the words "remote control power strip" into your favorite search engine.
Standard Power Strips
While less fancy than those above, if you remember to switch them off when not needed, standard surge protectors are just as effective in eliminating phantom load. By plugging your various adapters and peripherals into a standard power strip and then turning it off when not in use, you can eliminate the leaking electricity.