TV: Measure power consumption - how it works
Older televisions in particular have a very high power consumption. Measuring this in concrete terms is no longer complicated and may help you to decide whether the television should remain or should give way to a new model.
How to measure your TV's power consumption
All you need to measure the power consumption of your TV is an energy meter. The handling of the small devices is usually very simple.
- Energy meters are now available from specialist dealers for around 10 euros. Alternatively, you can borrow an energy meter from many energy suppliers, consumer centers or climate protection agencies.
- Insert the energy meter between the TV plug and the socket. The device then determines the power consumption of the TV.
- With most energy meters, you can calculate the power consumption of your television not only in kilowatts, but also very clearly in euros. To do this, you need to know beforehand what you are paying for a kilowatt hour of electricity and have entered the corresponding amount.
- Another factor that should not be underestimated is the stand-by mode of the television. Depending on the age of the TV, a not so small amount comes together during the year. If you measure all household appliances in stand-by mode, you may be amazed at how much money you spent senselessly on them. With a power strip with a toggle switch, however, you can easily stop this waste of money.
Buy TV - tips from the CHIP test center
If your old device uses too much power, you may need to buy a new TV. We'll tell you what to look out for in the next article.