08-09-2022, 09:37 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-09-2022, 09:45 AM by Mike Watterson.)
(06-09-2022, 06:01 AM)ppppenguin Wrote: Although Refugee is technically correct this is a very minor effect. To a decent approximation, anyting with a switchmode PSU will use the same amount of electricty on any voltage within its range.
Lights will be dimmer and use less. You might or might not notice this.
...
Overall effect on bills? For most people it will be negligible.
Agree with all except lights. That only slightly affects halogens (due to marked barreter like thermistor effect) and more affects non-halogen tungsten, but not by the % voltage change as the response isn't linear due thermistor effect. It would increase life of filament lamps a bit!
CFLs and LEDs might be as unaffected as a SMPSU. Even traditional tubes not much affected? You can test by measuring light output change by dropping voltage using 20V transformer correctly phased (you don't want 260V).
So, I'd agree negligible effect on bills unless you use electric room heating with no thermostat. Negligible effect if there is a thermostat.
It would make a difference if millions of AC/DC TVs with dropper resistors still in use.
