DAB v's Analogue Radio?

[Thurston Garden]

Having no TV, our radio is on lots. So I have been wondering about power consumption. Our radio is a Pure Evoke XT consuming 200mA on 230V, so by my rusty physics, thats 46W. The radio is on for about 8 hours a day and more at the weekends, say 70 hours a week. That's 3640 hours a year or 167kW - is that 167kWh?

I am trying to weigh up replacing the DAB radio with something like this

Notwithstanding buying another radio - in the medium term, will the reduced power consumption be worth it?

[Muddypause]

Are you sure there will be a reduction in power consumption? The problem is comparing like with like.

The example I heard was that of two radios with identical amplifier circuits, the one with a DAB tuner will consume more power. But I recently replaced my old worn out analogue radio with a DAB tuner that runs through a separate amplifier. I put a power meter on both, and found that the DAB tuner/amplifier combo consumed a third of the power of the old analogue radio alone.

Your calculations suggest you currently use less than 170 units of electricity per year - £17 worth in terms of money. I think this is pretty small, and the amount of savings to be made, regardless of what you do, are consequently even smaller. That's assuming that the analogue radio uses less power.

And for comparison, I wonder how much a wide-flat-3,000-channel-digital-with-surround-sound-but-nothing-on-worth-watching TV uses?

[Thurston Garden]

Thanks Stew - 170kWh it is then. I was not too sure. That being the case, any further reduction is not likely to warrant changing the radio and losing some of the stations I listen to in the kitchen.

I think I will now move the aerial from the living room to the kitchen and stick with what I have.

[Muddypause]

I think I will now move the aerial from the living room to the kitchen and stick with what I have.

I run my DAB radio through the TV aerial; apparently it shouldn't be very good, but I usually get zero signal errors with it.

[Thomzo]

I have a wind up radio (like this one: http://www.ecohamster.co.uk/product_inf ... bspvsf4215)

It is brilliant. It's solar powered as well so I just leave it on the windowsill. It will run all day, even on an overcast day, as long as it's not in the shade. If it does run out of charge you can either wind it up or plug it in.

Zoe

[Paul]

Intreasting, Ive got DAB, 9 Stations, But NO BBC Channels, this is with a outside aerial, there is NO FM service where I live & TV Reception is a joke,
unless you have SKY,
I think Power use on DAB is very small,
of course using Internet Radio when "On Line" saves having the Radio on as well as your PC, and here its the only way to get BBC Radio stations.

Paul

[ina]

I saw a digital wind-up radio offered somewhere - it took a lot more winding-up time than the analogue version... So that's what I have, too. Unfortunately it has been overcast a lot recently so I am having to do more winding than I'd like to! But it certainly saves a lot of energy, as I'm not tempted to leave it on just as background noise.

[Jandra]

Hi,
I'm not enirely sure, but isn't the info mentioned on the radio the peak-power use? Like when it's on maximum volume?

I've purchased a power use meter (in the Netherlands) for the equivalent of 20 pounds and discovered a lot of energy leaks in our household. I think it's the only way to really know how much power an appliance uses. You just put it between the plug and the wall outlet. Easy and well worth the purchase. It'll save more energy than it cost to produce the meter.

Regards, Jandra

[Thurston Garden]

Sorry, I aint been getting notifications on this tread for some reason.....

Paul - have you tried a home made DAB twig? I made one last year and increased my reception dramatically. Very easy to do. And yes, to radio on line, it's a good thing if your putta is on anyway.

Jandra - my calculations were based on the info on the plug, but you might well be right about that being peak useage... Even better!

Ina - Yes, I think you are right digital wind up radios are (I hear) hard work!

[Paul]

Hi "Thurston Garden" Yes I read your item on home made DAB Aerials, Going to Give it a go Thanks.

Paul