Kettle Using Electricity When Plugged In But Not Switched On?

[1581960]

I've been told today that if you leave the kettle plugged into the wall socket it uses electricity even if you don't switch it on, is this correct? and if it is, what is happening and how much electricity is being used.
Many thanks for any enlightenment.

[Togo]

Strangely enough it is. The physical action of engaging the pins and loading the connected lead puts a small load on the circuit that a switch does not. It can be measured and is called a spike in technical language.

[Atheist]

Togo; If you unplug the kettle, where is there a waste of energy? Is it only with smart kettles?

[Atheist]

Ooops, I was too late. Are you saying that switching off the socket is not wasteful?

[1581960]

Thanks Togo, so leave it plugged in and turn it off at the wall socket when not in use is the economical way forward.

[Togo]

Another thing to consider whilst we ponder how "concerned " we allow ourselves to be bullied into. Think about how much you will save by switching off said kettle. A couple of £s a year if it is a power hungry EU specification smart kettle? Then ask yourself how much it costs to replace a wall socket due to a worn out switch or damaged gate due to constant unplugging or switching on and off. (the gate is the shutter that opens when the earth pin is inserted and closes when it is extracted and is a safety feature in our regulated supply). The common sense conclusion is that you will be paying a damned sight more for replacement sockets that you could possibly save after being misled by the interference nuisances.

[Hazlinny]

Can't go into a discussion re this but guy who came to fit a smart meter said exactly that (and not only for kettles) - as OP states.

[Atheist]

Togo; how on earth did you manage to bring politics into such an innocent question? Well, I can see how; but why?

[Atheist]

Togo;
"Then ask yourself how much it costs to replace a wall socket due to a worn out switch or damaged gate due to constant unplugging or switching on and off."
Reminds me of Hancock's radio ham. His landlady says "In and out, in and out! What about my my hall carpet!?!"

[1581960]

Hazlinny, can you detect energy flow on your smart meter when you plug and unplug or switch on and switch off?

[Old_Geezer]

I don't believe that a normal kettle has been designed with a default stand by mode. Is it a smart kettle ? Does it auto switch on when you get a mug ?

[Hazlinny]

I never even look at the meter - just a stoopid female! However, will look at it tomorrow.

[1581960]

No Old_Geezer, it doesn't put water in itself either.

[1581960]

Thanks Hazlinny, I'll be interested to know what you discover.

[Togo]

Just for info. If your kettle does have said smart chip in its circuitry, the chip will not be in the kettle. It will be in the base that the kettle sits on therefor lifting the kettle off the stand does not isolate the chip that does sip power minute amounts of power.

[archibaldy]

// how on earth did you manage to bring politics into such an innocent question? //

Very political, kettles.

[perseverer]

I'm not sure how sensitive a smart meter is and whether it would detect a plugged in kettle drawing current or not, but in order to have a chance of seeing it, you would have to disconnect everything else in the house, like fridge, tv, computer, etc but also microwave, gas hob/oven with built in clock, electric shower with pilot light on, smoke detector if wired in, etc etc. Life is too short.

[Hopkirk]

You would save more electricity by putting a fraction less water in when you boil it.

Stop worrying about tiny things.

[Togo]

Spot on "perse" as I said ...""The best thing you could do is switch your ears off when the psychological nudge teams start to speak.""

[Togo]

You are right too Hopkirk. How dependant on scare tactic advice are we supposed to become?

[Atheist]

Togo; Who exactly is frightening you?