Re: How to make DVR power off completely while not in use?
andy9798
Enthusiast - Level 3

Where I live 25 watts consumed 24/7 for a year is about $22. Chances are you can save more money elsewhere like driving less or reducing use of heating/ac.

(Watts X  Hours per Day  X  Days  X Cost  per kWh)/1000  =  $

( 25  X   24   X   365    X   .10071)/1000  =  $22.06

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Re: How to make DVR power off completely while not in use?
jmw1950
Specialist - Level 2

My recollection is the 6416 and 7216 draw closer to 40 watts. The 7232 is 'greener' at about 23 watts. The big problem with these devices is that low output power supplies aren't terribly efficient, especially when the design is 'cost driven'. There is NO difference that I can measure in power consumption between 'on' and 'off'. In fact the only difference I am aware of turning off the unit changes the font panel display, and puts the screensaver image out on the video outputs instead of the program. The two tuners remain on, and record each tuned channel into a 1 hour long circular buffer on the HDD. The bad news is the power consumption, the good news is you can turn on the DVR and watch up to an hour of program that was on before you turned on the DVR.

A simpler solution to your problem might be to connect the DVR to a timer that would turn on the device at times you are likely to want to use it.  The simplest ones are basically clock motors, and run on 1 or 2 watts. That way you would be able to get instant 'on' when you are likely to want it, and essentially zero consumption at other times.

My recollection is the ONT draws about 20 watts on average. Together the ONT and 7232 represent a significant portion of my total electric bill (about 10%, I don't have AC, and my heat and hot water are natural gas).. Part of how Verizon has lowered its electric bill is by raising yours. Telephone functions like dial tone and ring are powered from the Central office if you have a copper line, they are powered from the ONT plugged into the wall at your residence if you have FiOS telephone service.

As others have pointed out, actually disconnecting these devices from power has its drawbacks, because many of the functions are provided via the Internet, and the unit needs to boot up and be provisioned each time it is powered on, so while you may be able to get a TV picture within a couple of minutes of powering up, many other functions will not work for several more minutes.

If your unit ever 'crashes', you'll discover the picture comes back a lot sooner than the more advanced functions come back.

You also the run the risk that due to temporary issues, Verizon might not be able to provision your unit immediately. Verizon's equipment has down time. For most users that is a nuisance, it means some DVR functions are unavailable like PPV or Search or Program Guide, but the basic functions don't require contact with Verizon once provisioned and booted up. Obviously the more times  you have to be  provisioned, the greater the chance of problem.

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Re: How to make DVR power off completely while not in use?
Justin46
Legend

@mattheww wrote:

.........

My recollection is the ONT draws about 20 watts on average. Together the ONT and 7232 represent a significant portion of my total electric bill (about 10%). Part of how Verizon has lowered its electric bill is by raising yours. Telephone functions like dial tone and ring are powered from the Central office if you have a copper line, they are powered from the ONT plugged into the wall at your residence if you have FiOS telephone service.

.........


Your comment piqued my interest, so I went back and added up my electric bills for 2010, they amounted to almost $2200. And I estimated the annual cost for the ONT, one 7232 DVR and two 711 P2 boxes at about $95/year (of course the router adds some more). So the electrical cost to me is somewhere around 4-5% of the total cost. I figure the convenience is well worth it. But that is just my opinion, others obviously may have a very different view.

__________________________________
Justin
FiOS TV, Internet, and phone user
QIP7232, IMG 1.8, Build 02.54
Keller, TX 76248

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