How much power is my plasma using??

Question

My roommates and I just bought a 42in Samsung plasma TV, model number PN42A450, for our college apartment. Currently it is set up in my parents' house and has been in use for a couple months now.

My mom has told me that she has noticed an increase of almost $100 a month on their electricity bill around the same time we started using the TV. Now I am hoping that this increase isn't because of the TV alone as we don't want a huge electricity bill for our apartment once we move in.

I would just like to know if anyone knows more about the subject and if there is anyway I can tell how much power the TV is using.

Thanks

Answer 1

The power consumption in Watts in on the back of the TV somewhere.  Look by the data plate where the Model Number and Serial Number are located.  If it is not on the tag it is engraved or empbossed in the plastic.

Answer 2

I have not experienced any major change in my electric bill. If it is summer your mom may be using ac and not thinking about it. I also have a 42in Plasma.

Answer 3

Electrical use is billed in kilowatt hours.  For instance, if a lamp uses 200 watts an hour, and you used that lamp for a total of 10 hours in a month, you'll be billed for 2 kilowatts.  The national average for one kilowatt of power is about $0.15/kilowatt.   You can check your power bill for more information about your costs.

You can find the exact amount of wattage that your appliance uses by looking on the back of the TV, or in the back of your manual.

My guess is that your TV probably uses between 200-300Watts.  This meant if you ran your TV for 8 hours a day, every day, you'd only be looking at a total increase in your bill of about $11 max.  Even running the TV 24/7, it wouldn't even be $40.

More than likely, the other cause for the increase is your air conditioner.

There are a lot of things you can do to reduce your electricity usage - from turning lights off when you leave the room, keeping curtains closed to help keep the hot sun out, and turning off the air conditioner when no one is home.

Answer 4

It'll take a little research to figure out what the tv is rated to draw, but you can tell EXACTLY how much power it (or any other appliance up to 1800 watts) is using with the linked electrical watt meter.

The tv rating isn't necessarily even that accurate since the actual power draw will vary depending on what you have the brightness set at and what sort of material you are viewing (light vs dark scenes).