They’re like that in this apartment we’re renting and I keep seeing them elsewhere. I don’t get it.

  • bobs_monkey@lemm.ee
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    2 days ago

    turn the switches that lead to anything such as lamps OFF when they’re not being used because it costs electricity to "keep the wire charged

    Lol what a donkey. For anyone that’s unaware, your meter spins when current is flowing, when a device is actively using power. If there’s no current flowing, the meter isn’t spinning. Just because a wire has potential doesn’t mean it’s actively drawing current, it only means it’s ready to do something, and any device that has the main feeder going through a physical switch (ie no standby like a computer or tv) has zero current path when the switch is open/off. Even devices in standby are drawing such a negligible amount of power that it doesn’t matter.

    My mom used to unplug everything all the time, and it took years to convince her that’s not how that works. She only finally got it when I became an electrician.

    You can test this theory yourself if you have a multimeter. Select ohms/continuity, and put the leads across the two prongs. If there is a resistance value present, it will draw current. If it says OL or 0 ohms, that means open line and it won’t draw anything.

    • skillissuer
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      2 days ago

      the only thing that would make a shred of sense would be reactive power from plugged but unused transformers and the like, and for this reason you should disconnect these when not in use. but the only loads of this type that matter are welders and such