Hobbies And Interests
Smart Strip Technology
A smart strip looks almost identical to a regular power strip. The device has a long circuit that connects several outlets. You can plug different electronic devices into one strip, which uses one plug to plug into your wall outlet. Unlike a regular power strip, a smart strip has a circuitry system that detects the amount of watts given off by a plugged-in device. If the device suddenly drops to a lower wattage, the smart strip cuts the power off to the device, preventing the device from drawing phantom energy.
Advantages
As of 2011, around 15 percent of the energy consumed in your home comes from electronic devices, according to the University of North Carolina. A smart strip will lower the amount of electricity drawn by your devices, which may lower your monthly utility bills.
Smart strips also give you more freedom in the setup of your home. For example, if you want to plug your computer, printer, external drive and MP3 player in to an outlet around your desk, you would need at least two wall outlets. Because a smart strip has multiple outlets connected to one plug, you can plug multiple electronic devices in practically anywhere.
Disadvantages
While the sensor circuitry located inside a smart strip does a decent job of noting sudden power drops, the technology may not work for devices you want to run in standby mode. For example, a smart strip may turn a DVR off when you̵7;re not using the TV. With the power turned off, the DVR won̵7;t record TV shows. If the smart strip does turn the power back on to the device, it may cause delays or interruptions in the recording.
Tips
You can also save power by simply unplugging devices whenever you know you won̵7;t use them again for several hours or days. For example, if you watch TV at the same time during the week, you can keep the TV and cable box unplugged for the rest of the day. Unplugging a device may save as much or more power as using a device on a smart strip.