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PC Trickle Saver - Officeworks RRP $59.95, Now $4.45

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PC Trickle Saver - Officeworks RRP $59.95, Now $4.45
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jwh on 03/03/2011 - 23:26 files.ozbargain.com.au (3912 clicks)
Last edited 03/03/2011 - 23:44

Ok so I've noticed this deal has been posted before (back in January).

https://www.tricklestar.com/AU/150PC-AU-W.shtml

However I dropped in to an Officeworks today and noticed they're going for just $4.50 now. With a ridiculous RRP of $59, I'm not surprised these didn't sell well before. And whilst these are supposed to be used on PCs, recent TV's with a USB port will work just as well! In fact that's what I've done to shut down everything else connected to my TV once it turns off.

Photo says $5.93, but it scanned at the register for $4.50, so I'm sure it will pay itself off at that price.

edit: Just checked the invoice, it's actually $4.45. So save yourself another $0.05 :)

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  • issh on 03/03/2011 - 23:30

    Do you have the receipt???
    Just wondering…

    or should this be enough for PM

  • blitz on 03/03/2011 - 23:34
    +10

    Well, for those who don't know what this is, it cuts off the power to your peripherals when not in use. Review here:
    http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/PC-TrickleSaver-Revie…

    • ZaFrOoNaLdO on 03/03/2011 - 23:39

      was about to ask what it is..

    • ESEMCE on 04/03/2011 - 10:30

      So it's like the Jackson Energy Saving powerboard (linked below), except it detects that the PC is witched off by USB?
      I presume you plug a powerboard into the output and it powers down anything plugged into the powerboard.
      http://products.planetark.org/paproducts/jackson.cfm

      • MattyD on 04/03/2011 - 10:41

        I was all excited to plug my samsung tv peripherals (wdtv, hdd's, wii, brp etc) into one of the 'energy saving' powerboards (http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/39430) but soon discovered that lots of devices don't seem compatible with surge protected boards (keep turning on/off!). I wonder if this is the another way to achieve the same result (i.e. tv off: peripherals off)?

        • Evil-Elmo on 04/03/2011 - 11:02

          I use the above Crest board on my computer, seems to work well there at turning speakers, monitor, switch, and various adapters etc. off when the computer goes off. Would quite like another one for my TV, receiver, etc.

          What I really want is a power switch operable by IR so that I can use my harmony remote to turn it on and off as needed. I can find RF ones, but no IR ones.

        • ESEMCE on 04/03/2011 - 11:32
          +1

          You just need a master device that has operating power usage of more than, and a standby power of less than, 30Watts. If the standby power is near 30W, you will get the fluctuation you're worried about.
          I have this issue with my Desktop PC.. Switchmode power supplies are apparently bad for this situation, they tend to draw power in dribs and drabs when in standby, so can spike for a second above the cutoff level, then drop below again.
          It means you have to find a different master device.
          Works great for my Home Theatre setup though.

        • MattyD on 04/03/2011 - 12:13

          Thanks guys. Scubacoles: all the problems I had were when the TV was on - hdd's turning off in the middle of movies, wii/brp turning off while loading a disc etc. I actually assumed it had to do with the surge protection, i.e. the subtle changes in draw from the devices were interpreted as spikes and power was cut to that plug.

          I'm open to being edumacated by savvier users though…

      • ESEMCE on 04/03/2011 - 12:26
        +1

        Dunno what was going on then!
        Possibly a faulty product?
        A TV ought to be drawing well above the required power.
        However, once again, if it has a switchmode power supply, they tend to draw power in surges, so it may have been drawing power above the cutoff, then stopped drawing power for long enough to trigger the relay.
        Lots of devices have switchmode power supplies now, as they're more efficient and physically smaller. than the old Transformer style.

        This could be the solution you're looking for assuming power to the USB port is off when the telly is off (although it'll take up a USB slot in the telly… which may well only have one!)

        • MattyD on 04/03/2011 - 12:56

          Ta again. Probably not a fault as I tried an identical board with same result.

          Not too bothered to dedicate a USB slot - I've got 2 and 4 hdmi.

          For $5 I can but try!

  • toomuchdogfur on 03/03/2011 - 23:42
    +7

    Important note: make sure your PC actually powers off its USB ports when it switches off, otherwise this will do nothing. Many PCs nowadays will leave their USB ports powered while off so that they can charge devices and whatnot.

    If your PC has a BIOS option for "green" standby or "EPA compliant" or something along those lines, then switching that on will ensure USB ports are powered off with the computer.

    (Source: I have one of these and had to tweak the BIOS as above for it to work. I suspect the cheap prices are due to a high number of returns caused by people not understanding the above!)

  • ozshaz on 04/03/2011 - 07:41

    hey thats a good deal..but which ow is this is in..which state..thanks

  • catmao on 04/03/2011 - 08:52

    seems a good deal. does it only work when your pc is off? or it cuts power to peripherals not in use even your pc is on??

    • retiredfeline on 04/03/2011 - 09:20
      +1

      No, it's just a dumb relay that is controlled by the presence of USB power, so PC on = peripherals on, PC off = peripherals off. Works as long as USB ports don't get standby power.

  • Tilduke on 04/03/2011 - 10:04

    Considering using this for my home theater system. Speaker system, PS3, TV, Wii all sit on standby which is really unfortunate.

    • ESEMCE on 04/03/2011 - 10:32

      It needs a USB socket that gets powered down when the host device is switched off..
      If you don't have such a USB socket, this is the device you want. I have a couple and they work well.
      http://products.planetark.org/paproducts/jackson.cfm

    • jamessyc on 04/03/2011 - 11:35

      Would the PC Trickle Saver work if i plug it into the USB port of the TV??

      • ESEMCE on 04/03/2011 - 11:39

        It will if the USB port powers down with the Telly.. plug in an iPod or something similar and see if it charges..

        • jamessyc on 04/03/2011 - 11:41

          thanks…good idea

      • jamessyc on 04/03/2011 - 11:41
        +1

        ok just read the thread on a previous post for this same item(http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/38509)…and it seemed to work on their LG TV

  • mxyzptik on 04/03/2011 - 10:08
    +6

    Can't you just pull the plug out - and save another $4.45?

    Just asking :)

    • timbo83 on 04/03/2011 - 10:18
      +5

      For me this is made difficult as the powerpoint is behind the entertainment unit.

      Otherwise agree, just switch it off :)

      • mxyzptik on 04/03/2011 - 10:26

        Maybe we should box & sell the solution. "100% compatible with all appliances. $49.99 reduced to $2.99 for a limited time only."

    • llama on 04/03/2011 - 10:26
      +4

      Can't you just switch off what you don't need? That way you make PERMANENT savings.

      EG: A scanner: Switch it on when you need, which is what… 10 hours a year? Compared to plugged into this thing, so the scanner turns on EVERY time you use your computer.

      I cannot really see the point of devices like this. Standby power is negligable for most modern devices… 1 Watt or so. Each watt costs you about $1.75 per year.

      If you seriously want to save energy, look at the BIGGEST power consumers first. No point worrying about a couple of Watts a year if you have poor insulation, an old inefficient fridge or air conditioner etc.

      • mxyzptik on 04/03/2011 - 10:31

        I just turned off a light (100 watts @ $1.75 a watt per year = $175)!

      • ESEMCE on 04/03/2011 - 10:33
        +1

        Standby power is often quite a lot more than 1 Watt.
        Typically at least 2 and anything up to 10.

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standby_power
        I've seen firsthand devices with 30W standby power!

        I have a Jackson Powerboard with my HT Receiver as the Master (draws 0.5W in standby) The powerboard turns off my cooling fan, xbox360, DVD player, HTPC and TV. Each draws roughly 2W in standby, so that's at least 8W saved plus the ease of not having to manually turn on/off the cooling fan that moves the heat out of my entertainment unit.
        It's worth it to me for convenience if nothing else.

        • nickj on 04/03/2011 - 10:56
          +1

          Absolutely. I did a home energy audit a few years back, and it's not at all obvious how much power an appliance is using in standby mode.

          The worst offenders for us for standby/non-active power consumption:
          CRT TV (from around 2000) - 18 Watts.
          Xbox (original, not 360) - 9 Watts.
          Computers (various) - 23 Watts, 16 watts, 12 watts, 21 Watts.
          LG washing machine (from 2006) - 26 watts.

          The one that annoyed me the most was the washing machine. People leave those plugged in all the time, it is doing absolutely nothing when in standby, and I had even got a water rebate because it - so it was water efficient but NOT energy efficient.

        • ESEMCE on 04/03/2011 - 11:35
          +1

          26 watts for a washing machine!
          Mine has a hard-wire On-Off switch thankfully.

          I haven't measured my PC, but I know it cycles the power-board on/off with the new power supply I installed 6 months ago. The old one was fine though.

      • toomuchdogfur on 04/03/2011 - 11:28

        If you have lots of PC accessories plugged into an inaccessible powerboard (in my case, three monitors, a set of speakers and a printer) then this is an easy and convienient way to save power - in my case, it saves me from crawling under the desk or switching off each monitor individually!

        Also its pretty cool when switching the PC on and off - everything you need turns on when you press the PC's power button, and vice versa when shutting down.

        (Btw I paid $10 for mine - despite the convienience there is no way this is worth its RRP, as you won't save that much power and remote controlled powerboards can be had for $40)

      • daydream on 04/03/2011 - 13:13

        Switch devices on/off when needed. Use a powerboard/extension if hard to reach or need to be grouped to one switch.
        I know we mulitask but surely we don't need to have every related device on standby, everytime we use the PC/TV.

        • ESEMCE on 04/03/2011 - 13:24

          Well I pretty much do..
          I have my speakers and 2 monitors as slaves.. I'll turn off (standby) the second monitor if I don't need it.
          Printer is a laser which is off (not even plugged in) for 99.99% of the year but apparently shouldn't be plugged in as slave anyway.

  • altomic on 04/03/2011 - 10:46

    for unit entertainment unit with the power point behind them and hence inaccessible - I once saw somewhere these special "extension" cords. you plug one end into the powerpoint which you then insert the powerboard plug into the back of that plug. the cord just leads to a switch. (so basically it is a cord that extends the switch so you have the switch closer/mmore accessible. you got it? has anyone seen these?

    • ESEMCE on 04/03/2011 - 10:48

      I've never seen them, but I have used a safety switch extension cord for that purpose.. just hit the Test button on the safety switch to turn off, then the reset button to turn on.

      • TeaEarlGreyHot on 04/03/2011 - 22:39

        Points for lateral thinking…

        ~~
        \_/7

    • TeaEarlGreyHot on 04/03/2011 - 22:41

      I've never seen one,,, and I've been looking for one for years.

      I'd always thought that it'd be a good product but hadn't ever found one.

      ~~
      \_/7

  • Vladdo on 04/03/2011 - 11:17

    I bought 4 of these for $14 each.. I for the life of my can't get any of them to work on 3 pcs that i own.. checked the bios and switched USB modes but still doesn't work..

  • Saul Goodman on 04/03/2011 - 11:39
    +1

    I bought one of these a few weeks ago and it DIDN'T WORK on both our PC's
    No wonder they are almost giving them away

    • ESEMCE on 04/03/2011 - 12:29
      +1

      Check that power is being disabled to USB devices when the computer is off. Quite often these days, USB power will stay on to power/recharge USB devices.
      You should be able to change the setting for USB in your BIOS. (If you have a mac, they always have power to USB, I'm pretty sure this is not a user accessible setting, at least without hacking)

  • prankster on 04/03/2011 - 14:00

    ok whilst i still don't really know what it does lol
    i went to sydney cbd OW but they didn't have any and said hornsby and dee why were the last ones to have it .. lol

  • thespot on 04/03/2011 - 14:02
    +1

    None left in metro vic just got told by ow in yarraville

  • mxyzptik on 04/03/2011 - 14:06
    +1

    … imagine what we could do if we could utilize the energy applied to this … 2,000 views of this page, trips to OW etc :)

    just joshing :)

    It looks a good bargain if u need it, can find it and get it to work.

  • MattyD on 04/03/2011 - 15:07
    +2

    Here's a QLD update: no idea if they'll price match but their system only shows 6 in QLD stores; 4 at Underwood and I think the other 2 were at Ipswich.

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