![FREE Embertec SmartSwitches Valued at $100 Each [Vic]](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/47/71847.jpg?h=36731fa1)
Bendigo Bank - Generation Green
Save in excess of 10% on your electricity costs, just by installing Embertec SmartSwitches to your TVs and home computers.
FREE Embertec SmartSwitches Valued at $100 Each [Vic]
70
Related Stores
closed Comments
Have these installed and recommend. Not sure of the stated >10% saving on power by eliminating standby power usage. Only downside is programming the harmony remote with these installed.
this is a government incentive so the installer goes out to your home and install the switch (double adapter + remote sensor) and you sign the form which they get $$ from the government.
From the FAQ:
Q: How do the Embertec SmartSwitch™, Standby Power Controllers work?
A: Standby Power Controllers monitor human interaction and electrical parameters, determines the user power requirement and turns appliances on or off at exactly the right time.
For AV (TV) Standby Power Controllers when the user switches appliances off, standby power is shut off completely after a short period of time. Power is immediately restored when the TV is reactivated with the remote control.
For PC Standby Power Controllers whenever the computer goes into standby, hibernate or off mode, power is removed from all of the connected peripherals. Power is immediately and automatically restored when the computer is reactivated in the normal way.
I don't understand how that is possible. If power is cut off from the appliance, how does the appliance have power to turn on from a remote, or when you press a button?
I think they have a IR receiver that sits near your TV? My friend has one (not sure if it is this exactly) that had to be programmed to the TV power button.
Doesn't that mean that the SmartSwitch is using standby power in the same way that the TV would?
Yes but it turns off all standby items like dvd players etc. and its standby power is much less than the tv.
plus the power draw of the smartswitch itself is rated at less than 1W, from memory, which would be considerably less than most lcd / plasma tv standby power draw.
No Programming - IR sensor is activated by using any IR remote. The device has 3 settings 1hour timer - 2 hour timer and 3 hour timer after which it starts to blink - warning you of the impending power off to all devices connected. You then use any remote to either change volume or change channel and the device timer resets. All it needs is IR signals.
ok but how does it work in the case of PCs or other things that power on via a physical button?
The PC one is different in that it does not remove power to the pc itself just all other devices such as printers etc. when the pc goes into standby/hibernation.
The switch itself has an IR sensor that picks up the remote signal.
The FAQ is a good read especially from Page 4 where it talks about the actual devices. It'll probably answer a number a questions that people may have
I don't really want someone from an "energy" company coming over to install them. They will probably be salesman trying to get you to buy other stuff.
You might be lucky and get a sales woman!
I can assure the installer did not try to sell me anything. The company makes its profit from government incentive and selling the REC's. Not unlike the free light globe and shower heads that was government sponsered.
These are great - highly recommended.
Work seamlessly especially for AV.It will save you money in the long run by not having your AV equipment on standby and using unnecessary power.
Some AV equipment can use a bit of power in standby.My parents had these installed by a door knocker. He didn't try to sell them anything else or anything.
They hate the switches. When they're watching TV if no button has been pressed for an hour this switch cuts the power automatically.. Not sure if they were set up incorrectly or somethingSame for my dad, he threw it out after a week.
yeah thats one of the 'features' of these. they can be set to switch off connected devices after 1, 2 or 3 hours of use (i.e. because dad falls asleep on the couch). If an infra red remote control button is pressed and the smart switch IR reciever sees this, the timeout will be reset.
the timeout can also be set to 'off' so this wont happen at all.
Press the button on the ir sensor for 2 seconds, when it starts to blink, press the button for the delay you want. 1 press =1 hour. Defaults to 1 hour. Mine works a treat. I got given 4.
I found the AV power switch really annoying.
1) It has a NEON GREEN retina burning flashing light sensor that needs to be in remote line of sight to detect IR, which randomly flashes as well as flashing everytime you press a button on a remote.
2) Whilst you can program the device to turn off after 1,2,3 hours of no activity, the thing has a mind of its own, and after a week or so reverts back to 1 hour - so turns off everything whilst you are watching TV - unless you are quick enough to catch it
3) If you are using a harmony remote it screws with your programming, as when you try to turn the TV on the first button press only reenables power back to your devices, you need to press the power again to turn the TV on.Sounds good in theory, poor execution in my opinion.
1, I got used to it. I suppose it was designed to be eye catching. Put a tinted plastic over the led to make it less bright?
2, mine hasn't reverted. Have been using it for a few weeks now. if the power goes out or power point turned off, it will revert.
3, you can reprogram the remote to turn on power twice with a delay in between.
I'm old school- I turn the powerpoint off- it's not hard.
got one. i find it useless. their bloody huge and take up a ton of space. think of the size of 1/2 of a 1L carton
these devices are crock of sh!te! seen them working, they turn off your TV randomly, it requires a 3-step process to turn your TV On or Off, what a JOKE!
Whatever - i'd rather hit my power button on my remote twice (not three times) to turn my TV on from zero power then lean over my tall tv cabinet and turn it on/off at the wall!
The random turn off isn't random - you can preset it to turn off after 1, 2 or 3 hours.
It's so when people walk away from the TV and just leave it on that it will turn off to save power after the predetermined time frame.Geeeez sooo hardddd
There is no way these could save 10% of your power bill, unless you don't have a kettle, a fridge, a washing machine or a dryer.
False advertising, and they should get pinged for it.
If I turn off my lcd tv by pushing the power button on TV, does it consume less electricity compare to using the remote?
Probably be the same - really depends on if it's in standby mode (ie. it can be woken up using the power button on the remote).
The only way to ensure its not using any power at all is to switch it off at the wall… or use these devices.
There are two scenarios here:
1> a power button on the TV that does the same as the remote ie standby mode (no change)
2> a power button on the TV that powers the TV down and needs to be pressed again before the remote can turn the TV on, usually with a mechanical feel. Not sure what the power consumption of these are.
hahahah i had a mate who was installing these. let me tell you chaps, the bucks they make for installing these is more than the bucks you'll "save" for having these installed. the poor bugger used to tell me how many times he would get doors slammed in his face or people telling him to f*ck off! in the end, the shit he copped wasn't worth it and he threw the towel in. according to him, the contractor he worked for got paid good bucks for every plug these buggers give away. they were expected to give away about 40 of these a day, and then he (the installer) would make some nice commission. he also got incentives like free beers, free bbq's etc. the people that mainly do this are backpackers who are poor and trying to stack up the cash to go travelling and spend on booze and drugs. the sales pitch is 'these devices will save you $500 bucks a year' and they have to say that at least 3 times in their pitch so that the poor unsuspecting sod gives in and lets them in. they do what they say they will do, but most people opt to not bother with the trouble that comes with them (bright led, having to reprogram them when they reset, having the devices turn the tv's off, losing timer recorded data). there were even reports of these devices "blowing up" tv's, resulting in smoke and sparks.
i had one of these fellows come to my door. he was some heavily tattooed punk with piercings all over and as predicted pulled the sales pitch on me. when i said not interested, he then decided to cut the bullish*t and tell me he needed to install 4 plugs for me so that he could 'get his commission' (probably to score some more tats or drugs). He then said, i could unplug them after he took a photo of them plugged in and then sell them on ebay for a $100 bucks each. I laughed at the prospect, the kid probably thought i was born yesterday, and told him where he could stuff his plugs..
Woohoo free stuff, pity it's only in VIC.