Gadgets, especially TV and multimedia devices, are now essential parts of our world. Almost all households use a TV, Cd player, DVD player, etc. And these devices all have their power consumption levels. Yes, all multimedia and gadget have specific electricity Amps they consume.
However, estimating the exact watt can be pretty tricky, especially if you usually use all your devices simultaneously. Luckily, there is a way to tell how many Amps your TV set consumes.
What is Amps?
Amps, short for Ampere, are standard units of measurement electricity companies use to define electricity. At the same time, Amperage is the strength of the current. An amp is one unit of stable electrical current. Amps are used to calculate the electricity consumption.
You can measure your home Amps rating through your circuit breaker. A circuit breaker is an electrical switch designed to safeguard an electrical circuit from any damage. This damage can be from a short circuit or excess current from an overload. Generally, its function is to stop current flow once an electrical fault is detected.
A stated Amperage allows your circuit breaker to work and provides your home with electricity. To find out your home’s Amperage, check the handle of your circuit breaker.
Most household circuit breaker carries about 15 – 20 Amps. For newer homes, the Amperage is usually higher. Nonetheless, it is advisable to know how many Amps your devices use. We will be calculating the Amps a TV uses.
How to Calculate Amps
To correctly calculate how many Amps your TV uses, you must:
- First, know the number of Amps your circuit breaker carries.
- Then, check your TV’s label or manual to know how many watts and volts the TV will use.
- Divide the number of watts by the number of volts.
- The result will be the maximum amount of Amperes your TV will require from your circuit.
How Many Amps Does a TV Use?
The amount of wattage a TV uses depends on some factors. The most significant factor is the screen of your TV. The TV screen consumes more energy as it is the largest part and does most of the work. Other factors that influence the number of Amps a TV uses include:
- Screen technology
- Brightness
- Contrast
- Volume
- Backlight
- Display size
- Integration features
- Smart TV capability
Generally, most TVs come with a label or user manual that shows how many watts and volts the TV will use. Today’s most common TV screen technologies are OLED, LCD, LED, QLED, etc.; plasma screens, especially CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), are gradually becoming extinct.
Averagely, it takes 1 amp to power a regular flat TV, while a Smart TV uses 1.0 Amp per hour. In addition, on average, it takes about 1.67 Amps to use an old Plasma TV, while it takes about 0.83 Amps to use an LCD TV of the same size as the Plasma. A 40-inch panel LED TV will use about 0.42 Amps, while an OLED TV of the same size will use 0.6 Amps.
For instance, a 50-inch TV will require about 200 watts of power. That is, if you are connecting your TV set to a 120V, you will need about 1.6 Amps energy. Note that the higher the voltage your TV requires, the lower the Amperage it will use.
How to Reduce TV Energy Consumption
Newer models of TV come with tons of settings. These settings and options can help you save cost on power consumption. Below are some tips on how to reduce your TV energy consumption:
- Reduce screen brightness
You can manually reduce your screen brightness using your TV remote control. Note that the brighter the screen, the more power it will consume.
- Use TV Energy Efficiency Setting
All Smart TVs come with an energy efficiency setting. These settings allow you to switch to power-saving mode. However, note that the power-saving mode usually dims and brightens your TV when you least expect it.
- Power off the TV set when not in use.
Always unplug or power off your TV set when you are not using it. This will stop it from consuming power.
- Adjust the Contract
The contrast of your TV set can influence your power consumption rate. With a reduced brightness and contrast, your energy consumption will reduce drastically.
Conclusion
Generally, Smart TVs are efficient when it comes to power consumption, unlike the older TV models. LED TVs, followed by LCD TVs, is the best for power saving. A Plasma TV consumes more energy than all other TVs. In addition, larger TVs consume more watts and Amperage.
