Comments on: 3.8 trees per day http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/ the blog that is not dansdata.com Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:29:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Aziraphale http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/#comment-408 Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:21:50 +0000 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/#comment-408 LocalCooling also has no idea about laptops. A quick calculation/guess involving capacity of batteries and approximate battery life leaves my laptop's power usage at somewhere around 20 Watts, and the power supply brick is rated at 65 Watts so it CAN'T draw more than that even when charging batteries, yet LocalCooling claims my laptop's screen is drawing 70 Watts alone. It correctly detects that it has a Pentium M, and gives a suitably low power requirement of that, so it's not ALL bad, but it could, as you say, be a lot better. LocalCooling also has no idea about laptops. A quick calculation/guess involving capacity of batteries and approximate battery life leaves my laptop’s power usage at somewhere around 20 Watts, and the power supply brick is rated at 65 Watts so it CAN’T draw more than that even when charging batteries, yet LocalCooling claims my laptop’s screen is drawing 70 Watts alone. It correctly detects that it has a Pentium M, and gives a suitably low power requirement of that, so it’s not ALL bad, but it could, as you say, be a lot better.

]]> by: TonyB_Fla http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/#comment-368 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 07:46:17 +0000 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/#comment-368 Exactly as you say, Sir. While the overall power use that I was thinking of does not include any calculations for efficiencies or lack thereof that occur after the sensor, it would be a relative indicator that might be used for measuring GPU or CPU or a bunch of hard drives' hungriness in various states of power-drawingness. Your suggestion for a data-base for them seems like a no-brainer for them. An interface that allows for plug-in values might also be useful in the interim. My number is about to be called here at the patent office so I have to go. Thanks, Tony Exactly as you say, Sir.
While the overall power use that I was thinking of does not include any calculations for efficiencies or lack thereof that occur after the sensor, it would be a relative indicator that might be used for measuring GPU or CPU or a bunch of hard drives’ hungriness in various states of power-drawingness.
Your suggestion for a data-base for them seems like a no-brainer for them.
An interface that allows for plug-in values might also be useful in the interim.
My number is about to be called here at the patent office so I have to go.

Thanks, Tony

]]> by: Daniel Rutter http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/#comment-366 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 05:33:56 +0000 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/#comment-366 If you monitor the incoming current with a cheap meter you'll get the wrong answer, thanks to the lousy <a href="http://www.dansdata.com/gz028.htm" rel="nofollow">power factor</a> of many PCs. If you've got a PSU with active power factor correction - as quite a few people do, these days - then such simple tests actually can be useful. But it's not a general solution. If you monitor the incoming current with a cheap meter you’ll get the wrong answer, thanks to the lousy power factor of many PCs. If you’ve got a PSU with active power factor correction - as quite a few people do, these days - then such simple tests actually can be useful. But it’s not a general solution.

]]> by: Nick1911 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/#comment-365 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 04:18:46 +0000 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/#comment-365 It would be interesting to run a computer through an ammeter to see what it actually draws verses what LocalCooling thinks it draws. Thanks for the article. It would be interesting to run a computer through an ammeter to see what it actually draws verses what LocalCooling thinks it draws.

Thanks for the article.

]]> by: TonyB_Fla http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/#comment-363 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 03:01:58 +0000 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2006/11/29/38-trees-per-day/#comment-363 You bring up an interesting point about monitoring at least the overall power use of the computer itself. Maybe a small clip-on sensor for the power cord and a USB plug with the necessary electronics built in and a bit of software to display the signal. A minimalist clamp-meter. Perhaps a bit too geekish but you know how some people are... hmmm. I guess I'll go to patentz-r-us.com then. Thanks, Tony You bring up an interesting point about monitoring at least the overall power use of the computer itself.
Maybe a small clip-on sensor for the power cord and a USB plug with the necessary electronics built in and a bit of software to display the signal. A minimalist clamp-meter.
Perhaps a bit too geekish but you know how some people are… hmmm.

I guess I’ll go to patentz-r-us.com then.

Thanks, Tony

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