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How many watts does a cable box use? (30 W)
A cable box uses about 30 W
Typical range 15–45 watts, plus ~25 W on standby.
Typical range 15–45 watts, plus ~25 W on standby.
Running cost calculator
Per hour—
Per day—
Per month—
Per year—
Energy/mo—
A cable box or DVR is a sneaky energy user because it draws nearly as much power switched off as on, to stay ready to record.
Cable box power specs
| Typical running power | 30 W |
| Typical range | 15–45 W |
| Standby draw | 25 W |
| Energy use | 0.18 kWh/day · 5.4 kWh/mo |
What affects the wattage
- Model size, age and energy rating.
- Settings and how hard it works (heat, speed, load).
- How many hours a day you run it.
Running cost at $0.17/kWh
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.02 | $0.54 | $6.57 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.03 | $0.81 | $9.86 |
| $0.20/kWh | $0.04 | $1.08 | $13.14 |
| $0.25/kWh | $0.05 | $1.35 | $16.43 |
| $0.30/kWh | $0.05 | $1.62 | $19.71 |
| $0.40/kWh | $0.07 | $2.16 | $26.28 |
See the full breakdown of what it costs to run a cable box, or what size power station runs a cable box.
FAQ
How many watts does a cable box use?
About 15-45 watts - and many keep drawing 20+ watts even when off.
Can I cut cable box standby power?
Put it on a switched outlet, but check it does not miss scheduled recordings.
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