Question

Does a cordless, rechargeable vacuum cleaner that is left permanently on it's plugged in charger use more electricity than a conventional corded, Mains vacuum that is only plugged in while in use for, say, half hour per day?

Answer 1

The power consumption of a cordless, rechargeable vacuum cleaner left permanently on its plugged-in charger and a conventional corded mains vacuum that is only plugged in while in use will depend on several factors. Let's break down the comparison:

1. Cordless, Rechargeable Vacuum Cleaner (Left Permanently on Charger):

   • Cordless vacuum cleaners typically use a charging base that provides a low-power trickle charge to keep the battery topped up. The power consumption of the charging base can vary between models but is generally relatively low (typically a few watts) when the vacuum cleaner is not actively charging.
   • The vacuum cleaner will draw additional power when it is actively charging, which happens periodically to maintain the battery's charge level.
   • While the vacuum cleaner is left permanently on the charger, the total power consumption will include both the standby power of the charger and the intermittent power during active charging.

2. Conventional Corded Mains Vacuum (Plugged in While in Use):

   • The power consumption of a corded mains vacuum depends on its motor's wattage, typically ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand watts.
   • If the vacuum is used for 30 minutes per day, the total power consumption will be the wattage of the motor multiplied by 0.5 hours (30 minutes).

Comparison: Whether the cordless, rechargeable vacuum cleaner left permanently on its charger uses more electricity than the conventional corded mains vacuum that is only used for half an hour per day depends on the specific models and their power ratings.

In general, the cordless vacuum left on the charger may use less electricity over a short period of time (e.g., daily or weekly) compared to the corded vacuum that is used for 30 minutes daily. This is because the cordless vacuum's standby power and intermittent charging will likely be lower than the power consumption of the corded vacuum during active use.

However, if the cordless vacuum's charging base has a higher standby power draw or if the cordless vacuum is not energy-efficient during active charging, the balance could shift in favor of the corded vacuum.

For a more accurate comparison, you can check the wattage ratings of both vacuum cleaners (usually provided by the manufacturer) and estimate their power consumption over time based on your usage patterns.