Standby power

Standby power, also called vampire power, vampire draw, phantom load, ghost load, or leaking electricity, refers to how certain electronic and electrical appliances consume electricity while they are not actively in use, but which are still plugged in to mains while in standby mode. It only occurs because some devices claim to be "switched off" on the electronic interface but are actually in a different state (standby mode) such as to power a clock or allow for remote control power-on.

The term is also used for power power adapters plugged in to mains but not connected to any electronic device. They will still consume a small amount of power despite not powering an electronic device, which is sometimes called no-load power.

For all electronic devices or power adapters that consume standby power, just turning off the plug or power brick (where possible) or disconnecting it from the power point (mains) can completely solve the problem of standby power consumption. Having a mains outlets with power switches or a power strip with a power switch eliminates the need to disconnect all devices from the power-point.

In the past, standby power was primarily a non-issue for users, electricity providers, manufacturers, and government regulators. In the twenty-first century's first decade, awareness of the issue grew, becoming essential for all parties. Up to the middle of the decade, standby power was often several watts or tens of watts per appliance. By 2010, regulations were in place in most developed countries restricting standby power of devices sold to one watt (and half that from 2013).