Solutions to Your Home's "Phantom Current Load"

The likely culprit resulting in 'phantom current loads' in the home are electronics. When a TV or monitor are plugged in they are in standby mode requiring some electricity. These devices, as well as any chargers you might have are always on, even if the device is off or not charging resulting in the phantom current load or current load leakage. Electronics are dc not ac and thus requite a transformer to lower the voltage from 120 to around 9V and they all have one. Stereos, DVD players, printers, etc. all contain transformers and as a result are on even while they're off.  Standby mode on devices implies that a small current passes through a device to allow it to be turned on by a remote, so if it gets turned on by a remote, it is costing you money even when it is 'off.'