With surging power costs, people have been looking for all ways to cut power costs.
That is why questions such as should I switch my Sky Q box off at night have become common.
The big question is, does switching off the Sky Q box reduce power costs?
It is okay to switch off your Sky Q box at night but that does not guarantee lower power costs. Switching the Q box off also comes with far-reaching ramifications that you should be prepared for.
Stay tuned as we look at some of the ways you can use your Sky Q box while saving on power.
Get more tips on how to use your Q box in a friendly manner.
Why Should I Switch my Sky Q Box Off at Night?
Before we even look at how to turn off the Sky Q box, we must understand why you want it off.
There are many misconceptions about smart devices these days.
It is such misconceptions that may make a person want to turn off devices. Besides misconceptions, there are other reasons.
These reasons include:
Travelling
If you will be travelling for a few nights, you may want to consider switching off your Q box.
In this case, you are absolutely right. It is not prudent to leave electric gadgets on when on a journey.
Note: If you are going on a journey that will last more than two nights, switching off your Q box is fine.
To Save Power
The other reason why people switch Sky Q devices off is to save power. It is understandable to want to save power with the current energy costs.
While your desire to save energy is justified, switching off the Q box might only save you a few cents.
Pros and Cons of Turning off Sky Q Box at Night
If you are considering switching off your Sky Q box, it is good to know that there are pros and cons.
Ideally, you should consider both the pros and cons before making this decision.
If you are just turning off your Sky Q box for one night, you do not have to worry about all these factors.
Cons
You Won’t be Able to Download any Night Streams
One of the main disadvantages of turning off your Sky Q box is that you won’t be able to download anything.
If you usually leave downloads on at night, you should reconsider your options.
Could Cause Long-Term Damages
The other disadvantage of turning off your Q box at night is that it could get damaged.
It is not recommended to keep on turning the Q box on and off. Constantly switching the device off increases the chances of wear and tear.
You Won’t Receive Software Updates
One of the causes of long-term issues is the lack of software updates. Sky team constantly sends updates to your Q box.
These updates are made at night when most people are not using the Sky Q box.
The device will automatically download and install updates in standby mode. If it is completely switched off, it is not possible to download updates.
Failure to download updates can cause your device to malfunction in the future.
No Internet Access Overnight
The other important factor you want to consider is Sky broadband. If you have other internet options, do not worry much about it.
However, if you rely on the Sky Q box Wifi, it is not advisable to turn the device off at night.
Note: Turning it off will also hinder updates on other devices.
Devices that rely on the same wifi such as phones and laptops may fail to get updates.
Pros
You Save On Power
The only advantage you get when you turn off your Sky Q box is that it saves power.
With high energy bills, it is common sense to want to switch off devices. The Sky Q box is one of the devices that people target when managing power.
The problem is that switching off the Q box won’t save that much power. As a matter of fact, constantly switching devices on and off tends to consume more power.
It takes more energy to start a device afresh than to keep it on standby mode.
How to Put Sky Q Box on Standby Mode
The answer to energy saving with the Sky Q box is probably keeping it on standby mode.
Every time you are not using your Q box, simply turn on the standby mode and you will save.
You can turn your Sky Q box into standby mode in two simple ways. You can either use your remote or the button on your box.
Step #1 How to Put Sky Q Box on Standby Mode Using Remote
When you acquire your sky box, it is already set up to turn on standby mode.
With your remote, simply press the power button and the box will switch to standby.
If it does not, the problem is with the Q box settings.
Step #2: Turning Your Q Box to Standby Mode Using Buttons
If your remote is missing, you can also turn the Q box to standby mode. To turn it to standby mode, simply press the Q box power button for about 3 seconds.
Once you see the red or amber light on the box, it has turned to standby mode.
How to Change Standby Mode Settings
With the Sky Q box, you can also customize the standby mode settings. You can choose the time when the device goes to sleep and when it turns on.
To set up your Q box standby mode, do the following:
- Press Home on your Q box remote and select Settings
- From Settings select Setup and select Preferences
- Under Preferences select Standby Mode and set up your device accordingly.
Power Consumption in Standby Mode
When you acquire your Sky Q box, it is set up to consume the least possible energy in standby mode.
The Q box operates in three modes:
- Active mode(on)
- Active-Standby mode
- Passive standby mode (ECO)
The sky Q box remains on as long as you are using it. Once you turn on standby mode, it remains in active standby mode for some hours before going into ECO mode.
The power consumption for each of these modes is
- Active mode(on) -10.1W
- Active-Standby mode- 9.5W
- Passive standby mode (ECO)-10.1W
If the cost is based on 34 pence per kWh rate it costs just 7 pence per day to keep your device on.
Change your Sky Q standby setting, to decide when the device goes into ECO mode.
Note: Calculations may not be upto date with current power costs in your region
What Does Sky Q Box ECO Mode Mean
The Sky Q Box is set such that, it turns to ECO mode between 2:30 am and 5:45 am. At this time, many potential updates are usually already installed.
When the device goes into the ECO mode, it consumes less than half the power it consumes when active.
As mentioned, you can change the standby settings to decide when ECO mode turns on.
Tip: You could set your device to turn ECO mode on much faster
How to Cut Power Consumption on Sky Q Box
There are three key ways you can use to cut down power consumption on your Sky Q box.
These are:
- Always keep the box on standby mode when you are not using it
- Avoid recording anything you do not need since this consumes too much power
- Change standby settings to use ECO mode when the device is off
- Get a smart electric meter to determine power consumption accurately
How to Turn off Sky Q Box
To turn off your Sky Q box, use the standby button on the box or the remote. Press and hold the button on the box until the lights turn off.
Summary
For those asking should I switch my sky Q box off at night, the answer is no.
Unless you are travelling for a while, it is better if your device stays on. Just change standby mode settings to reduce power usage.
Read Next: How to Transfer Sky Q Recordings to External Hard Drive?
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites.