Do all recorders power down the HD when off?

[Wile_E]

I recently read an article on electricity and appliances. They showed that there are a lot of devices that use electricity, even when "off". I have too much stuff already that use AC Adapters, etc, that is using power when "off".

I'm looking for a recorder that will turn off it's hard drive, and power down completely when you press the power button. Do all recorders power down the HD? Or do some keep drawing electricity(aka. Vampiric Devices)?

[Wile_E]

No replies? I suppose all of them do leave the HD spinning, even when "off". Thanks, I'll get one without the HD, until they come out with one that totally remains off.

[HillJack]

I would hazzard a guess that recorders, like any other modern device, would go into standby mode; in standby, devices use so little power, it's not even worth mentioning - for example, my CRT monitor: in normal 'on' mode uses 70W. When in standby, 0.5W.

As for spinning the hard drive down, why on earth would it leave it running when in standby/off mode? If it does, it shows poor engineering and should be thrown out, imo.

[CapeKO]

My Panasonic DMR-EH50
The hardrive powers off when unit is turned off.
It (Hardrive) comes on about 30 minutes a day to update the TV Guide, if this feature is used.
The hardrive also goes into sleep if unit is on, but the hardrive is not being used

[handyguy]

I think those that have a rapid on feature would keep your hd awake so that it could be used right away.

I don't think it uses the hd to store guide info as i have a tv with that feature & no hd.

[trhouse]

If you are really concerned about this issue, you owe it to yourself to visit Don Pedros' link below to manuals on most recorders,

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=193270

Recorders with remotes cannot really be off but in standby mode waiting for a signal from the remote. They also have clocks that need to run to do timer recordings and displays that show time or status. Standby power has nothing to do with the hard drive. I have a hard drive model with standby power of 0.42W and another recorder with no hard drive with a standby power of 8.2W. Some models have power save or fast on modes which save and use more power in standby, respectively.

[Wile_E]

Well I read some manuals.
JVC DR-MH30S- You can turn off with the HD button on the remote. Even when "off" it still uses more power than what I think should be normal. Why does it still require 16.2W even with HD off? Hmm...
Power on : 35W
power off : 16.2W

Lite-on 5045 - Does not say anything about HD power in manual. I assume it stays on, because the manual doesn't give power consumption for "power off/standby". 45W is a lot to be leaving on every day.
power on : 45W

Pioneer DVR-533HS - Has the smallest power consumption of all I've seen while off. Not even half a watt. It even uses less than the non-HD JVC DR-M100S!!!
power on: 43W
Standby mode : . 42W

JVC DR-M100S Non-HD unit uses more watts while off, then Pioneer HD unit listed above!
power on : 30W
power off : 2.7W

[pchan]

My take on this is "power off" is standby mode. It's not pulling the plug out of the socket. For LG model, pulling the plug or power trip, all stuff on memory (e.g. time, date and programming) are gone.