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From: russ@bbx.basis.com (Russ Kepler)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Turning off lights
Message-ID: <1268@bbx.basis.com>
Date: 17 Mar 91 02:05:02 GMT
References: <1991Mar16.185608.11969@agate.berkeley.edu>
Organization: BASIS International, Albuquerque NM
Lines: 20

In article <1991Mar16.185608.11969@agate.berkeley.edu> shirriff@sprite.berkeley.edu (Ken Shirriff) writes:
>Today's "Dear Abby" states that it only saves electricity to turn off a
>light bulb if it's going to be off more than 10 minutes.  This is because
>of the power surge when you turn it on.
>
>Is this as bogus as I think it is?  10 minutes' power in a brief surge
>is serious current.

I read this one as well and my wife thought I was going to die from
laughter.  As to the truth of the statement: Bogus as all hell.  But
interesting nonetheless.

It looks to me a cross of the "lights burn out faster if turned off
and on repeatedly" and "cars use 10 minutes idling gas when started"
lines.  I believe the first (should I?) and partially believe the
second (for older non-injected cars and not 10 minutes in any case).

-- 
Russ Kepler -  Basis Int'l     SNAIL:  5901 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109
UUCP: bbx.basis.com!russ                                    PHONE: 505-345-5232