Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:18531 alt.folklore.urban:10413 Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwm.edu!linac!midway!valley From: valley@uchicago (Doug Dougherty) Newsgroups: sci.electronics,alt.folklore.urban Subject: Re: Turning off lights Message-ID: Date: 16 Mar 91 19:24:21 GMT References: <1991Mar16.185608.11969@agate.berkeley.edu> Sender: news@midway.uchicago.edu (News Administrator) Distribution: usa Organization: University of Chicago Lines: 14 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. >Ken Shirriff shirriff@sprite.Berkeley.EDU I bet it has more to do with the wear & tear on the bulb turning it off & on than the cost of the electricity. The cost of the bulb thus has to be figured into the equation.