On average, a 50-inch television uses approximately 0.95 amps at 120 volts. Assuming you use it for five hours per day, it equates to roughly $17 a year and an annual kWh of 142. But so many different factors play into your TV’s amp usage, including brand, brightness, and size.
This article will explore the average amp and energy consumption of various popular TV brands, discuss how size affects usage, discover how to calculate the number of amps your model is using, and even divulge some tips and tricks to reduce the energy needed.
How Many Amps Does a TV Use?
These days, TVs, especially smart models, are amazingly energy efficient while still emitting an exceptionally high-quality image. In fact, smart televisions are said to be four times more efficient than water heaters!
That said, plasma (hardly, if at all, in use anymore) are notoriously power-hungry. So while LCDs aren’t as bad as plasma models, LEDs are the best.
Despite that, different brands carry different amp usage amounts, as you’ll see from the table below.
| Vizio M Series | 1.09 Amps | 131 Watts | 154 kWh | $19 |
| Samsung 7 Series | 1.13 Amps | 135 Watts | 120 kWh | $14 |
| Toshiba 4K UHD | 0.66 Amps | 79 Watts | 150 kWh | $18 |
| Hisense A6G series | 0.92 Amps | 110 Watts | 148 kWh | $18 |
| TCL 4 Series | 0.66 Amps | 79 Watts | 100 kWh | $12 |
| Sony X8oJ Series | 1.22 Amps | 146 Watts | 179 kWh | $22 |
TV Size and Its Impact on Amp Usage
As you’ve noticed from the table, the amp uses we’ve listed apply to 50″ TVs (the average size of televisions in the United States of America).
When determining how many amps your television uses, knowing the size is imperative. Why? Because smaller models use far less amperage than larger TVs. For context, a standard 43″ TV can use around 100 watts, whereas an 85″ model sucks up almost 400!
Aside from its size and brand, other factors affecting televisions’ amp needs are as follows:
- Screen technology (i.e., OLED, LED, QLED, or LCD)
- Smart TV abilities
- Backlight
- Integration features
- Volume
- Contrast
- Screen brightness
Screen Technology and Amp Usage
Generally speaking, standard flatscreen TVs need one amp to power on. Smart TVs, however, use one amp per hour to maintain function.
As alluded to earlier, plasma options gobble a lot of power, requiring around 1.67 amps. Thankfully, with increased technology like LED and OLED, the amperage needed has shriveled to approximately 0.42 and 0.6 for 40-inch models.
How To Calculate the Number of Amps Your TV Uses
To be as accurate as possible, simply looking at the average number of amps used by TVs isn’t going to cut it. Instead, you need to calculate the amount used by your specific model.
The crux of the calculation is:
amps = watts / volts
In the vast majority of homes, power outlets are set at a consistent 120 volts. So, you know the volt part of the equation will remain the same. Therefore, you just need to establish the wattage, which you’ll usually find on the back of the TV, on the box, or in the manual.
Once you’ve found the watts used by your television, plug the figures into the calculation to get the number of amps it uses. For example, let’s say your TV requires 200 watts. The wattage divided by 120 volts equals 1.6. Therefore, your television uses 1.6 amps of energy.
How To Reduce Your TV’s Energy Usage
Hopefully, finding out your television’s amp usage and energy consumption costs has come as a pleasant surprise. But if you’re now frantically trying to find ways to reduce the amount of energy you’re consuming by watching your favorite shows, you’re in the right place.
Luckily, newer televisions come with a bunch of settings that can reduce their operational power needs. We suggest:
- Reducing the brightness — The brighter your TV screen, the more power it needs to draw. Use your remote to lower the brightness manually.
- Turn it off when not in use — Don’t just leave it on standby all day! Unplug it completely or switch the outlet off when you aren’t using it.
- Use the built-in energy efficiency features — Smart TVs have energy efficiency settings. They let you switch the device to power-saving mode. Although, the auto-brightness feature often dims the screen at random intervals, which may lower your user experience.
- Alter the contrast — Reducing the contrast alongside the brightness will significantly reduce your television’s energy consumption.
Summary
Newer TVs tend to be well-equipped with low amp needs. But if you’re using an older model, your television might use more than America’s 0.95-amp average. In which case, investing in a newer device might be the best option, or at least implementing some of our energy consumption reduction tips!
