Customer Reviews

Bye Bye Standby BBSBUSA Energy Saving Kit

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have had my Bye Bye Standby for a few years now and think it's just GREAT. I only wish I could find additional outlet adapters to use with the remote control switch I got - it will accommodate up to three zones, but only comes with two outlet adapters. I got another set and keep one remote control upstairs and one downstairs for those nights I might forget to push the button before retiring. I need a couple more outlets so I can switch off my office equipment in one fell swoop. I haven't actually measured how much energy I am saving, but I DO know that just powering off one printer alone will save 5-6 dollars a year, and we have 3 printers, 3 computers, and a fax. We currently use BBSB to kill the juice going to the TV, VCR, & DVDs in two rooms, but can still leave the DVR on to record. It's great and the remote works all over the house - I checked. BTW - when I bought this back in '08 I only paid $16 & change for each kit of 2 outlets and 1 remote - I just looked at the current price (11/11) and it has really increased. Mine are still going strong.

These things are great! I have purchased two sets, and have one remote at the front door, and one in the bedroom. The distance is pretty good, I tend to make sure I am close enough to hear the click sound made, when I turn things on and off. You can see that the remotes only have 3 switches on the front, but there is A/B/C/D on the back. On the units plugged into the wall, you select A-1/2/3 B-1/2/3 C-1/2/3 D-1/2/3, so by default you have have A set in the back and control three units, moving the back control to B allows you to control another set of three. I currently use it for my tv setup in the front, pc in the back, wireless router/internet box, and tv in back room.

This is the best power conservation hardware I could find, not to mention the awesome price. I know these will pay for themselves within a month or two!

I love this product. It works well and is great for lamps, christmas lights, and electronics. I do have two issues with it though:

#1 There is a little red light that stays on all the time when it is plugged in. I hope it's an LED, but I wonder about the "ghost load" that comes with the little red light that stays on 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

#2 The remote has three buttons on it, but they only provide two outlets. I read the instruction manual and they did this so that you could buy more of their "Energy Saving Kits" and put up to three outlets on one remote. I just look at my remote with one unusable button and feel annoyed.

This is why everyone should buy at least two packs of these:
1) As mentioned in prior reviews, you only need to use one plug on any outlet! This feature came in handier than I expected because I didn't want to turn off clocks, DVRs, etc.
2) It's cheap! Why pay $60+ for a single Belkin surge protector that only works for one location when I already HAVE several surge protectors where I need them, and all I really want is the ability to turn off the appliances with the ghost power - in VARYING locations - with a single switch?
3) Safety - I had an extra, unused plug. I decided to keep that one on a different "zone" and use it as a safety light. I know it sounds a bit paranoid, but I live in the city of Richmond. Sometimes there is "activity" a little too close to my house at night. I plugged a lamp downstairs into the extra outlet, and now I can turn on that light using any remote control from anywhere in the house.
4) I agree that the three "zones", one remote, two outlet thing is a little puzzling, but it was perfect for me because I bought three packs. I have my 3 remotes by the front door, back door, and upstairs. I my 6 plugs connected to my TV/VCR, desk & computer stuff, nightstand (ipod charger, sewing machine, etc.), two different stereos, and the lamp mentioned above. That's 3 remotes for the two zones I control and the 6 outlets I manage. Perfect for me.
5) I buy green power so I pay a little more, but if I calculated correctly, I should be able to save the $46 I paid by the end of 12 months.
OK, there's my soapbox. I love this kit!

I read about these and was interested in how they could help me cut my energy use and become a little more green. I was a little skeptical to spend $15 to save an unknown amount of money/energy on vampire power costs, but I like gadgets and figure they couldn't hurt. If nothing else, they make me feel better mentally. Plus, using them diligently, I'm sure the "value" builds up over time. The package comes with two outlets and a single remote. I purchased a single set to use in my bedroom and office. Included are two units that plug into any regular outlet, and a single remote that controls each. I've been using them daily (or as needed, depending on the electronics connected) for approximately 6 months.

In the office, I plugged into the unit the power strip with my PC, monitor and printer. In my bedroom I did the same with the power strip controlling my TV, DVD player, cell phone charger and laptop cord. Side note: Keep in mind you don't want to plug your cable box/DVR into the supplied outlet because the box will need to reboot after every full shut down, and of course not record your shows if it has no power.

At night, when I go to bed I simply turn off power to each strip remotely with the controller, and sleep better knowing they're not eating up energy for no reason. My office is approximately 30 feet from my bedroom, and I can use the remote to power off the unit in my office each night from my bed, without problems. It even makes an audible "click" so you know it has cut off power to my PC and related items. If I use any of the electronics in the morning, I just click them on, and again click them off before I leave for work.

The units themselves seem well made, work as promised, and the price is affordable. I'm pleased with this product and would certainly recommend this product to anyone looking to cut vampires out of their energy consumption.

Before I had even purchased this item, I asked myself "how can it not use any power if it has an LED and has to monitor the RF frequency to turn on?" I also have the Kill-A-Watt product, and tested Bye Bye Standby to see that they do in fact use 3 watts on idle. So their claim about totally cutting all energy is false.

That being said, I still use them since with Kill-A-Watt I was amazed that my HDTV uses 30 watts when it is turned off. So I added a Bye Bye Standby unit to it and also to my PC's speakers that do not even turn off and use about 10 watts. The fact that this product works and is really cheap it is worth a buy. If it were more expensive I would tell you guys to pass on it. I plan to buy another set so I can have two remotes, since my house is big and it sucks when I have to walk into another room to get the remote. I really like how they use separate "on" and "off" buttons instead of only one multi function button. That way you can press the on or off button as many times as you like without the worry of accidentally turning on/off your device.

UPDATE

Wow, I am surprised they jacked up the price of these for $70. I bought these when they were dirt cheap. I wish I had bought a lot of them, I could be selling them for a large profit now.

I use these devices in my kids bedrooms works great turn power off to all there electronics when they walk out the door and also at night when they are suppose to be going to sleep and sneak electronics.

I love this item. It comes with a remote that does not require a direct line of sight. I use it on one of the plugs that hidden behind the tv stand. I can use the remote control from the kitchen, it would still work.

It shuts off everything that's plugged into the power cord, which plugged into the bye bye standby.

I can't wait to see my electric bill after I have put the item in place.

I strongly recommend this item if you want to save money on electricity. You will not regret it.

After stumping across this device, I had done some measurements with kill-a-wat before purchased it. Plugged kill-a-wat into my entertainment system in my living room (51" tv, 3-dvd players, receiver, VCR, DVR, sub woofer, WDTV Live, 1.5TB hard drive, wireless phone, 1-in-4 hdmi box and equalizer), total was 0.05kw/hr.

So, 0.05kw/hr * 24hr * 30days * $0.14/kw (tier 2 in S.Cali) = $5.04/month. It is $60/year. Therefore, no reason not to buy them. I received them today used another one for computer, monitor, and speaker in my room. I am going to order one more set (buy the individual socket cost almost the same as the system) to use in my kid room.

Remember, In my case, I would have saved $5/month only if I intend not to watch TV at all, which is not the case :)

Very happy with this product. I shut my cable boxes off (which have digital clocks on them) when not in use. I also have one on my computer & peripherals (except the modem which needs to stay on all the time)and my child has one on his gaming/entertainment system. I had purchased 2 sets. The signal on the remote travels very far as it can control
upstairs also if I set it. It's very convenient to click the remote to shut things down instead of having to go to every room and mess with power strips and/or unplugging the back of tvs, etc. Really like the remote which is very simple to use. Don't know how much energy its saving as I've only had it for a month, but I enjoy having it and have recommended it to others. (P.S. Another benefit is you can simply click your kid's tv off with the remote from the comfort of your own room when it's past his bedtime. The signal travels right thru walls.)