FAQ's

Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ page). Below, we have tried to answer the most common questions visitors to our Web site may have. If you find that your question is not answered on this page, please email us at info@greenplug.us or call us at 925-867-2781.

Q: What is Green Plug^TM and how do I use it?
A: Green Plug^TM is an embeddable, universal, energy-efficient power technology for DC-powered devices including cell phones, PDAs, laptops, printers, digital cameras, camcorders, cordless drills, MP3 players and dozens of common devices that today require individual, custom AC to DC power transformers or chargers. Product manufacturers that adopt Green Plug^TM design kits will provide a universal power connector to their products. Universal Green Plug^TM power sources deliver power to these products via a standard power cable that works for every device! Users no longer need to have dozens of wall warts and chargers to power and charge their electronic devices.

Q: How efficient are Green Plug-enabled power adapters?
A: Energy efficiency is a very complex matter when you consider power adapters that are capable of powering multiple devices and varying the output voltage. It is important to be precise when describing energy efficiency. There are two modes of operation to consider:

• Active mode
• Standby mode

In Active mode, measurements are made across 4 load levels: 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% loading. Standby mode is defined as 0% loading, when a device is unplugged or powered off, yet the power adapter still consumes energy. Green Plug's standby mode savings come from shutting off the power supply on all ports, unless a device that is connected to a port requires power. That means that our standby savings over conventional power supplies is typically 90% or more.

Green Plug-enabled power adapters in some scenarios give up a negligible amount of efficiency in Active mode in exchange for the flexibility of universal power. However, such losses are easily offset by the gains in standby power savings and other optimizations. Assume you have a 4-port 115W Green Plug-enabled power adapter compared to 4 individual, conventional power adapters - an 85W, a 20W and two 5W devices. Green Plug offers a slightly lower efficiency than the conventional 85W and 20W power adapters and slightly better efficiency than the conventional 5W power supplies in Active mode. Especially when devices such as cell phones and external disk drives spend most of their time in Standby mode, the combined energy consumption (Active mode use plus Standby mode use) is less for Green Plug-enabled power hubs. Furthermore, we have not yet developed new applications where communication between the power adapter and the load devices can result in dynamic tuning and even further energy savings. We look forward to working with CE device vendors to develop these kinds of advanced power savings applications once the digital bridge (the Greentalk^TM open systems power interface) is in place.

Q: Can I buy a Green Plug^TM-compatible device today?
A: Green Plug^TM design kits are available today and will be incorporated into the next-generation of highly energy-efficient consumer electronics products and portable power tools. We anticipate that these products will become available in 2009.