Consumption of Electricity by Wireless Receiving Sets

Abstract

ACCORDING to the Beama Journal of October, wireless, more than any other domestic appliance, familiarizes consumers with electricity and encourages them to become electricity consumers. Quoting from a report of M. Deutsch of Brussels, interesting figures relating to the electricity consumption of wireless sets in various countries are given. The B.B.C. returns the highest estimate, namely, an average annual consumption per set of 87 electric units for a wireless receiver, Belgium, France and Holland return 54 units and Germany 40. In the United States, the consumption per receiver is estimated to be 54. Since the number of mains-operated wireless receivers hi the United States was 24 millions at the beginning of 1937, the total consumption due to wireless is therefore nearly 1,300 million units. In Great Britain the number of wireless licences issued at the end of August of this year was more than eight million. A few years ago it was considered that 100 sets per 1,000 inhabitants would be about the maximum. According to M. Deutsch, the existing figure in Great Britain is 160 sets per 1,000 inhabitants, Germany having 120 sets. To-day the maximum is reckoned to be about 300 sets per 1,000 inhabitants. Statistics for 1935–36 show large increases in the number of wireless sets sold in some of the more backward European countries. During this year, Bulgaria increased the number of receivers installed by 91 per cent, Rumania, Portugal, Spain and Poland all registered increases between 30 and 50 per cent. In Great Britain, the increase was 9'2 per cent, whilst in Turkey the figure declined by 10 per cent.