For business owners considering the installation of an ATM, one frequent question is: “How much electricity does it use?” With rising energy costs, understanding the ongoing expenses tied to your equipment is crucial. Thankfully, the power consumption of an ATM is likely much lower than you expect.
ATM Energy Usage: Breaking It Down
Modern white-label ATMs from leading brands like Hyosung, Triton, and Genmega are designed with efficiency in mind. In fact, the energy demands of an ATM are quite similar to those of a standard desktop computer.
Here’s why: like a home PC, an ATM has a power supply, monitor, mainboard, and peripherals such as a receipt printer. The key difference is that an ATM also includes a cash dispenser, but even this component only draws power during a withdrawal. Most of the time, the machine operates in a low-power standby mode, consuming a mere 25 watts of energy while waiting for a user to begin a transaction.
What Happens During a Transaction?
When a customer interacts with the ATM, power usage briefly spikes as the cash dispenser and receipt printer activate. During these moments, the machine draws approximately 175 watts, but this lasts for just a few seconds. With such a short duration of higher energy demand, the overall impact on your electricity bill remains minimal.
Comparing ATMs to Household Appliances
To put ATM energy use into perspective, here’s how it stacks up against common household appliances:
- Dishwasher: 2,000 watts
- Vacuum Cleaner: 1,400 watts
- Coffee Maker: 1,000 watts
- Toaster: 800 watts
- Microwave: 750 watts
- Furnace Fan: 700 watts
- 36″ Television: 133 watts
- ATM (idle mode): 25 watts
Unlike these appliances, which consume far more energy, an ATM is not just an expense – it’s an income generator. The minimal power cost is easily offset by the revenue your ATM generates from transaction fees.
A Cost-Effective Addition to Your Business
While an ATM is always powered on, it’s incredibly energy-efficient, staying in standby mode for more than 99.98% of the time. This means its impact on your utility bill is negligible, especially compared to the value it provides in generating revenue and enhancing customer convenience.
If you’re in Calgary or anywhere in Southern Alberta and you’re considering adding an ATM to your business, rest assured that it’s not only a smart financial decision but also an energy-conscious one. For more insights on operating ATMs, contact ATM Calgary today.
