On this page, you will find out how many watts a PS4 draws.
The PlayStation 4 took gameplay into another dimension when it was first released. We could now enjoy epic gameplay in so many different ways thanks to innovative features like DualShock 4, Eye Camera, and Remote Connections. I remember hooking up a PSP to use as a mirror on Gran Turismo. Crazy days. But how much power does all of this fun actually consume… Could you fire up your console in an RV or from a power station?
Below we will discuss and test PS4 wattage, explain how to work it out for yourself, and calculate the total electricity required.
How Many Watts is a PlayStation 4?
A PS4 has a maximum power rating of 310 watts but draws between 100 – 140 watts during normal gameplay.
The exact number depends on the game or function you are using on the console. For example, the most demanding games will use 140W while simply watching a Bluray movie will use less than 100W.
The reason for this change in power consumption is down to the computer processing power to perform a task. Big games with intensive graphics put the internal computer under more pressure than easy functions like DVDs or streaming. Adding to this, when the console works hard it will run cooling fans on high speed to expel heat.
You should also be aware that the PS4 uses 0.3W left on standby and 4W to 6W when in rest mode.
How to Find Out Your PS4 Wattage
There’s 3 ways you can work out the wattage of a PS4.
- Check Product Specification
The quickest way is to look at the PS4’s specifications. The watts (W) is usually written on a sticker on the base of the appliance. If not, you can check the user manual or the manufacturer’s website for technical details.
- Use a Wattmeter
A wattmeter is brilliant for getting a live wattage reading and tracking total energy usage of any appliance. You can simply plug it into your PS4 to get instant information.
I used one to test a PS4 which gave a live reading of 118W when playing Battlefield 4.
- Wattage Formula or Calculator
If you know the amperage and voltage of your PS4 you can use this to find the maximum watts. Simply use the formula Amps x Volts = Watts. Or you can head over to the ‘Watt Calculator’ to work this out.
PS4 Wattage Test
Let’s take a look at a PS4 power consumption test.
How Much Electricity Does a PS4 Use?
You can use PS4 wattage to work out how much electricity it uses. Plus this can be useful in understanding how much it costs to run your PS4.
A watt (W) is a measurement of power at a single point in time. A watt-hour is the total amount of electricity used in an hour. For example, a PS4 drawing 200W would use upto 200Wh when running for an hour.
Happily, electricity bills are recorded in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A kilowatt is simply 1000 watts. So a 140W PS4 running for 1 hour uses 0.14kWh.
In reality, you use a PS4 for 2 hours a day. This means it uses upto 280Wh or 0.28kWh electricity a day. That’s 8.4kWh a month and 102kWh a year.
That’s a rough electricity cost of upto $0.04 a day or $15 a year to play high-end video games on a PS4 for 2 hours a day. In reality, it will cost you a lot less than this as your games won’t always be demanding this top level of electricity usage.
Using a PS4 Off-Grid
If you want to use PS4 in an off-grid situation, like an RV or power outage, the information above is important. It enables you to pick the correct power products and calculate run times.
You can either use a power inverter, portable power station, or generator to produce the required AC electricity.
To make sure everything runs smoothly you should check two things on this equipment – wattage capacity and total energy capacity.
Your power source, like an inverter, should have a wattage capacity of at least 20% more than your PlayStation 4. This ensures it will be able to deliver enough power as they are never 100% efficient. To run your video games, you will need at least 300W of power capacity. This will give you enough to run a TV along with your console and not overload your equipment.
Secondly, you need to ensure your energy source, like a battery, has enough energy to run the PS4 for the required amount of time. As we already know, it will use upto 140Wh electricity every hour. This is the equivalent to 11.6Ah on a 12V battery.
How Many Watts Does a PS4 Use Summary
I hope you now understand how many watts a PS4 uses.
The power consumption is much lower than the previous generation console. You get a nice balance of high definition gameplay without draining your electricity supply. Of course, if you play every day you will see the difference in your energy bills. Plus when running from a battery or power station, you should be careful not to run out of juice after a couple of hours.
