LOW POWER STANDBY CIRCUIT

Standby circuit for an electric appliance, the standby circuit comprising: an AC power input for connection to an AC power source, for example to the mains; an AC power output for connection to a control circuit of an electric appliance; a control circuit power line connecting the AC power input to the AC power output, the control circuit power line comprising a control circuit power switch for closing and opening the control circuit power line; a logic device for controlling the control circuit power switch; an auxiliary AC to DC converter connected to the AC power input for supplying DC power to the logic device when the control circuit power line is open; a power-on AC to DC converter connected to the AC power output for supplying DC power to the logic device when the control circuit power line is closed; one or more passive and/or active input components for sensing an input of a user of said electric appliance and generating a corresponding signal; wherein the logic device is configured to receive the signal from the one or more passive and/or active input components, and to control the control circuit power switch based on this signal. Electric appliance comprising such a standby circuit and method for bringing such an appliance from its standby mode to its operative mode.