Depowered standby paper shredder and method

A shredder for comminuting shreddant, comprising:

• motorized shredder blades to comminute shreddant when activated;
• a motor controller coupled to the motorized shredder blades;
• a shredder controller coupled to the motor controller, including a timer coupled therein, wherein the timer is activated over a predetermined active period;
• a power enable/disable (PED) switch to provide electric power to the motorized shredder blades, the motor controller, and the shredder controller when in the power enabled state;
• and
• a mechanically-actuated switch (GREEN SWITCH) coupled to the shredder controller, wherein the GREEN SWITCH while actuated by shreddant in a throat of the shredder causes the shredder controller, the motor controller, and the motorized shredder blades to be activated,
• wherein when the GREEN SWITCH is deactuated by no shreddant in the throat causes the motorized shredder blades to become deactivated and the timer to be activated for a predetermined active period, and
• wherein upon expiration of the predetermined active period the timer causes power to be removed from the shredder controller, the motor controller, and the motorized shredder blades.

A method of operating a paper shredder, comprising:

• operating a mechanical actuation switch ON;
• applying power to paper shredder electrical and electronic elements in response to operating the mechanical actuation switch ON;
• operating motorized paper shredder blades by operating the mechanical actuation switch ON;
• operating the mechanical actuation switch OFF;
• setting a timer for a predetermined active period;
• measuring by the timer the predetermined active period;
• and
• if the predetermined active period has expired, removing power from the paper shredder electrical and electronic elements.