TiVo : Do you unplug your TV set before going to bed?

[RichardCoulter]

Those of a certain age will remember the time that television closed down for the night. At the end of the day, the continuity announcer would usually say "don't forget to unplug your television set before going to bed". They also used to broadcast a high pitched tone for a time before switching off the transmitters, which I assume was to wake up anyone who had fallen asleep in front of the telly!

I always used to unplug the TV before going to bed, but haven't bothered for many years and now leave it on standby in case it needs a software update. Also, as we have to leave our PVR's plugged in, there doesn't seem to be much point.

Is it still necessary and/or advised now that TV's are much safer?

There were cases when colour televisions first came out that they were prone to catching fire, so I'm assuming that this is why people were advised to unplug them at the socket. Surely there would be no power running through it after it had been switched off though?? I know that some TV's maintain an amount of power inside them for a time, but surely that would be the case even if it was unplugged??

[Taf]

When mains sockets didn't have switches, and aerials were not properly grounded, there could have been a problem with lightning strikes perhaps?

[gba93]

Originally Posted by Taf

When mains sockets didn't have switches, and aerials were not properly grounded, there could have been a problem with lightning strikes perhaps?

Absolutely correct

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Is it still necessary and/or advised now that TV's are much safer?

There were cases when colour televisions first came out that they were prone to catching fire, so I'm assuming that this is why people were advised to unplug them at the socket. Surely there would be no power running through it after it had been switched off though?? I know that some TV's maintain an amount of power inside them for a time, but surely that would be the case even if it was unplugged??

Some older colour TV's used to maintain the tube heater in standby so they could do a quick start. More modern tubes had a specially constructed heater that warmed up in under 5 seconds.

[tweetiepooh]

We do turn off the TV each night, not just standby, but not at the wall. (We had 8 points put in when had the electrics redone, that's not enough any more.

TV
DVD
Tivo
Tivo V6
HDMI -> SCART since V6 doesn't have SCART - shame it's only composite not RGB
Shub
Router
Sam Knows box
HiFi
Mobile Phone pico/femto? cell

Used to have VCR in there too but it's not working. Lots of films not released on DVD or digital (or too expensive in those formats). Could probably move the phone box.

[heero_yuy]

We leave most of the things in standby except the SH1. That's left fully on and the VHD box displaying time as letting that go to sleep usually means it has to be power cycled to get it to wake up. The amount of power consumed over a day is very low when compared to using an electric oven or similar for just a few minutes. The TV can also get it's software updates that way without impacting viewing time.

Incidentally it's all plugged into a 4way extension lead with 3 multiway adaptors. Quite safe as the over all power even with everything going is under 200W. The lead is rated for 3000W.

[nodrogd]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Those of a certain age will remember the time that television closed down for the night. At the end of the day, the continuity announcer would usually say "don't forget to unplug your television set before going to bed". They also used to broadcast a high pitched tone for a time before switching off the transmitters, which I assume was to wake up anyone who had fallen asleep in front of the telly!

I always used to unplug the TV before going to bed, but haven't bothered for many years and now leave it on standby in case it needs a software update. Also, as we have to leave our PVR's plugged in, there doesn't seem to be much point.

Is it still necessary and/or advised now that TV's are much safer?

There were cases when colour televisions first came out that they were prone to catching fire, so I'm assuming that this is why people were advised to unplug them at the socket. Surely there would be no power running through it after it had been switched off though?? I know that some TV's maintain an amount of power inside them for a time, but surely that would be the case even if it was unplugged??

As Taf has already said, many houses only had switched sockets in the kitchen years ago, so the only way to disconnect the set from the mains was to pull the plug.

As for the high pitched whistle, it was nothing to do with waking you up. The "pilot tone" was actually a switching signal instructing the transmitters to turn on or off, as most transmitter sites operated unattended.

[Jimmy-J]

Doesn't switching it off at the wall have the same affect as unplugging it? That's why I voted for unplug, even though we don't, we just switch off at the socket.

I have never unplugged a TV before going to bed, ever.

[SnoopZ]

Also never unplugged a TV before bed ever.

You should remove the STILL from the poll.

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

You should remove the STILL from the poll.

What "still"

[neilo]

Oh. My. God.

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by neilo

Oh. My. God.

Yes......

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

We leave most of the things in standby except the SH1. That's left fully on and the VHD box displaying time as letting that go to sleep usually means it has to be power cycled to get it to wake up. The amount of power consumed over a day is very low when compared to using an electric oven or similar for just a few minutes. The TV can also get it's software updates that way without impacting viewing time.

Incidentally it's all plugged into a 4way extension lead with 3 multiway adaptors. Quite safe as the over all power even with everything going is under 200W. The lead is rated for 3000W.

I know some people who unplug their WiFi before going to bed to save electricity. I don't bother as I often can't sleep due to various problems, so tend to surf the internet during the night. Also (no idea if it's true or not) it's been said that doing this can lead to your ISP slowing down your connection.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=2422615

Originally Posted by nodrogd

As Taf has already said, many houses only had switched sockets in the kitchen years ago, so the only way to disconnect the set from the mains was to pull the plug.

As for the high pitched whistle, it was nothing to do with waking you up. The "pilot tone" was actually a switching signal instructing the transmitters to turn on or off, as most transmitter sites operated unattended.

Not heard of that before, AIUI the transmitters automatically switched themselves off after a period of not receiving a signal to broadcast.

Sometimes BBC1 had to stay on air with a tone until all the nation's had finished broadcasting to enable them to opt back into the sustaining feed ready for the following morning!

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

Doesn't switching it off at the wall have the same affect as unplugging it? That's why I voted for unplug, even though we don't, we just switch off at the socket.

Never thought of that! I agree, for the purposes of the poll, that switching the socket​ off can be considered as unplugging the TV.

I've come across some people who switch things off and unplug appliances! Not sure if this makes things any safer or not.

[OLDGOLD]

I always have done. As a kid in the seventies and early part of eighties I have strong memory of my mom insisting that EVERYTHING except the fridge was unplugged before we went to bed (we didn't have DVRs in those days). I guess its a habit I've never been able to break. I think that's the only reason I do it now - habit!