Do You Leave Your Retro Consoles/TV Plugged In?

[Nemoide]

I unplug MOST of my consoles MOST of the time. If I'm actively playing a game on a system day after day, I'll leave it plugged in. (And for some reason I typically leave my Gamecube plugged in?)

I feel like those massive AC-adapters are drawing up a pretty significant amount of power. I mean, my Genesis isn't just a Genesis, it's a Genesis, 32X, Sega CD, and RGB-to-component device. FOUR DEVICES THAT I DON'T EVEN USE THAT FREQUENTLY. You can sure as hell bet I'm keeping them unplugged. I mean, you can feel heat coming out of them; I've never measured specifically, but they're certainly wasting some energy!

I mostly play on an old CRT HDTV (is that the term? it's huge and fat but with a flat screen and says HDTV on it?). I went through a time of flipping off the power switch every night but something eventually made me stop, I think I got the sense that it wasn't working quite right in the morning. (I don't remember exactly why but now I just keep it plugged in!)

[MrPopo]

See that list of systems in my Backloggery? They're ALL plugged in at the same time.

[Ghudda]

This is a legit topic. I used to have all of my retro consoles (about 7-8 at the time) hooked up to a CRT at all times as well as my modern (360/PS3/Wii) hooked up to my Plasma. After I moved, though, I realized that I really did not enjoy the pain in the ass it was to manage and clean around it all, even though I did my best to tie everything together via zip ties.

Now I have a Wii and PS2 hooked up to a PVM on my computer desk with a spare component > SCART cable laying out so that I can bring any retro console out of my closet and easily plug it in at any time. Ever since I got my own place, I'm pretty anal about neatness and I even keep my entire collection stored in my closet instead of out in the open on shelves. That and I just have somewhat limited space, and unforunately guests can't sit on top of my MVS or Saturn. I do keep all my modern stuff out connected to my LCD (PS4/Wii U), though.

I also have most of my game "stations" on their own power strips which remain off unless i'm using them, in order to reduce power consumption.

[Thierry Henry]

When not in use I unplug the systems.
I don't have much of a choice in the matter. We get pretty bad thunderstorms over here and irrespective of whatever kind of power surge protector I use the potential for a fried system is very real.

[Jagosaurus]

Looks like we have ppl on both sides.

If a power strip is in "off" mode, is it still providing the same level of protection from power surges?

A CRT uses roughly 3 watts in standby mode... that's about $3 a year saved .
((3*24*365)/1,000)*11¢= $2.89

While I'll take $3, I'm more worried about fire hazards and wear n tear on systems & my trusty CRT.

While looking for that 3 watt average, I did see a stat that TVs in use & in standby account for 4% of electricity usage in the US,totaling over $4 billion. YIKES!

I agree on the Sega power supplies feeling warm. My Atari supplies for the 7800 & Jaguar also get hot. No way I'd leave them in 24/7.

I should note my newer LCD with my satellite receiver, sling box, & blu ray player stay plugged in. They're used often by Mrs. Jagosaurus & a LCD uses even less power in standby.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I generally keep stuff plugged in.

I will unplug if I feel a storm is impending. We seem to lose power once every 10-14 days here, especially in these winter months. I'm 99% sure I'd be protected by the surge protectors but I'm paranoid.

If I go away on a long trip I unplug all my TVs / consoles.

Lastly, I do have to unplug things just to do console-switching. I simply don't have the space to keep everything hooked up at once. Things are easier now that I have the Retron 5 though. With my current set-up I have the R5, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, TG16, Wii, PS2, Saturn, Xbox, and N64 hooked up. If if I want to play something like Atari 5200 or Neo Geo I have to swap on console for the other.

[TSTR]

errythang pluggd in all the time

[samsonlonghair]

If a power strip is in "off" mode, is it still providing the same level of protection from power surges?

I think "surge protector" is somewhat of a misnomer.

Not all power strips have surge protectors. Those that do, have very cheap surge protectors. I once knew an electrician who called them "feel good" surge protectors--As in, they make you feel better, but their efficacy is negligible. He told me that If you want a real surge protector, drop a Benjamin or two on an uninterruptible power supply.

I wasn't so sure I believed him until a lightning strike killed my neighbors brand new shiny 1080p HD TV. My neighbor couldn't believe that his eight dollar surge protector didn't protect his thousand dollar TV set from ten billion watts of lightning. Go figure.

On the other hand, if your power strip has a hard switch, you can easily break the circuit so as to prevent damage in case of power surge, or you could just unplug the power strip. Problem solved.

[Ack]

I wasn't so sure I believed him until a lightning strike killed my neighbors brand new shiny 1080p HD TV. My neighbor couldn't believe that his eight dollar surge protector didn't protect his thousand dollar TV set from ten billion watts of lightning. Go figure.

Haha, this made me laugh. It sucks about his television, but oh man...

[Hobie-wan]

Leaving stuff plugged in will add up. If you're actively playing a system or two, sure leave them plugged in. But if you aren't playing something, why leave it plugged in for months idle? Adding a bunch of stuff up will make a non trivial change in your power bill. The warmth from stuff will also make your AC run just a little more often during the summer too. If storms some through while you're at work or asleep, you might not be able to to unplug if "that last strike was kind of close". Regarding power strips, the surge bit does go bad in them so if you have a cheapie cream/gray one with no protection indicator on it, I wouldn't consider it anything more than a plug multiplier after 5 years. Also those might help you if a squirrel cooks itself and shorts a transformer nearby, but a lightning strike right near you home will probably still blow stuff up.