Do you leave your systems plugged in all the time??

[stargate]

OK, I may be being a little anal retentive with this one, but here it goes:

I have 7 systems (TG16, Genny, NES, SNES, 2600, INTV, DC) all hooked up to my TV with AV jacks and composite on the 2600 and INTV and a couple of switch boxes. Anyway, I play all these systems alot, so I have them all ready to go and plugged into a decent surge protector.

However, I noticed that a few of the power adapters stayed warm all the time from having the current running through them. It got me to wondering....... should I unplug or shut off the surge protector when I am not using them? Maybe having them plugged in all the time is not so great??

Anyway, looking for some input here. Thanks.

[omnedon]

I "can't" plug in all 26 systems I have at the same time, so I don't. They are all more or less connected to the TV (I have an RCA jack "bank" that gets whatever system I'm playing at that moment plugged into it, a maximum of 3 simultaneous, and behind it all many a daisy chained RF switch)

Generally speaking, I don't like leaving systems plugged in that use power transformers that are warm when plugged in. When you think of the difficulty of replacing proprietary ones like ColecoVision power supplies, it makes sense to me to only have it plugged in (and generating heat) when it's in use.

[IntvGene]

God NO!

It's terrible for the systems. I've heard it somewhere, and some enlightened individual can report on the evils of keeping them plugged in.

What I do, is just use emulation for most of my immediate playing needs--the DC is great for that. And, then the stuff that I can't emulate I keep ready to go... but not plugged in. I mean, I usually go through phases and play a certain system or game for a bit, then move on, so there's no need to have all of them "ready to go".

The New Generation... Xbox, DC, and PS2s are all plugged in though. I am mainly worried about the condition of the older stuff.

[Skatepunk60]

Ya its not good for the transformers and all that to be plugged in wihtout being used.. i got like 20 plugs/transformers near my sure protector heh .. its kinda guess and check but i dont mind

[stargate]

OK, glad I asked. Now I wonder if I have to unplug the damned surge protector from the wall or just shut if off........

[buttasuperb]

I just leave everything plugged in.

[kainemaxwell]

PS2 and Dreamcast are currently hooked up. PS2 tends to always stay plugged in and I switch the Dreamcast for the N64, NES or SNES at random times (front AV jacks on my tv).

[Six Switch]

I have all my systems plugged in,A LOT of Surge Strips that is all I can say. x_x ;)

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

God NO!

Thanks Gene, for quite literally saying exactly what I was going to say there.

I cobbled together a "rack" of sorts that I keep my AC adapters and plugs in, and can pull out whichever one I need to plug in on a whim.

Sadly, they're all packed up pending my move, but when I get my new game room set up, I'll take some pictures to show you what I'm talking about.

[maxlords]

Well, most of my systems with large power supplies stay unplugged most of the time. I only have room for a couple to be plugged in at a time so I left a blank spot at the bottom of one of my power strips for them. I just have htem all on the floor around it and I plug them in as needed. The only one that always stays plugged in is my CDX and it doesn't get very warm. I use it more frequently than some other systems too. If it doesn't have a big power supply, it stays plugged in all the time though. I've been doing it this way for YEARS and never had a power supply go bad. As long as you're careful with them, it works fine. If you do it a LOT it could cause shorts though...

[wberdan]

keeping your stuff plugged in is not going to kill it's life span anymore than shelving it. I have never had any console die while plugged in... i HAVE had consoles die after they were unplugged and stored for some time.

i like to keep components plugged in all the time.

ESPECIALLY stereo components- just ask POG LOL

willie

[Tempest]

Speaking of systems being plugegd in all the time, has anyone else noticed that the Jagaur power supply gets very very hot? I guess this is normal for them, but it worries me.

Tempest

[wberdan]

yeah i noticed that matt- i wouldnt get too worried over it

willie

[Sylentwulf]

Easiest option is just to get a lot of cheap power strips, leave everything plugged in, and just turn the power strip on when you want to play it.

The only things I leave plugged in are currently played systems, (PS2 and GC) and my Sega Saturn (Hoping to save my saved games)

[CrazyImpmon]

I leave everything plugged in power strips and turn the strips off when not using any. I have 18 systems total (Genesis gets 3 count because Sega CD and 32X each required their own adapters :P)

If I were to just plug and unplug, the power cord would quickly tangle up.

[Atar1G1rl]

I also use the power strip plan and keep everything plugged in, but the power to the swtitch turned off until I use any of them. We only keep the Gamecube and the PS2 plugged in with power since we use those everyday.

[xertcev]

Power centers like these are handy
http://www.mpja.com/productview.asp?product=14031+MI
http://www.mpja.com/productview.asp?product=12245+MI
Use one or two of these with some cheap power strips and you will feel very ??? :)
My rule of thumb is to unplug all "wall warts" (especially old ones)when not in use. Because they are powered all the time, they will constantly be generating heat in a cheap plastic housing...Not good --->might burn out or burn the house down.
Internal power supplies usually seem to be switched off by the power button.

[stargate]

well, I guess the question now is: when you turn off a surge protector/ power strip (I'm assuming most of us are using surge protectors), does it still protect the devices plugged in from power surges? So, let's say I turn it off so I can cut power to all my systems, then my house gets zapped with lightning.......do all my systems get fried?

[Retsudo]

I just leave everything plugged in.

As you might know or not, the PS2 manual says not to keep it plugged in when not in use. I always unplug mine when not using it. Same goes for the PS1. 2 years after the release of the PS1, Sony finally stated this. I bought my PS1 in 97 and it still works perfectly to this day. Everyone that I know that got theres around the same time, there PS1 doesnt work any more.
YA know, skippin and shit.

[chadtower]

Okay, so why doesn't anyone here use a UPS? They offer FAR MORE protection than a surge protector since a surge protector can't protect you from power dips (which are about 1000x as common as a spike). They're not much more, either, as you can get the lower end ones (which are fine for game consoles) for little money. Hell, CompUSA is having them FREE after rebate tonight from 6-midnight...

I have nearly everything electronic and valuable in my house on a UPS.

[Arcade Antics]

Sadly, they're all packed up pending my move...

"Don't Bring Me Down"






:D

[stargate]

Okay, so why doesn't anyone here use a UPS? They offer FAR MORE protection than a surge protector since a surge protector can't protect you from power dips (which are about 1000x as common as a spike). They're not much more, either, as you can get the lower end ones (which are fine for game consoles) for little money. Hell, CompUSA is having them FREE after rebate tonight from 6-midnight...

I have nearly everything electronic and valuable in my house on a UPS.

what is a UPS? what is a good one to get?

[leonk]

Take it from a person whose house was hit by lightning.. TWICE! And each time it was a different house in a different part of the city!

Only have things you use normally plugged in.. since almost all power bars / surge surpressors will surpress regular electric spikes, but will let high voltage (like lightning) go right through!

Further more, those AD/DC power blocks.. when they're plugged in, they convert AC -> DC and if the DC is not used, it converts DC -> Heat. So guess what? They actually waste electricity being plugged in! (and in summer time, many of them will make your Air Conditioning work a fraction harder to cool the place, and more power wasting).

LK

[chadtower]

what is a UPS? what is a good one to get?

It's an Uninterrupted Power Supply. A half decent one will have surge protection AND a battery backup for leveling power out in those moments when your power dips suddenly (when your fridge kicks on, when your furnace kicks on, power outages, etc). Those power dips are hundreds of times a day in some houses. Far more dangerous over time as they degrade the power supply slowly but surely but a UPS will take care of that. They also have the benefit most of the time of having the outlets in a way that you can plug many giant adaptors into them without problem... the best brand to get at a reasonable price is probably an entry level APC (that's the brand name, you'll find them at compusa and places).

[GENESISNES]

my mom gets all mad at me for this, but i have about 13 systems all plugged into a few surge protectors at once.

[Chunky]

what is a UPS? what is a good one to get?

It's an Uninterrupted Power Supply. A half decent one will have surge protection AND a battery backup for leveling power out in those moments when your power dips suddenly (when your fridge kicks on, when your furnace kicks on, power outages, etc). Those power dips are hundreds of times a day in some houses. Far more dangerous over time as they degrade the power supply slowly but surely but a UPS will take care of that. They also have the benefit most of the time of having the outlets in a way that you can plug many giant adaptors into them without problem... the best brand to get at a reasonable price is probably an entry level APC (that's the brand name, you'll find them at compusa and places).

Those will work to a point, APC is really crappy, i mean cheap crappy(I been in the UPS making business for years). If you go look behind the counters or look at the servers at stores that sell APC products, they sure as hell don't use APC. You sell what sells and use what works.

Anyways what people forget is to protect everything your entertainment system is plugging into, satalite, cable, phone, antenna. Lightining can strike and hit you in the back door, and some of your shit will fry. make sure your TV is grounded properly, most really higher end EQ will have ground leads, ground your antennas outside, and your dish, whatever you. get a RF adapter surge thinggy anyways, and a phone line one.

however you are protected a little when you have external adaptors, at least with power surges, onlythings gonna happen there is that they fry.

[hamburgler]

I always leave my systems plugged in surge protecters that are the best kind to use.

[Tetsu]

Maybe it won't "kill" your systems, but the AC adapters themselves are full of capacitors. Capacitors, in case you don't know, are full of electrolytic chemicals not unlike those in some batteries. They rectify AC voltage into DC when plugged in, even when not in use, hence the warm AC adapters. Trouble is, the electrolyte "runs dry" after years of use. You can "re-cap" em, as they say, but better to preserve them for as long as possible.

[BIGMIKE]

no, i can barely pay electric the way it is

[InfernalCheese]

I use APC's for both my PCs and my consoles. There only downfall is the occasonal replacement of an internal 12v mini battery. (Which cost about $20 a pop) I've never had any other problems with them.