to unplug or not to unplug

[radio nut]

Since my crosley had a flyback fire it leads me to a question. I was given a 1978 Wards color tv, it runs well, am I wrong in unplugging the set when I am done with it? The set sits in my finished basement and if it would catch fire it could do serious damage before anyone knew about it. Thanks, Doug.

[dtuomi]

Any equipment I have that I'm leaving off for any duration longer than a couple of days I unplug. That goes for modern equipment as well as the old stuff. The reason for the modern equipment is that it tends to be wasteful of power, with indicator lights and all sorts of weird power sucking behavior. Older equipment (especially tube based) is unplugged for fire safety, etc or the power sucking of "instant start" equipment.

David

[Dan Starnes]

I only have my vintage radios, TV's and stereo's plugged in during use. Once turned off, I promptly unplug them. Always have and always will do it that way.
Dan

[MRX37]

Probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

Get an outlet strip with a switch on it. They're nice and cheap, and the switch cuts off the juice to the plugs.

[Dan Starnes]

Yeah, I have several outlet strips and just switch them off when I leave the room. Or when done, very easy.
Dan

[3Guncolor]

I vote for unpluging or using a power strip with on / off switch.

[andy]

...

[wa2ise]

Installing a network of powerline operated smoke alarms would be a good idea as well.

[Chad Hauris]

In any old equipment I like to make sure I put a fuse between the power line and any thing else in the circuit (if one is not already there), that way if there is any kind of short, even like in the power switch or something, you're protected.

[peverett]

I use the outlet strip mentioned by MRX37. However, this is mainly to save the mechanical on/off switch in the set, not to prevent fires. I turn the set switch on, then turn the outlet strip on. This way, hopefully, there will be no arcing in the sets on/off switch as contact is already made.

I also install fuses as mentioned by Chad.

[Old1625]

Here's another vote for unplugging or using an outlet strip.

[Adam]

I plug everything into those strips and switch them off whenever I go out.

[compucat]

My restored daily use sets remain plugged in as they did when new without any problems. My display shelf with working radios and TVs get turned off by the power strip switch when not in use.

[truetone36]

All of my stuff is on power strips since a 21" Admiral nearly caught fire in my living room a few years ago.

[larschr]

If the equipment has a 2 pole power switch as the first connection point for the power cord, i leave it plugged in.