Is it safe to put a TV on a mains timer?

It might be safer, perhaps, but a TV should be designed for power failures. Some TV's may not turn on after the power goes off and may require manual intervention. Easy to check. I would imaging some TVs having a built in timer for on off cotrol.

greg

Sure, it's perfectly safe, though most TVs will not power on when power is restored, you have to manually push the power button. Sony is the only exception to this I recall.

I'm sure my CRT Toshiba automatically remembers line off.

grge

I think it was a menu item, selectable.

greg

I'm pretty sure it's safe. Manufacturers ought to be aware that line cords are sometimes kicked loose, and that receivers therefore _should not_ be designed to require a specific shut-down sequence, the failure of which to be followed results in damage.

The most-likely side-effect of "pulling the cord" is the loss of settings. The set might also "forget" it was on before power was removed, requiring a manual turn-on.

snipped-for-privacy@talk21.com schrieb:

When I found a few years ago, that VCR, sat-receiver and TV were wasting more than 50 watts when standby, I connected all of them to a mains timer. No problem.

I have most devices connected to outlet strips with a switch. Sat receiver, TV, VCR, DVD-player, Tuner and Amplifier on one, computers and monitors on others.

I never had any problem. I just expect any electronic device not to waste energy when I turned it *off*.

Falk

there's no inherent reason why not, but how old is this tv? most made after about the early 90s have a sleep timer at least, and some sets especailly those designed for hotels (philips, ITT nokias) have full alarm functions.

be sure that the timer unit has a suitable current handling capacity (most will have, but you never know...)

if the tv is an old type with mechanical pushbuttons and no remote, one trick a guy i know did was to wire in a relay. he connected this to his vcr, which did have a remote and timer. so when the play button was pressed the tv would energise, and would switch off when the tape was ejected. so if he fell asleep in the middle of a film, the set would not be on all night.

that is stand-by you are thinking of. The mains switch generally is across the main power inlet to the set and cuts it totally.

-B

forgot to mention - as James says, some sets ,if the power is cut, revert to standby when it is re-applied. In my experience this is true

99% of the TVs i have come across. this is probably to prevent a fire risk if there is a power cut when the owner is away. Last year I saw one daewoo 14" Pal-M-N /NTSC set which had a menu option to disable this feature.

-B

The only things I would say in this regard is that the most common time for a switch mode power supply to fail, is from a 'cold' start after a full power down, and if I was going to do it, I might feel inclined to plug the TV into a surge protector strip, which is then plugged into the timer, as it is very possible that you could get quite substantial contact bounce / arcing at the switch-on time, which may also put the TV's power supply under stress.

Arfa

Next year all new TV's, DVD players, Home Theater systems etc are going to require you to push and hold the off button for 5 seconds to turn the unit off. In 2010 all new cars manufactured for sale in the USA will also have this feature built into the engine ignition switch requiring you to hold the key in a spring loaded off position for 5 seconds to shut the engine off. By 2015,this wonderful feature will be built into all household electric lights. Its amazing how smart these designers are! I mean, I would never even have thought of such a thing. What will they think of next?!?! Eric the Peasant

Just right for when the police reach into the window of a stolen car to stop the engine before the little scrote who stole it, can drive off again then. Just right for when you leave a room, and flick the light switch off as you go past - (oh screw it, I'll just leave it on). Can't see such a barmy idea ever making it into the public realm. Just as a matter of interest, what is the half-arsed thinking behind this one ?

Arfa

- source??

Sounds like there is going to be a lot of things left on. Great for energy conservation.

And I still have to something about my stupid cell phone. i have to hold the off button for over 3 secs. Way too long.

greg

My two tv sets are plugged into my Brickwall

Surge Protector.Momma didn't raise no fool! cuhulin

But, I think you are. cuhulin

Thank you to everyone who has replied - it seems I was worrying unnecessarily.

I think Arfa's advice is good though and will see if I can find a plug with a surge protector in; failing that, I'll get one of those distribution boards.

Paul