Plugging off computer every night?

[br3akth3w1nd]

Ok, we discussed about shutting it down. I figured out maybe it wil be better to shut it down every night just because of the bad electromagnetic stuff that come out of it. So the cable to my monitor burned, so I bought a new one. The lamp on the transformer below or whatever it is is just so bright and the computer is right to my head when I sleep. Can I do some damage to my computer by turning it of AND THAN plugging it off?

[jason2074]

As long as you make a proper computer shutdown. Then plugging it off is not an issue but a safety practice. However,

So the cable to my monitor burned,

. Is there any connection to this prior to the plugging off?

[br3akth3w1nd]

As long as you make a proper computer shutdown. Then plugging it off is not an issue but a safety practice. However, . Is there any connection to this prior to the plugging off?

thx for the comment
and no.. there isnt any connection. I just overused it or something One day i was playing and than I heard a BOOM under my desk. And than I found out that new ones cost 100$ -.- ah well..

[BC_Programmer]

I still want to know what "Plugging it off" means.

[Salmon Trout]

I still want to know what "Plugging it off" means.

Unplugging, I guess. Do you call it something different over there, like you do with taps/faucets?

[jason2074]

Unplug/Unplugged/Unplugging a cord/powercord or anything that is plug.

[BC_Programmer]

Unplugging, I guess. Do you call it something different over there, like you do with taps/faucets?

We call it Unplugging. "Plugging off" sounds like a nonsensical phrase to me. Unless you don't turn it off first, then you are sort of plugging it off... but actually, "unplugging it off" would make more sense.

Now, On to be sure, "Plugging off" makes a LOT more sense with taps/faucets; after all, you are quite literally plugging off the water flow. But with unplugging a electrical cable, you aren't plugging off the electricity as you are breaking the circuit; it's yet another phrase that probably stemmed from the common metaphor that Electricity is like water.

[br3akth3w1nd]

Nah.. I am talking about Unplugging it from the plug (cutting all source of elecricity) or whateva :p I was wondering about.. could that make a power surge or something like that that would damage my computer? Ive been unplugging it for a month or two now but I am kind of worried..

[Salmon Trout]

We call it Unplugging.

I should remember that in many countries other than mine, power sockets ("outlets") don't have switches.

A UK 13 Amp 230 volt socket outlet.



I switch mine off every night after shutting down and when I leave the house and I always have done for about 15 years and I have never lost a computer yet. The sockets have double pole switches and turning one off is equivalent to removing the plug in an unswitched socket. If the PC is already shut down then the current being broken is zero or negligible. So "plug off" if you want to.

[BC_Programmer]

ahhhhh

Now the expression makes sense!

[Salmon Trout]

In fact if you live in a zone subject to electrical storms and your electric supply is by overhead wires, you probably should remove the plug when you are not using the computer or when there is lightning nearby.

[alexK]

It is plainly NOT a good idea to "unplug" the equipment every night.
I just did a test:

- got a Presario R3000 Laptop with an External Power Supply 110V AC to 20V DC.
- unplugged the Power Supply from the Laptop.
- connected a Voltmeter to the Power Supply - reading 20V DC
- unplugged the Power Supply from the Wall Outlet keeping the Voltmeter connected and let the Remnant Voltage die down to Zero.
- plugged the Power Supply back into the Wall Outlet.
- Reading 30V DC. This is a Surge of 10V DC or 50%
- the reading then dies down, back to 20V DC, still unplugged from the PC.

I am not sure what the PC Internal power surge is when doing a cold start, but it could be a lot, and it does happen.
The same type of Power Surge occurs in TV, Stereo, Xbox and better believe it.
If you want to be protected from External Power Surges, get a Power Bar with a Surge Protector, and leave the equipment plugged.
The power usage for a on PC standby is next to nothing:
-PC is 2 Watt / hr
-TV is 2 Watt / hr 

I will soon dedicate a whole subject to Equipment Usage and Cost.

[patio]

Wow...

[BC_Programmer]

a laptop Power adapter doesn't provide full power until the laptop actually draws it. that 30v DC is used by the laptop. when you use a voltmeter it probably senses there isn't much draw and just provides the lowest it can; 20v, in this case.

this is particularly irrelevant since we're talking about desktop computer power supplies.

[Salmon Trout]

It is plainly NOT a good idea to "unplug" the equipment every night.
I just did a test:

The DC voltage from an unloaded power supply will rise when AC is applied. You have "proved" nothing. This is not a "surge".