Much the same question comes up with computers. The real question is: Will a switch-mode power supply last longer running 24/7 or being turned on and off as needed?
Many debated this, but service history reveals that being left on 24/7 causes the supply to die at a younger age. Not only do the caps dry out, but the supply is subject to receiving all those little transient spikes that come in via the power cord. The supplies are protected with MOVs which clamp the spikes, but each time it clamps, part of it dies. Eventually, the MOVs are simply open circuited and no longer protect the supply. Some have felt that the turn-on transit is more damaging, but the truth is a switch-mode supply is turning on and off about 200 thousand times a second anyhow. The primary supply in a mover is the switch-mode supply, so all of these reasons remain the same. There is also the matter of the fans. Bearing life is primarily a factor of how many rotations the shaft has made.
Let me check here... are you talking about leaving them on 24/7 with the lamps struck but doused?
That's a bad idea. - kills lamp life and increases greatly the airconditioning bill!
Destrike the lamps by the appropriate method for that fixture, often a DMX command.
But in terms of whether you kill the mains, that will depend on the level of difficulty associated with doing so. If you have DMX relays or some other way that it's a simple process, then it's probably wise.
If it means a walk up onto a catwalk, perhaps the cost of labour to do so doesn't make sense...
Geez, Chris, don't be so pedantic.
Tell 'em the ETC Rigging General Manager said so! Although speaking specifically about LED fixtures,
See also http://www.controlbooth.com/threads/making-the-best-of-hid-lamp-hours.33008/#post-289902 and the threads linked therein.Just a small suggestion.....turn off the power to the fixtures. We should all be aware that when we remove data to our LED fixtures, and leave power on, the fixtures are still running. The power supplies are energized and we all know that electronics have a limited useful life.
We're all spoiled by dimmers since when we turn off the console, all the tungsten [and other] sources turn off. Only the dimmer electronics stay active which is 1-6 devices per rack. The same is not true for LED fixtures.
So I've been on a little bit of a campaign, secretly [not much of a campaign then I guess], to let people know that their LED fixtures, MLs, scrollers, foggers, etc, will all last longer if you remove power from them. We have such a large investment in these devices, it only makes sense to have them around for as long as possible.
Sorry if this blatantly obvious...maybe it can help someone....
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