AngelinaMaria

I want to preserve the life of the bulbs that provide lighting on my sewing machine so I try to turn it off if I am not going to use it for more than 5 to 7 minutes or so (if I'm pinning and it will only take a few minutes, I leave it on, but if I have pressing or more tasks I turn it off). I was really annoyed at myself one time when I left it on for over 4 hours while I was downstairs.

I have a Babylock Espire (computerize) and wonder if it is more harmful to the machine to be turned on and off several times in a 2 to 3 hour period?

momto5

Sorry, no help here. When I decide which machine is going to be "it" for the day, she stays on until I quit...usually 6-12 hours or more...no problems yet, but I only have a Babylock serger; my other machines are Singers, Janomes, Vikings, etc.

Nanamoms

I'm not sure about this but I know that turning household lights off and on every few minutes is not good for them. I would think sewing machines would be more sensitive to the electricity than house lights. I leave my embroidery machine on when I have a design on the screen but not actively sewing.

Prism99

I don't know about sewing machines, but my dh told me turning the regular light bulbs on and off is harder on them than leaving them on. I would definitely not be turning my machine off and on several times over a 2 to 3 hour period.

Why so concerned about the sewing machine light? I would just purchase a spare or two as "security" and use the sewing machine normally. I have a Bernina 1230 that must be close to 15 years old and have left it on overnight once in awhile. I suppose one would call my usage of it light to moderate, since there were several years when I didn't do much sewing, but the light bulb is still going strong! Haven't had to change it yet. As for energy consumption, I should think that is at most a few pennies per hour. Years ago I figured out the energy requirements of a tv left on for 24 hours, and I think it was something on the order of 25 cents per day! (Edit: I think my memory on that was wrong. I think I amortized the cost of the tv over its life, and *that* came to 25 cents per day. Not that I'm an authority on that subject......)

NJ Quilter

I usually leave my machine on for whatever duration I'm in the sewing room. If I know I'm just popping out for a short bit -- changing laundry; lunch; etc. -- I'll leave it on as well. If I know there's a likelihood I won't get back in there for hours/days I usually remember to turn off the machine (but not always). Following those practices, one of the lights only recently blew in my Viking and it's about 10 years old. I don't know that the lights or machine draw enough power for it to be a significant cost savings to turn it on/off every few minutes. Then again, it might.

luvTooQuilt

its on from the time i start until i stop for the day..

quiltstringz

The only thing to worry about is not the light bulb, but if you have a computerized machine with a screen (similar to a computer) then leaving it on for long periods I have heard can burn images into your screen. Some of those machines have a screen saver type mode that you can put it into when being away for a period. I am not sure if this is true but kind of makes sense

crafty pat

I leave mine on until I leave the sewing room.

humbird

I also leave mine on as long as i'm in my sewing room. I do turn everything off when I leave the room, even if I think it may be for a short time, because I have a bad habit of getting busy doing something else and forgetting I have left the sewing machine, iron. lights etc on.

Prism99

I think the screensaver thing makes sense. I know that an image can "burn in" to our tv if left on for too long. My Bernina does not have one of those computerized screens, so I didn't think of that. Don't really know if it's a problem with screens on sewing machines, but might be worth checking out.

One thing to keep in mind if you are turning the sewing machine on and off frequently is that you might be wearing out the on/off switch! To my mind, that's a much bigger repair than simply replacing a burned out light bulb.