Have had the same experience, I always unplug when not using, you can have surges at anytime, you dont need a storm for a surge.

No you are not! Protect your electronics by unplugging them from the wall.

The power bar I use for my sewing machine, iron, Ott light, etc. has a toggle on/off switch, so I don't have to unplug. When I go in to sew I toggle "on". When I go down for lunch, or am done for the day, I toggle "off". Works for me! C9P

if you really want to be safe, when unplugging things from the machines and leaving the strips plugged - stick that end into a glass jar (a tip from CB radio days)

No way- UNPLUG!! We just had a storm about a month ago and lost every surge protector in our house (7 of them), as well as 3 overhead lights. Lightening struck a transformer that feeds our house and the main problem was not enough power to our house, causing constant surges until they fixed it. They instructed us to shut the "main" power supply off to the entire house, as this is more of a fire hazard than anything else. Thank goodness none of my machines were injured!!

better safe than sorry! I always unplug

I unplug my machine as soon as I finish sewing and I don't sew during storms. Our well has been hit by ligthtening 2 times so I'm not taking any chances.

I do the same peaceandjoy. I unplug.

Ask my vintage Bernina 930 how she feels about power surges. We suspect that's what fried her printed board and cost me $300 to repair. Ouch! No sewing here if there's any thunder outside... which means almost any summer afternoon. Yes, she's on a surge protector now, but I just don't trust them. The computer stays on. Shows you what I love more!

When we lived in florida we went thru a computer printer and 2 microwaves then we got a house surge protectora....lost our phone and anothEr microwave....unplug everythin surge protector or not!