Snow Birds- or others who are gone for long periods
 

We've owned a condo on the west coast of FL for a few years. As I'm approaching retirement (woo hoo!), I'm thinking about getting a sewing machine to leave there. Until DH retires, I might fly there on my own. Or, even when we drive down, it seems we already have a lot of things to load in the car, meaning adding a sewing machine to be transported could be a problem.

Do any of you leave a computerized machine for long periods of time? I've heard horror stories about them "freezing" up if they are not turned on periodically. More specifically, I'm looking at one of the "lower end" Bernina's, a 300 series machine, probably, unless I find a fantastic deal on something even better.

Thanks for any input/suggestions you can give!

Robin

I have a Bernina Activa that I keep at a mountain cabin. It sits all winter without power and the first time I turn it on in the late Spring it can take a good 20 minutes to turn on, but it's never failed to power up. It's been there for 12 years now.

I have a Lily 540 Husqvarna that really only gets used once or twice a year at retreats. Touch wood.... I have never had a problem with it, although it does sit in a temperature controlled room day in and day out. As soon as it is plugged in.... it does it's little realignment as computerized machines do... and off it goes, ready to use. Do you have a machine that you are thinking of leaving there or would this be a new purchase?

l leave my Janome 6500 at home when l go south for 4-5 months. l clean it ,but do not oil ( under bobbin is only place allowed anyway), unplug it, and put the dust cover over it. It is in my basement sewingroom ,so l also pick the foot pedal off floor & store it next to machine. When l return in spring, l then oil that bobbin wick, and make sure l use the machine for at least 15 min afterwards. The machine is computorized, and l've had no problems in the 7 yr l've done this. Meanwhile, in Fla., l have another machine that sits covered in a closet. The air conditioning is left on over summer though not turned down very far...mainly humidity needs to be kept down...that machine also has had no problems.

I have a Bernina 300 series machine. I turned it on last week after not using it for about 9 months. It started up immediately with no problem and I pieced a quilt back with it. It was in my house, not a vacation home, but I can't see that that matters.

We've had a rash of Berninas with dead power circuit boards. And the one thing they all had in common was they hadn't been used for 9 months to 3 years. These have all been Bernina 220 or 230 models that are about 8 to 10 years old. That's interesting what Tom W said about taking 20 minutes to turn on. I'll have to try that on the next one that comes into the shop.

We are also on the west coast in the winter. I leave a machine there, I have had no problems with it.

We have a condo on the east coast. I have been trying to decide which of my machines to leave down there and I am leaning toward leaving a mechanical sewing machine and a mechanical serger. We keep the air conditioner running, so humidity is not an issue. Once my husband retires and we spend longer periods of time there, I'll most likely buy a computerized machine to use when we're in Florida.

Do you have to have a computerized machine? I have a Brother 1500, all mechanical, straight stitch, and it is a workhorse. No issues at all with hot/cold, and I drag it hither and yon.

I would get a machine I didn't have to worry about freezing up. I think of all the machines all over this God's green earth that have set for months and years and with a little clean up, they're off and running . Maybe check out the different sites for that area or a local quilt shop and see what they have.

I suspect that there is a battery on the power board that eventually goes dead. Mine had no issues at all for the first 7 or 8 winters by the last 5 or so it's taken it's time to start and then it's fine for the summer. Once plugged in for a bit it seems to regain a charge and then the machine works fine until I winterize the cabin and shut the power down.

We've got a man who fixes our circuit boards. He's figured out what component goes out, and can replace it with a new part. The way it goes dead, sure seems like a battery component. Do you flip the "on" switch to power it up? Or just leave it plugged in?

I have a Viking Platinum 750 that is stored in its storage case from Sept. thru May every winter in an unheated camp in Maine (while we are in the south) and a Janome Horizon 7700 QCP that stays at home in the south without AC May thru Sept. (while we are up north). No problems in 3 yrs. from either the cold or heat/humidity.

I live in florida but we sometimes leave for a a few months during summer time. we leave the a/c on 84 and the very have a problem. I have/had janome 6600 and 8900

Sorry about the typos , my tablet did that.

I've never had a problem letting a machine sit for a while. I have a computerized machine that I use for workshops and such and it goes months without being used. We are in Florida and when we leave for periods of time we leave the air on at around 85 mostly for the humidity. I wouldn't worry about it.

We were snowbirds for 11 years in the Clearwater area. Left a basic Babylock there 7 months of the year. Never failed me. Actually, eventually had two of everything. Never had to haul anything back and forth. Sweeeet. Now we live full time on the Treasure Coast. Sold the house up north. The eastern side of Fl is so much warmer! Loving the Salt Life!

MarshaKay, Our condo is on the treasure coast too. We love it there. It is like Utopia. If my husband had his way, we would live there year-round.

I have a Singer 401, mechanical, that I leave for 6 months in the AZ heat. Starts right up when I return in the fall. It's a great workhorse.

I have left machines north in Ontario and in south west Florida during the summers and never had problems.
Travelled with the computerized one for yrs too but then realized that it was not a good idea. Now have many machines both places and seems ok.
Good thread to post for discussion .

I do turn the power switch on... doesn't seem to do anything just being plugged in.

Your comment reminds me of the old 286 upwards pcs we had 20 years ago when I first got into computing and studied IT - power supplies were very delicate back then and could die if they were switched on and off too often (early computers were left on all the time because the shock of switching could kill them!) We did not dare to shake or drop them but were easily replaced on the old desktops. When I got my first computerized sewing and embroidering machine I couldn't believe how many circuit boards were inside and the main board did actually need replacing once. Technology is like magic, it keeps advancing and changing, but not so easy to replace bits and pieces on laptops.

We are in FL for seven months and Maine for five. I have twin Featherweights, one in both places and twin domestic machines, also one in both places. We do leave the air and humidistat on the recommended levels when we go up north. Our daughter babysits the Maine machines partly because then I don't have to worry about them. Having two setups makes so much sense if you can do that.

I don't have any machines that are computerized. My main two machines are straight stitch only.
If it were me I would only leave a simple machine for that situation.

I was told as long as you let it sit at room temperture to warm up there is no problem.

Have and love a Bernina 1630 - computerized. An oldie goldie. Before it came into my hands it sat in a box, in a friend's sewing room, unused, for at least 4 years. It had belonged to a Canadian quilter who left it when she went home.

Before I bought it we plugged it in and checked to see its status. I wanted to do some embroidery on a quilt and so checked to see that the computer and file storage was functional. It turned on immediately and sewed well. Took it to a Bernina dealer for a once over and the best they could do was lube and clean it for me. Their tech did not know anything about that model and didn't have the service book for it. Of two minds about that but the machine wasn't damaged by someone making stuff up as they went, etc. just know that with an older machine that can be an issue.

The bottom line of that sad story is to tell you that the machine got back from the dealer and permanently moved onto the left side of my sewing center . She and I sew. She purrs and stitches perfectly.

Hope this helps.

Note: the 1630 has quite a number of the capabilities that the current top of the line machines have. HUGE, GARGANTUAN difference in price.