would love to hear what the maintenance man has to say...I leave my on also and I never unplug it....it's always ready to start with just a flick of the switch.......

Been doing this for eons and have had no trouble.......

I leave mine on if I know I'm coming back to sew soon. Mine has an Eco-mode (with a timer), where the sewing lights go off & the display screen goes dark. I can set the timer from 1 to 30 min. The dealer from whom I bought my machine leaves their display models on all the time during store hours. When mine is off, it is unplugged as we live in the path of some outrageous electrical storms.

I never thought about it. I turn mine off when I stop for lunch or am done for a while

Safety wise it is better to turn it off but if you are near the area at all times than turning it off and on is probably an option. Use your best judgment.

. On the other side of the room I have my iron and a light plugged into a different surge protector for the same reason...if the light is on, the iron is on.[/quote]

Not sure if the surge protector will protect against a surge if it is turned off. Maybe check into that.

I don't know if it actually "hurts" the machine. The dealers turn the demos on in the AM and leave them on ALL day and it doesn't seem to hurt them. I know my machine has lots more "ON" hours than "sewing" hours on her. I tend to turn her off when I finish sewing for that session. I don't turn her off when I'm just taking a break or ironing though.

Of course, I don't have any kidlets around.

I like that idea, maybe if I ever get a new sewing room. wishful thinking

I turn mine off when I'm not going to ge using it for a while (not just to iron and get back to sewing, off while making and eating meals). I also unplug it. It is on a surge protector, but I have had a surge protector (on my PC) die on me in a power surge. I rather take the time to unplug it and save my machine than to take the chance that the machine will get zapped and I will be without it for a while.

I turn the machine off if I know I'm going on to something else that might take a half hour or so. Additionally, when I am done for the day I unplug the machines. Both machines are highly computerized. A power failure, power surge, etc. can damage the boards. I've lost far less costly/precious electronic products because of a power issue.

If I am going to be gone say 30 minute or less, like to peek at supper, or throw in another load of laundry I leave on, If I then get too busy to return to sewing for what ever reason, I turn it off. I got in this habit also because of storms, and not wanting my "computer" in my sewing machine hurt. So off, and all the safety precautions with the surge protector.