I need a "like" button, as all of these comments are good ones. Thanks to all who have responded. Of course I am old enough to know that in the grand scheme of life, such as my granddaughter having a tumor removed from inside the femur bone, a sewing machine light is nothing to worry about. I like my little sewing machine lights, and I am relieved to read that they probably won't burn out.

My Brother 270SE has an encased LED. It was my daily driver for years, and eventually the LED light dimmed so much I could barely see. I could not figure out how to remove the bulb for replacement, so I took it to an authorized dealer. He said it was not replaceable. Brother considers that machine a "disposable" machine, so when the light burns out, you just buy a new machine.

:shock:

Um, no. Not THIS girl, not THAT machine. It's a great little machine, perfect for classes and retreats, still running strong. I'm not going to dump it just because the light is dim. Silly, silly engineers.

So I went to IKEA and bought a $10 Jansjo light. Actually, I liked it so much I bought five. Three for me, one for my mom, and one for my friend Cindi. They also have clamp-on and floor models.

As far as the light, I've never had any issues on my machines. As for the surge protector, I have a surge protector on my machine, we have a whole house surge protector, AND at the end of my day of sewing I unplug my machine. My sewing machine is the most expensive computer in the house so it's worth the couple of seconds to unplug it!

If you switch off everytime you leave the machine you have to reset your stitch size and other setting when you switch on. I leave which ever my machine I am using on during my working time, going back and forwards to it. I switch off noting settings when I have finished for the day.

I worry more about switching iron off so I just turn that down to no heat when I leave it during working session.

The on off switches I feel only need on when you start and off when you finish.

....if your machine is digital. I don't have to reset my Brother 1500 at all because it's mechanical. One of the 1,739 reasons I love that machine... :D