Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Do you turn off your digital piano after playing?

Just wondering what's best for the piano - turning off each time after playing or leaving it on all the time. I have a Yamaha CLP 240.

Thanks!

I always turn mine off. I usually play about a half hour in the a.m. and another half hour in the p.m. I can't see leaving it on for the other 23 hours.

Same as markb - I always turn mine off after playing.

I generally turn the lights out when I'm not using them, too.

What about short periods of time? I stop playing to go throw clothes into the dryer, answer the door, etc. I have been always turning the piano and my piano lamp off whenever I get up but wonder if it's really the best thing to do. Do you turn it off if you're going to be gone only 10 or 15 minutes? I've always heard that it's better to leave a computer on than to turn it on and off constantly. Is this also true of digital pianos?

My guess (only a guess) is that if you're only stepping away for a few minutes, it might be better to leave it on so you don't put undo stress on the internal components by rapid turning on/off activity. But if you're done for a session and won't be back for a while I would definitely turn it off.

If I don't plan on returning to my digital pianos within an hour or so after playing, I turn them off. I also use a good quality APC surge protector on each one. Even with the surge protectors, I often unplug them during thunderstorms. Additionally, if a digital piano has a large color LCD, leaving it on continuously "may" lead to "burn in" of the screen over time.

More digital pianos(and other microprocessor-based equipment) are damaged by power surges and spikes than by powering off and on. So a good surge protector is a must and as hawk85 mentioned it is always good to unplug during thunderstorms.

i do turn it off when i'm not going to play it after a while, but sometimes i forgot and just left it on. but it's a good idea to turn it off after playing.

always....its just a button

Turn it off.

After it's on for a little while I can feel some heat, not hot just a little warm, on the top of my P250.

Heating and cooling over the years can cause it to wear faster, constant temperature is better. Based on that I'd say that if you are only going to be away for a few minutes it may be better to leave it on.

I think this is a minor point. I wouldn't worry about it too much, and if in doubt - turn it off to save electricity.

I always turn mine off, it's not meant to be on all the time like a cell phone or something of that nature, besides it's not hard to turn it off.

I like the APC SurgeArrest Performance 3400 Joule 11-Outlet Surge Protector (Mfg Part #: PF11VT3). About $30-$35. However, this is just my preference. Some models have Connected Equipment Coverage. Small "insurance" price to pay to protect a digital piano potentially costing $2,000 - $12,000.

Thanks for the replies. I wish they could add an automatic turn-off feature on the pianos so it turns off after not been used for certain time. I find myself frequently leaving mine on thinking that I would return shortly but end up not getting back until the next day. Thanks for the suggestion of a surge protector. I will definitly get one.

Since electronics & electronic components have been my life...always turn off your piano when not in use unless you're just stepping away, just like a TV, radio, etc.

A surge suppressor is great advice and no, LCD's do not suffer from burn-in like CRT's (TV's).

Remember, heat is the number one killer of anything electronic and so the longer it's left on the shorter it's life could be.

RWH

Here again. the fact that a digital
piano is a computer comes into play. When
the computer craze first hit, the experts
used to recommend leaving a computer on
all the time, but this is no longer
recommended, because computer monitors can
catch fire spontaneously--I've seen with
my own eyes 3 computer monitors catch
fire spontaneously, which would have
led to disastrous fires in each case
had someone not happened to be there when it
occurred. So turn off your piano when
not in use.

But another computer related thing also
comes into play here. All computers have
a longlife nickel cadmium battery, that
in a personal computer keeps the clock
running and in a digital piano stores
recordings. There is also a battery
charger built into every computer/digital
piano that charges up the battery,
and that charger needs to run at
least 1 hr. every time you use
the computer/digital piano. So
a personal computer needs to be run
at least 1 hr. every time you use it
or the battery will go dead, and each
time you turn on your piano you should
not turn it off for at least 1 hr. or
the battery will die. If you use your computer
for only 10 min. per day to check your
email, or play the piano only 10 min. per
day, the battery in each will soon go
dead, and on the computer the clock won't
run and on the piano you can't store
recordings. If you leave a computer or
digital piano on for at least 1 hr. each
time you use it, the battery will last
indefinitely (you should be practicing the
piano about 1 hr. each day anyway).

Huh?

You have got to be kidding.


NiCad is popular, there are other varieties. NiCad batteries are rechargeable, whereas Lithium and alkaline batteries are NOT.

Huh?


About 2 or 3 years is average.

I'm with Copper on this one..."huh?"

Numerous current generation digital pianos with non-volatile storage capabilities use Flash memory and Flash memory absolutely does not require a battery to retain data. Additionally, (according to the specifications in the User’s Guide, page E-6), the Casio Celviano AP-24 uses a lithium battery with a "normal life" of 5 years to retain memory contents when the unit is powered off.

Where are you getting this info from? The battery in the computer "charges" or is in "standby" as long as the computer is plugged in to the socket regardless if the PC is on or not. When it is unplugged then the battery starts draining.