TV Burn In | TV Power Surge

Television (Flat Screen)

How it Works

Television technology is improving every day and with new tech comes new advantages and disadvantages. Nearly all televisions sold today are thin, lightweight units that use digital signals for an eye-popping display using plasma, liquid crystal display (LCD) or light emitting diode (LED) technology. The TV remote sets the channel, input source, volume, picture adjustment and power. Many flat screen TVs include a matching TV stand for simple use or can be wall-mounted with a separate mounting unit. Although most TVs can receive over-air digital channels using a digital antenna, they are usually connected to cable or satellite. Most TVs can also connect with computers, DVD/Blu Ray players and gaming systems with the proper cables. Smart TVs connect to your home Wi-Fi for direct access to online entertainment like Netflix and YouTube.

What Can Go Wrong?

Broken screens, electrical shorts and screen discoloration can be caused by thrown objects, spilled liquids and other unexpected mishaps.

A plasma TV can suffer from “burn-in”, where a single or common image is displayed for so long that it burns into the screen permanently. Plasma TVs also lose their brightness through pixel deterioration over time if left on for too long. LCD and LED TVs do not suffer from burn-in or pixel deterioration. All new TVs can be seriously impacted by electrical surge and other electrical issues.

Size & Environmental Impact

Flat screen TVs vary in physical size from handhelds to 60 inches or more. The average power consumption is 301 watts (W) for a plasma TV, 110 W for an LCD TV, and 101 W for an LED TV. A plasma TV left on for five hours a day would consume 550 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year and produce about 850 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Tips & Tricks

Maintenance Tips

Keep your television free from dust to avoid problems like electrical shorts and other malfunctions. Use a soft cloth (ideally microfiber or 100 percent cotton) to dust the surface to avoid scratching.
Avoid displaying a single image on a plasma screen to reduce “burn-in”. Some plasma TVs have an option called “white flash”: this option eliminates burned-in images but will also shorten the life of your screen.
Use a quality electrical surge suppression device or battery based uninterruptible power supply (UPS) on the electrical power to the TV to protect it from electrical power issues.

Loss Prevention Tips

Consider unplugging your television during thunderstorms and while on vacation: TVs are susceptible to localized lightning strikes and power surges.
Avoid exposing your LCD TV to high room temperature and humidity, both of which can shorten the lifespan of your TV. Additionally, temperatures below 50°F can negatively affect response time and brightness.

Resources

Are energy vampires sucking money out of your wallet?: Use this calculator to see how much you can save.
Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use: How much electricity do your appliances and home electronics use?
Television and Video Online Manuals: Looking for a manufacturer's manual? Click here for television and video manuals.