TV and smart strip

[johnndeanna]

Hi all,

I am at the point where I need to get a monitor for my new cab and have a question. I am planning on a flat screen for the cab and am looking at a 24". Overall this will give me a decent screen size, but I would not mind going a bit bigger than that. However, as you go larger the price increases dramatically and I am trying to limit my expenditure. This is where my question arises.

My local Sam's Club has a 29" Magnavox 720P LED TV with VGA in for $188. This will fit in my cab (just barely) and I wonder if using a smart strip if the TV will power on automatically like a computer monitor would. If so I will spend another $30 for the larger screen, but if not I will just stick with the 24" PC monitor.

Thoughts are appreciated.

John

[MaxAsh]

Honestly, it depends on the TV or monitor in question. Some TVs, if you leave them on and kill the power from the surge protector (or unplug them) will "remember" that they are on the next time you apply power. If you can unplug the floor model of the one at Sam's club, then plug it back in (or ask an employee to do it), you can test it out.

Alternatively, with minimal effort, you can extend the wiring from the on/off switch in the TV. You could connect to another portion of your cab to unify the "on/off" function of everything (a little more complex, but still not tough). Or you could even extend the TV's on/off switch wiring to a simple switch (or arcade pushbutton) on the outside of the cabinet if you want. My friend did the latter, deciding to have two hidden buttons (power on the cabinet, power on the screen) that he would press to get everything running. There are tons of options, especially if you're not afraid to open up the TV and do a tiny bit of wiring.

Try the unplug trick at Sam's club first if you can, worth a shot before considering the other options.

[JDFan]

Most newer TVs support the power on after failure - so that if power is lost they come back on as soon as power is restored (some have a setting that needs to be turned on to make it function) -- If the TV supports this then it will work fine in a smart strip.

Do you have the model # of the TV ? If so the web site should tell if it is supported or as mentioned just go to the store and test by unplugging while turned on and if power comes back on when plugged back in you'll know !