The idea probably comes from fluorescent lights, which do need a brief power spike to excite the plasma. The integral of this power spike is probably negligible. Turning on and off frequently could more quickly bring about a failure mode, though.
― post...aftermath (Sufjan Grafton), Wednesday, 3 September 2014 14:22 (nine years ago) link
yeah i think this was only ever true of the type of lights they had in institutional buildings... classrooms, hospitals, etc.
my gf does tell me not to turn the TV off if I'm going to turn it on again w/in 30 minutes but i'm prett skeptical.
anyway i had forgotten this thread. good times. where is matos now?
― I dunno. (amateurist), Wednesday, 3 September 2014 19:48 (nine years ago) link
I remember a teacher in my elementary school saying the same thing back in the 80s. Was this a widespread myth at some point?
i think so. i definetely used to think this. it's called lazy justifications for laziness syndrome, probably (http://rebelzen.com/2008/09/10-reasons-why-being-a-lazy-dude-is-actually-a-good-thing/ NUMBER 1, in a way)
― Ludo, Wednesday, 3 September 2014 19:51 (nine years ago) link