What happened?

[misterhelpful]

We watched TV in bed last night, turned off with the remote and this morning it wouldn't come on and has no power.

One quick question:

WHAT HAPPENED????

Obviously there's lots to go wrong, and you'll probably want to know type, model, etc., but I can't get my head round why it's not working. It must be something basic, hence the basic question.

 

[misterhelpful]

Problem solved....I forgot I was in the crazy land where light switches operate the sockets. Some dopey bugger had turned the light switch off!!

 

[PBC_1966]

Perhaps we shouldn't ask who turned it off?

Assuming that the set is plugged into a duplex receptacle (double socket), you might want to try using the other outlet. It's a common arrangement for one half to be switched and the other permanently live.

 

[cjard]

So that's why, on all the American shows, flipping the wall switch turns the table lamps on..

 

[PBC_1966]

Yes - It's a common arrangement in living rooms and bedrooms, most often - but not always - the lower half which is switched, sometimes just at a couple of outlets, sometimes at various outlets all around the room.

Wall-switch controlled outlets for lamps were quite popular in Britain at one time, but typically using 2A BS546 sockets making them quite distinct from general-purpose outlets.

 

[DaveHerns]

We used to have 2a 3pin sockets for general purpose outlets when I was young . TV , radio and iron all plugged in the same socket...

 

[JohnD]

5A is more likely.

 

[PBC_1966]

Yes, 2A was more commonly used for lighting with 5A for smaller appliances. Although obviously there was nothing to stop anyone using a 2A outlet for suitably low-powered devices like radios, etc.

Switched 2A outlets for lighting seemed to make something of a comeback for a while (early 1980's?) then fell out of fashion again.

Here in the U.S., some homes have no fixed lighting in the living room and/or bedroom, as people prefer to rely on assorted table and floor lamps.

 

[DaveHerns]

No, seriously it was 2amp. 5 amp sockets would have been luxury to us!