Also why can we restart PCs since this contradicts this recommendation?
In: Technology
Most electronics have shut down procedures, and waiting 30 seconds gives them time to perform this action. These procedures ensure the next start up can occur without issue.
If you’ve ever experienced a power outage on a device, and it restarted once the power was restored, usually a message appears indicating the device was not shut down properly.
I do want to take a moment to address the common “capacitor” answer, because it’s worth discussing for a different reason.
Most electronics today use capacitors to ensure a constant current and do not store so much as to require wait times to discharge. Once a device is powered off, a capacitor’s discharge is instantaneous.
That is, if there’s a load applied during a shut down. Some electronic devices will actually retain the voltage when the device is powered down as this can help increase boot times.
Where a capacitor’s discharge time may be necessary are internal power supplies. The capacitors used vary depending on the wattage of the unit, and in some cases, can take time to discharge if the unit loses power if they’re designed to do so.
However, many of today’s power supplies also retain a capacitor’s charge in order to regulate the “infinite current spike” when power is applied to the unit. This is why it is absolutely necessary to discharge all capacitors when working on them just to ensure they don’t surprise you with a nasty shock.
Ironically, some power supplies can now be managed through software, which can become part of the shut down process and why it’s recommended we wait to restart them.
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