harmful to unplug/plug in HDMI cable with stuff still on?

[STARSCREAM]

I just had a Best Buy Geeksquad guy out here to look at my Insignia Plasma tv that has flicker. I had the ps3 on and paused to demonstrate the flickering and when he went to plug the hdmi cable into his device he just unplugged it from the ps3 and plugged it into his device without allowing me to turn the ps3/receiver/or tv off first. I had always heard never to do this because it can damage your equipment so now I'm pissed that he did that. What kind of damage can it do and what should I look for next time when using it? OR is it mainly you aren't supposed to do this because it can damage your hdmi connectors?

[Propellarhead9]

If anything I would say possibly the HDMI connectors but other than that I can't think of it really doing anything to your equipment especially since you had the stuff paused. I would be more damaging if he unplugged the power cable with everything still on but even though it won't really do much of anything. At least not in my experience with stuff.

[STARSCREAM]

Ok, thanks.

[lokir1]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

I just had a Best Buy Geeksquad guy out here to look at my Insignia Plasma tv that has flicker. I had the ps3 on and paused to demonstrate the flickering and when he went to plug the hdmi cable into his device he just unplugged it from the ps3 and plugged it into his device without allowing me to turn the ps3/receiver/or tv off first. I had always heard never to do this because it can damage your equipment so now I'm pissed that he did that. What kind of damage can it do and what should I look for next time when using it? OR is it mainly you aren't supposed to do this because it can damage your hdmi connectors?

Not recommended you can actually cause a short on your hdmi board and fry an input or output on it due to this most manuals stae to turn off all equipment when connecting or disconecting cables for this reason exactly
I was careless a few times and suffered losing an input on my avr due to it after getting a very expensive repair done seeing as how no one will fix your hdmi board but jus rip out the old and install a new one i asked what caused this to happen? this was the #1 suspect from repair facility and after searching online i found a few others that experienced the same problem and were told the same as well may or may not be true but jus to be safe i turn everything off from now on

[STARSCREAM]

Originally Posted by lokir1

Not recommended you can actually cause a short on your hdmi board and fry an input or output on it due to this most manuals stae to turn off all equipment when connecting or disconecting cables for this reason exactly
I was careless a few times and suffered losing an input on my avr due to it after getting a very expensive repair done seeing as how no one will fix your hdmi board but jus rip out the old and install a new one i asked what caused this to happen? this was the #1 suspect from repair facility and after searching online i found a few others that experienced the same problem and were told the same as well may or may not be true but jus to be safe i turn everything off from now on

So did your HDMI port just not work at all or did it work but had artifacts and stuff?

[supersix4]

I rip them in and out all the time, but today I saw a spark when I went to plug one in. It was like a white flash the HDMI is hooked up and working now, but I'm really going to be more careful from now on.

[STARSCREAM]

I really don't like HDMI, I think it's far too finicky. I love having one cable for everything but that's it.

[Infrared Sight]

I have never taken cables out or put them in with the power still on. Just seems like too many things can happen when power is involved. Scary to think about the possibility of failures.

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

I just had a Best Buy Geeksquad guy out here to look at my Insignia Plasma tv that has flicker. I had the ps3 on and paused to demonstrate the flickering and when he went to plug the hdmi cable into his device he just unplugged it from the ps3 and plugged it into his device without allowing me to turn the ps3/receiver/or tv off first. I had always heard never to do this because it can damage your equipment so now I'm pissed that he did that. What kind of damage can it do and what should I look for next time when using it? OR is it mainly you aren't supposed to do this because it can damage your hdmi connectors?

It is not recommended, I have heard of the HDMI board's being shorted out before cause a user moved his processor and the HDMI came out. They had to send it in and replace the board.

The person at BB should know better.

[lokir1]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

So did your HDMI port just not work at all or did it work but had artifacts and stuff?

no the other ports worked fine but the 1 port was basically dead as if nothing was connected at all no sound no pic no anything!

[HD Man]

I would power everything down before switching HDMI connections and here's why:

I used to switch connections without regard to powering everything down until one day I could not pass any of the audio/video through my receiver's HDMI ports. Running component cable would provide video and analog out connections worked fine, but I always thought it was my my Blu-ray player. Switched the player to another set and it confirmed the problem was in the receiver. Since the receiver was under warranty, (Thank goodness for the 2yr Pioneer Elite warranty) I took it in to an authorized Pioneer repair facility. About 6 days later the receiver was ready to be picked up and they had to replace the HDMI board and a few other things. Told me to be glad it was under warranty!! Asked about switching HDMI connections while receiver/devices were on and they said it wasn't recommended, as it could end up shorting out your HDMI board.

Needless to say, you don't have to tell me twice and I now power everything down before switching connections.

[risingstar]

Originally Posted by jdc115

It is not recommended, I have heard of the HDMI board's being shorted out before cause a user moved his processor and the HDMI came out. They had to send it in and replace the board.

The person at BB should know better.

I agree. Over the years, I have seen their geek squad do a number of things that have raised my eyebrow. Let's not forget, a number of these geek squaders are teenagers too. Teens aren't exactly known for asking questions. They're even less big on owning up to things they did wrong. It's best to ask them what they're doing as they are doing it otherwise you may be asking for trouble.

Never forget that these people are working for you. Your feelings and interests take priority. That's what you are paying for.