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Other Topics => Off Topic Discussion => Topic started by: ER on June 13, 2017, 11:49:12 AM

Title: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: ER on June 13, 2017, 11:49:12 AM
Seems like everybody I know used to be paranoid about doing that, the first sound of thunder (technically it's lightning we hear) meant a rush to unplug everything in sight. Now it is like no one does that anymore. Was it ever all that warranted? Anyone still unplug devices during storms?
Sitting here alone during a whopper of a storm, and just got to thinking about that.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: indianasmith on June 13, 2017, 12:32:59 PM
I do occasionally if it is a major electrical storm.  We had about half the devices in our house fried by one lightning strike a few years back.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: Pacman000 on June 13, 2017, 01:38:12 PM
I usually unplug or turn the surge protector off on major devices (TV, computer.) Especially the computer since that has sooooo much on it which would be sad to loose.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: Flangepart on June 13, 2017, 02:22:18 PM
Quote from: Pacman000 on June 13, 2017, 01:38:12 PM
I usually unplug or turn the surge protector off on major devices (TV, computer.) Especially the computer since that has sooooo much on it which would be sad to loose.
Two words even so; Back UP!
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: ER on June 13, 2017, 03:18:01 PM

[/quote]
Two words even so; Back UP!
[/quote]

Except when you're standing in front of a cliff.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: sprite75 on June 14, 2017, 11:31:09 AM
Yeah I thought about that too the other day when we had a storm.

We used to when I was young.  Now not so much.  In addition to unplugging the TV and VCR from the wall outlet we would also disconnect the antenna too because we were concerned lightning would hit that and travel through to the TV.  But now we just leave the TV on so we can watch the weather updates. 


Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: Rev. Powell on June 14, 2017, 01:27:08 PM
I've never personally known anyone whose had a device fried by an electrical surge during a thunderstorm, but apparently it is possible. I've never bothered.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: indianasmith on June 14, 2017, 02:23:56 PM
Several years ago we had a lightning strike about a hundred yards from our house.  The surge fried out one TV, our DirecTV receiver, our router, the upstairs PC monitor, our microwave, and one alarm clock.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: javakoala on June 14, 2017, 04:44:12 PM
Quote from: indianasmith on June 14, 2017, 02:23:56 PM
Several years ago we had a lightning strike about a hundred yards from our house.  The surge fried out one TV, our DirecTV receiver, our router, the upstairs PC monitor, our microwave, and one alarm clock.

What about Danny Partridge in the pear tree?
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: ER on June 15, 2017, 08:37:04 AM
I meant to say, thanks for the input, everyone.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: Trevor on June 15, 2017, 08:43:39 AM
Pretoria is notorious for violent thunder and lightning storms so I unplug everything when I hear thunder rumble. About two years ago, a lightning bolt hit a house in my street - the house burnt to the ground inside half an hour.  :buggedout:
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: ER on June 15, 2017, 08:47:01 AM
Bad stuff, Trevor. I wonder if lightning rods really work? I've thought about them but my father told me if they had real value insurance companies would have gotten in on the act of requiring them as part of an insurance policy.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: Trevor on June 15, 2017, 08:55:12 AM
Quote from: ER on June 15, 2017, 08:47:01 AM
Bad stuff, Trevor. I wonder if lightning rods really work?

In that case, no. The house had a thatched roof and it had 3 lightning rods - burned to a crisp.  :buggedout:
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: sprite75 on June 15, 2017, 03:35:14 PM
Quote from: Rev. Powell on June 14, 2017, 01:27:08 PM
I've never personally known anyone whose had a device fried by an electrical surge during a thunderstorm, but apparently it is possible. I've never bothered.

I know of one place where the lightning hit the surface of the parking lot and some electronics/power stuff in a nearby building were damaged.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: Rev. Powell on June 15, 2017, 05:29:31 PM
Quote from: ER on June 15, 2017, 08:37:04 AM
I meant to say, thanks for the input, everyone.

Thanks for giving us an outlet.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: AlbertMond on June 16, 2017, 08:10:17 AM
Rarely.

I got shocked while playing guitar during one once, though.
Title: Re: Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm
Post by: Mofo Rising on June 16, 2017, 01:14:01 PM
I live in the desert, so we get a lot of lightning storms when we get rain at all. Over 10+ years ago, the library system would turn off all of our computers (not unplug them) if a lightning storm was approaching. Now we don't bother, so you can take that how you will.

I've never had anything fried during a lightning storm, and that during times when it was so close it sounded like an explosion over the house. Also, apparently lightning once struck our pool.

I suspect that if lightning hits your house, there's really no recourse, you're just s**t out of luck. God's vengeance against dirty underpants.