Unplugging Electronics In A Thunderstorm

[ER]

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.

[indianasmith]

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.

[Pacman000]

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.

[Flangepart]

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!

[ER]

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Two words even so; Back UP!
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Except when you're standing in front of a cliff.

[sprite75]

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. 

[Rev. Powell]

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.

[indianasmith]

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.

[javakoala]

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?

[ER]

I meant to say, thanks for the input, everyone.

[Trevor]

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. 

[ER]

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.

[Trevor]

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. 

[sprite75]

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.

[Rev. Powell]

I meant to say, thanks for the input, everyone.

Thanks for giving us an outlet.