Thunderstorms and electronics

TetraNitroCubane

A few months ago, I moved from a part of the US where thunderstorms are rare, to a part where thunderstorms are rather quite common - and unexpected when they happen. Aside from being unaccustomed to seeing freaking electricity rip up the sky, I'm also somewhat unsettled about how to handle the situation in terms of my computer and game consoles.

I have everything on surge protectors, of course, but I know that if a lightning storm were to do damage, those would be essentially useless. I'm unsure of how to best protect again storm damage. Do I need to turn everything off? Usually I leave my computer running, because I remotely log into it throughout the day from various locations. Additionally, I tend to leave it always running beyond that, just to minimize booting. I work a vast majority of the day, and don't really come home beyond sleeping and eating a brief dinner - so if I'm at work when a lightning storm hits, I assume that's trouble.

I've heard that it's best to unplug everything during a storm. Is that true? It seems like a bit of a pain in the ass, considering that in that case I'd probably just have to leave everything unplugged all the time, since a storm could hit without warning while I'm at work. But, overall, it's probably better safe than sorry? I'm uncertain. Any advice on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

bowen

Yes, you will want to unplug your equipment from the wall. This includes network cables, switches,routers, modems, power cables, phone cables.

Why? If there is a surge due to lightning, it will travel through all that equipment if it's connected.

taliosfalcon

first off, lightning strikes are bizarre, a direct hit might fry all the electronics in one house where everything is protected by surge protectors, and damage absolutely nothing in a house with no protection whatsoever, or vice versa.

Personally I just unplug the really expensive things (my tv/consoles and desktop computer) and say screw the rest. chances are pretty good your house will never take a direct hit ever and surge protectors should be fine against indirect surges so it's a risk i'm willing to take

bowen

Yeah, basically that.

Things I unplug:

Computer (include network cables)
TV + consoles

Get renters/homeowners insurance. It will cover damage that the "warranty" on the surge protectors doesn't cover. Alternatively, get a whole home surge protector, to further protection.

spool32

Consider getting a surge suppressor / battery backup / line conditioner for your equipment, instead of just a surge protector. Surge suppressors can handle power flux while maintaining operation, whereas a surge protector will just pop the breaker and kill power to all attached devices. Also, seriously get a phone line surge protector too... many people lose their PC due to lightning striking telephone poles - even when all the power is protected, any wire can transmit a destructive voltage. When I worked retail years and years ago, we'd sell a dozen modems after every lightning storm...

illig

do you own? b/c if your area is really that lightning prone, you may want to invest in a whole house surge protector... it's a heavy duty device that installs by your breaker box and protects all of the electronic stuff in the house, even the items you don't think about unplugging like refrigerators and dishwashers, etc.

TetraNitroCubane

Thanks for all the advice guys. Sorry for leaving out some important details, I should have mentioned the following sooner: I'm renting an apartment, so I don't own my own the place and probably can't get a whole house surge protector. Also, I do have renters insurance, though I'm not sure if it covers lightning damage. Strangely, they required I have renter's insurance before signing the lease.

So unplugging sounds like the safest way to go. Would it be recommended, then, that I leave everything unplugged unless I'm using it, or at least am at home? I'm just trying to think of the times when I leave the house in the morning and it looks beautiful outside, but by noon there are storms coming down and I'm not able to get home. I guess it's best to leave the expensive electronics unplugged at all times unless I'm using them, at least during the stormy season?

And getting a suppressor/protector for the data line sounds like a great idea. I overlooked that for sure. I'm not using a phone line for anything, but I'm guessing the cable line for my cable modem is just as vulnerable.

FightTest

I've lived in southern New England my entire life (30 years) and seen hundreds of thunderstorms and a handful of hurricanes. Not once have I or anyone I know unplugged shit from walls. As far as I know nobody has had anything damaged.

The only sketchy thing I've ever had happen was about a year ago I was lying in bed on my laptop during a fairly severe thunderstorm while plugged into the outlet. A bolt of lightning hit crazy close outside and when it did somehow I got a fairly strong zap out of the side of my laptop.

I got basically what felt like the strongest static shock I've felt and my laptop continued functioning as per normal.

Seems like one of those freak things where 99.9% of the time you're probably fine but when you blow out your $2000 television on that .1% you feel really bad about it. I'll continue to roll the dice, though.

bowen

Yeah the chances are pretty low. Most electronics are exceptionally good at dealing with it, I've noticed.

Just gotta figure if taking 2 minutes out of your day and unplugging shit is worth the effort. If I was on a laptop I'd just unplug it form the wall and keep on keeping on.

Iceman.USAF

Lived in New England and then in DC my entire life except the past ~8 months. I can count on one hand the number of times I've unplugged my desktop PC. The rest of my stuff? Probably once. Just worry about the "irreplaceable" stuff, by that I mean pictures on your HDD's, things you're written, etc. Review your renters insurance policy and make sure you're covered.

Also, if your stuff fries when the power comes on, the power company can be responsible in some areas. Just something to keep in mind. I've seen more people lose shit THAT way than due to lightning strikes.

You should be keeping a seperate copy someplace not connected to anything anyway, but that's another discussion.

Skoal Cat

Do you have good surge protectors with warranty and guidelines that you're following, or are you using power strips and calling them surge protectors?

TetraNitroCubane

If I'm ever home when I hear thunder in the future, I'll certainly be taking the time to unplug everything valuable from the wall. I'm also just wondering if I should change my habits regarding unexpected thunderstorms when I'm at work, mostly. I'd have to give up remote log in, but it's better than losing the entire computer in a freak storm, however small the chance.

Iceman, you're quite correct about backups. I typically keep a monthly disk image saved to an external drive, which stays disconnected and powered down when not being used for backup purposes.

And I am using actual surge protectors - All my PC stuff is on a Belkin, while my consoles are on a Tripp Lite. I loathe power strips, as well as the misconception of protection they provide. I was just under the impression that surge protectors were more suited toward preventing damage from spikes and irregularities in the power (brownouts, etc), and that they aren't up to the task of shielding against something as severe as a lightning storm.

All in all, I guess it's fairly unlikely. But even so, I'll review my renter's insurance policy, and play it safe for now. Thanks guys.

JebusUD

Make sure your house is grounded. You can put up a lightning rod yourself.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2081282_install-lightning-rod.html

Zeon

How big is your building? If its fairly big, i wouldnt even worry about thunderstorms aside from getting a surge protector. There will be enough grounds in the line before a major surge ever gets to your unit. Electricty takes the least resistive path to ground, which is generally not down to an electrical panel, up 5 stories and into your electronics, then back out to ground. You have a better chance of lightening coming through your window and striking your stuff directly.

Lachrymite

When I lived in New England, about nine years ago, lightning hit a line going into our house and destroyed everything electronic in the entire house that was plugged in, except for one computer (my lamp style iMac). Insurance covered everything past the deductible and wasn't really as much of a hassle as we were expecting.

spool32

I dunno about you New Englanders, but here in Texas a single thunderstorm can produce 4000 lightning strikes in a 50 mile area. It's nothing to mess around with. I unplug all my gear when the storms roll through, except for the devices I have attached to the surge suppressor. If I get a direct hit, it's probably going to be time for fire evac anyway, so I'm not really worried about whether the flatscreen survives it - but I don't want to lose my kit to indirect strikes when I'm at work.

Yeah, it's rare, but that's a bitter pill to swallow along with the extra $600 you're shelling out at Fry's for a new set because you never knew anyone it happened to. At least your friends won't be able to say that!

TetraNitroCubane

Sorry to dredge this topic back up, but I had one lingering question regarding surge protectors. Because I'm lacking protection for my cable modem, I decided to purchase a new surge protector with both coax and ethernet protection options on it. But after a little researching, I found that using either of these options can seriously degrade the quality and speed of your internet connection. Does anyone have any experience with this, and if so, is there some option to protect without degrading internet connectivity? I'm not sure if I should put the protector between the wall and the modem on the coax, between the modem and the router on the Cat5, or just to not use it at all on the internet setup and just dive for the cord when the storms start.

And, in late reply to other messages, it seems that my renter's insurance will cover lightning damage thankfully. Also, I live in a pretty small apartment complex. It's only two stories tall, and I'm on the ground floor, on a corner unit. Putting up lightning rods or using whole-house protectors sadly isn't an option, though I'll be considering those should I ever get my own place.

NailbunnyPD

I would try it and see if it impacts performance. I suspect it won't.

Brainiac 8

I live in Florida with crazy thunder storms, and I've never had a problem. I don't unplug everything or anything like that. It'll suck if it ever happens though.

I also surge protect everything I have...so I'm sure that helps.

Tofystedeth

My grandparents in Kansas lost 3 TVs to thunderstorms. I'd say when you're in storm season go ahead and unplugg stuff when you leave or whatever if you're that worried about it. I only ever bothered if I was home when the storm started. That said, there's rarely a case where a storm should catch you completely by surprise. The weather will at least tell you if a storm is possible. They don't often come entirely out of the blue.