Do you use your computer during a storm?

[Mups]

@JBR

Just come across this interesting discussion.

I have never bothered to unplug our TV aerial during electrical storms, although of course I now have since I cancelled our BBC Tax. Even so, we are in a bungalow surrounded by tall trees, so I think they would go first.

Our internet and VOIP telephone are supplied by underground cabling (Virgin Media).

Same with our mains supply, so the nearest a lightning strike can hit us is at our local sub-station which, of course, is well protected. Had it been an overhead mains supply, I might have been a little concerned.

My computer cable is underground too JBR, but it goes to the small box thing on the external wall.

I also have a roof ariel for the telly.

The telephone cables from the telegraph pole go overhead too. They go right above my front garden.
My landline got cut off once before in a storm, ages ago now, so I always unplug my phone line since.

[JBR]

@Mups

My computer cable is underground too JBR, but it goes to the small box thing on the external wall.

Yes, you’re right of course. Ours emerges from the wall (or actually it enters the wall to be precise) and makes its way leisurely half-way around the house to an external box and thence plummets uncontrollably vertically downward into the ground and relative safety.

Having said that, I have every confidence that any lighting strike won’t go to the trouble of making its way all the way down to a couple of feet above the ground on the wall, when it could far more easily take its anger out on the nearest innocent little tree.

@Mups

I also have a roof ariel for the telly.

The telephone cables from the telegraph pole go overhead too. They go right above my front garden.
My landline got cut off once before in a storm, ages ago now, so I always unplug my phone line since.

Even so, I really wouldn’t worry about that, Mups. It’s never going to happen, believe me, but if the worst came to the worst it would only blow your telephone or television through the ceiling.
Nothing that your insurance wouldn’t quibble about.

[Mups]

@JBR

Yes, you’re right of course. Ours emerges from the wall (or actually it enters the wall to be precise) and makes its way leisurely half-way around the house to an external box and thence plummets uncontrollably vertically downward into the ground and relative safety.

Having said that, I have every confidence that any lighting strike won’t go to the trouble of making its way all the way down to a couple of feet above the ground on the wall, when it could far more easily take its anger out on the nearest innocent little tree.

Even so, I really wouldn’t worry about that, Mups. It’s never going to happen, believe me, but if the worst came to the worst it would only blow your telephone or television through the ceiling.
Nothing that your insurance wouldn’t quibble about.

That made me think. Don’t some insurances have a get-out clause something about lightning strikes, floods and aliens?

Thanks for everyone’s opinions and advice here.

[JBR]

@Mups

That made me think. Don’t some insurances have a get-out clause something about lightning strikes, floods and aliens?

Good God! I hope not.

I’ll have to have a look at our home insurance.

Surely, if a lightning bolt strikes your home and it goes up in smoke, you’d be covered on your home insurance?

In any event, I’m an atheist so acts of God shouldn’t affect me.

[JBR]

I’ve just checked my home insurance cover, and included are:
Lightning, explosions and earthquakes
Fire and smoke
Impact from vehicles
Falling trees, lampposts, aerials and telegraph poles
Storms and floods
Water or oil leakage
Subsidence
Theft or attempted theft.

Phew! I’m especially relieved about the earthquake cover.

[Tedc]

@Mups

Just a quickie please . .

Do you use your computer doing a storm?
Is it safe?

Do you unplug your telly and phone?

Probably safe, Mups, but put your mind at rest by reading this:-

How lightning protection systems work.

Me, I’d unplug if there was a lot on lightning about!

[Besoeker]

@Tedc

Probably safe, Mups, but put your mind at rest by reading this:-

How lightning protection systems work.

Already posted this.

[JBR]

@Tedc

Probably safe, Mups, but put your mind at rest by reading this:-

How lightning protection systems work.

Me, I’d unplug if there was a lot on lightning about!

An excellent article!
To the best of my knowledge (and I do not claim to be an expert!), it is absolutely correct and not exaggerated at all.

I have bookmarked it and intend to look at the other, linked, articles which, I’m sure, I’ll find equally interesting and informative.

Unplugging the telly, however, is not something I’m likely to do. If the house is actually struck, or even a nearby structure, there is likely to be damage whether or not I have unplugged my television. Everything is insured for replacement anyway and any damage from a nearby strike is going to be rather more serious than just a television.

Nevertheless, a very helpful and well-written article. Thank you.

(Why are so many such articles American? Are we in the UK incapable of producing such things? )

[Longdogs]

@Percy Vere

Another thing about lightening strikes on telly aerials:

If your house, flat, etc has a roof mounted aerial and you have taller buildings around you in the neighbourhood, then you should be OK - the lightening will probably strike from there first because the distance to the cloud base is less than from your roof. In our case, our parish church is just about 30yds from our apartment block, is much taller, and has lightening rods connected to its steeples.

Our house is quite tall but luckily there is a fireman’s drill tower a few yards away… and a fire station of course.

[JBR]

@Longdogs

Our house is quite tall but luckily there is a fireman’s drill tower a few yards away… and a fire station of course.

That’s a great advantage, should your house be struck then!

[Bruce]

@Judd

No. I don’t bother with either. TV supplies are double insulated, i.e. no earth so not affected by lightning strikes.

That is not quite right, the power neutral is earthed.

My power comes in from overhead wires but I don’t bother wih unplugging anything during a storm unless there is no delay between the flash and the bang and even then I don’t always unplug things.

That’s what house contents insurance is for.

[Mups]

@JBR

I’ve just checked my home insurance cover, and included are:
Lightning, explosions and earthquakes
Fire and smoke
Impact from vehicles
Falling trees, lampposts, aerials and telegraph poles
Storms and floods
Water or oil leakage
Subsidence
Theft or attempted theft.

Phew! I’m especially relieved about the earthquake cover.

Looks like you should be alright then, JBR.

Think I’d better check mine again.

[Mups]

@Tedc

Probably safe, Mups, but put your mind at rest by reading this:-

How lightning protection systems work.

Me, I’d unplug if there was a lot on lightning about!

Thanks Ted.
I always have done, and think I’d rather be safe than sorry.
I mainly wondered about the computer.

[Mups]

@Bruce

That is not quite right, the power neutral is earthed.

My power comes in from overhead wires but I don’t bother wih unplugging anything during a storm unless there is no delay between the flash and the bang and even then I don’t always unplug things.

That’s what house contents insurance is for.

That’s not the whole point to me though Bruce.
Insured or not, me and the dogs would still be terrified if a huge lightning strike hit our house.

Even if we lived through it and weren’t fried alive, I still wouldn’t want the upheavel of moving out while workmen were repairing or rebuilding.
All in all, I think I will carry on unplugging, but thank you for your input anyway.

[JBR]

@Mups

That’s not the whole point to me though Bruce.
Insured or not, me and the dogs would still be terrified if a huge lightning strike hit our house.

Even if we lived through it and weren’t fried alive, I still wouldn’t want the upheavel of moving out while workmen were repairing or rebuilding.
All in all, I think I will carry on unplugging, but thank you for your input anyway.

I’m not criticising, but to be honest if a lighting strike hit your house, having unplugged your telly and computer wouldn’t prevent your house being blown up.

[Bruce]

@Mups

That’s not the whole point to me though Bruce.
Insured or not, me and the dogs would still be terrified if a huge lightning strike hit our house.

Even if we lived through it and weren’t fried alive, I still wouldn’t want the upheavel of moving out while workmen were repairing or rebuilding.
All in all, I think I will carry on unplugging, but thank you for your input anyway.

I am not worried about the lightning striking the house there are plenty of taller trees around me which are a much juicier target, the threat is lightning striking the power lines. (This photo is typical of older areas)

As I say sometimes I unplug devices, sometimes not, but I think that is the least of your worries if lightning struck your house. Unplugging anything is not going to make the slightest difference.

[Mups]

@JBR

I’m not criticising, but to be honest if a lighting strike hit your house, having unplugged your telly and computer wouldn’t prevent your house being blown up.

Thanks for that, I feel much better now.

[JBR]

@Mups

Thanks for that, I feel much better now.

Don’t worry. The chances are very slim indeed.

Unless you live on the top of a hill or in the middle of a golf course!

If you do, don’t bother to unplug your telly.

Just sell up, toot sweet!

[digitalham]

I have not read every post in this thread but the concensus seems to be that older relatives unplugged and few bother now. I fall into that group myself.

What I will add is that a nearby lightning strike will generate a big power surge - big enough to overcome anti surge sockets and damage equipment that is plugged in. I’ve never had this and don’t know anybody that has though.

One other thing that ground strikes can do is generate electrical noise which will knock out a DSL internet connection and if you are unlucky the line management can cut your speeds and take quite a while to allow it to recover. When I was in the country on a long line I had that after one nearby storm. Nothing you can do about it though unless you disconnect the router ever time you hear a rumble.

[JBR]

@digitalham

I have not read every post in this thread but the concensus seems to be that older relatives unplugged and few bother now. I fall into that group myself.

What I will add is that a nearby lightning strike will generate a big power surge - big enough to overcome anti surge sockets and damage equipment that is plugged in. I’ve never had this and don’t know anybody that has though.

One other thing that ground strikes can do is generate electrical noise which will knock out a DSL internet connection and if you are unlucky the line management can cut your speeds and take quite a while to allow it to recover. When I was in the country on a long line I had that after one nearby storm. Nothing you can do about it though unless you disconnect the router ever time you hear a rumble.

My laptop is connected to the mains only through a transformer. My TV is no longer connected to the aerial, and the router is connected to the mains and Virgin’s underground cable system.

If anything is knocked out, the TV and laptop are insured and the router belongs to Virgin and will be replaced f.o.c.

My only concern is the very remote possibility of a direct strike to the house, but that too is insured and if it is struck it will be God’s will!