2006-07-04 04:34:03 · 12 answers · asked by Julie 5 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
NO!
A surge protector will help if there is a lightning strike some distance from your property but if your building is hit, or the power lines, phone lines, or cable connections just outside your home are hit, a surge supressor will NOT be able to protect your system from damage!
I had a lightning strike in my back yard about a month ago. It fried one of the two NICs in my firewall, two NICs in computers on my home network, a switch, and a wireless access point as well as totally frying one computer. Everything was connected to surge supressors. The surge surpressors were fried as well, by the way. Only two machine survived without any damage and both were connected to UPSs. This isn't to say that a UPS will provide complete protection. They won't. But they are better than surge supressors alone.
If there is lightning in the immediate area, the only sure way to fully protect your system is to disconnect all power, network, cable and phone line connections from ALL of your equipment!
Surge supressors are intended to protect electronic equipment from power line fluctuations and surges caused by heavy loads coming on and off the electrical network, such as heavy machinery or air conditioning equipment. The do not, and cannot protect against the voltage and current of a close-in lightning strike.
2006-07-04 05:17:18 · answer #1 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Did the surge protector have a warranty stating they will replace your equipment if damaged by lightning? If not then no it is not safe, many so-called surge protectors will protect from the surge the refrigerator generates when the motor turns on but not lightning. And like someone else said, Is it just a power strip? (no protection at all)
Get one that Guaranties (in writing) safety or replacement of your computer equipment from a direct lightning strike. AND don't forget the phone line if your using dial up.
Also send in the registration card or the warranty will not be valid.
PS they will replace all your computer equipment but NOT YOUR lost data. ALWAYS BACKUP!!!
Even with all that I recommend a UPS Uninterpretable Power Supply or turn OFF and unplug the computer during a severe storm. Just the power turning off will damage the operating system if the computer is not shut down through a Windows command, and WILL NOT be covered under the surge protectors warranty.
In other words the surge protector must be burned out or the warranty is void. Thats the way its made to operate, for it to burn out BEFORE any equiptment gets damaged.
2006-07-04 12:28:17 · answer #2 · answered by space_man_stitch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only decent protection is through "line isolation" which usually is provided by transformers and filters. What you will want is a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). Generally with UPSes, the more you spend, the better the protection. Surge protectors will not stop the surges/spikes created by strong storms.
2006-07-04 11:42:57 · answer #3 · answered by bogus_dude 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the Joule rating. If you bought a cheap one, then good luck, if you purchased one with an equipment guarantee, then you might be fine, but there's no guarantee. A step up would be getting an APC battery backup unit.
Anytime there is a thunderstorm with lightening, I unplug everything in my house. To me, I don't want to take any chances.
If the electricity goes out, sometimes when it comes back on there can be a surge.
2006-07-04 11:43:54 · answer #4 · answered by CSS 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is a surge protector, yes. If it is simply a power strip, no.
2006-07-04 11:39:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
SURGE PROTECTOR SOCKET -- Think about it ;-)
In otherwords, YES!
EDITED TO ADD: Apparently it "should be but it's not 100% safe"
2006-07-04 11:37:15 · answer #6 · answered by The Techie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you are protected the surge protector will blow instead of your computer.
2006-07-04 11:40:56 · answer #7 · answered by Crown 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really but it will take most of the force, ideally your fuses would trip first before any power got through to your computer and most buildings have some form of conduit that prevents the building becoming live with electricity. you'd be damn unluck if anything happend!!
2006-07-04 11:39:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing to do is unplug it, and do this before the storm reaches your area.
2006-07-04 18:03:56 · answer #9 · answered by cheekandfolly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you are protected.
2006-07-04 11:46:30 · answer #10 · answered by bobbiii 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋