Won'tl lightnining find its way to appliances regardless if they're on or off?
2006-07-18 16:04:10 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
You are correct. Lightning can easily jump the gap in a switch. If you live in a lightning-prone area, you may wish to install a surge protector, which will trap lightning surges unless you get nailed with a direct hit. Some surge protectors have protectors for phone lines as well, but the network interconnect box outside your house already has such a protector, so you don't really need another one.
If your electricity comes to the house through an underground conduit (as opposed to an overhead wire), you have fairly good protection from that alone. Lightning will blast through the side of the conduit into the ground, if it even gets that far.
This kind of protection is a lot more convenient than unplugging every appliance in the house if there is a storm in the neighborhood.
2006-07-18 21:41:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I had a computer power supply fried during a thunder storm while the computer was off. I smelled the burning insulation as soon as I walked in the room. To be safer, plug all appliances into surge protectors. To be really safe, unplug everything during the storm. I got a surge protector for the computer, but not a good one. And I don't unplug anything. It has never happened again so I guess one $40 power supply every 10 or 20 years is not bad.
2006-07-18 16:10:59 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So many TV s and computers were damaged due to lightning.
Simply switching off them is not enough; You should remove the plug from socket.
When the switch is in off position, there is only a small air gap which is not enough to prevent the short circuiting due to lightning.
The areial connection should also be removed from the instument which is the main source for conduting current to the T.V.
If we have phone connection to computer it should also be removed.
Prevention is always better than cure.
2006-07-18 16:37:53 · answer #3 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes its a risk either way the more isolated your house is from others the greater the risk.If you have and antenna or cable also influences the risk.How lucky are you? I use mine all the time and haven't had a problem but then I might just be lucky. If it sould hit your tv or computer though and you are using it that would pose a greater risk to you.
2006-07-18 16:15:18 · answer #4 · answered by Daniel H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unplug them during a bad electral storm ,always!
2006-07-18 16:08:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it is not dangerous at all it is just a dumb myth. not true so don't be worried and the chances of lighning striking your house is very slim since there are probably other bigger things for it to strike
2006-07-18 16:08:50 · answer #6 · answered by muscleman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yea, but you dont want your appliances to surge out and break.
2006-07-18 16:07:36 · answer #7 · answered by got_deam_munalla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
make sure they are in a power surge. or power strip. you may have a peak on your power and may burn your eletronic equipment
2006-07-18 16:07:57 · answer #8 · answered by Rafael R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes if it hit it gets zapped
2006-07-18 16:07:57 · answer #9 · answered by bkerr36@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep
2006-07-18 16:07:07 · answer #10 · answered by Angel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋