2007-06-03 12:30:12 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Definitely. Even if you have a surge protector, lightning can come through the cable, and if you have a cable modem, zap, your computer can be fried, or at least part of it can be. This happened to my house! My brother lost his entire computer, my mom and I needed motherboards and ethernet hookups replaced.
2007-06-03 12:38:31 · answer #1 · answered by Bean 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch Myth Busters, they leave no myth untested! Lol...
But they did one on lightning as close as they could get, since humans can't create something as powerful as lightning as of now....
I believe their conclusions were, it is not the safest thing in the world to do. It is possible for you to be electrocuted or for the computer to explode even. It is unlikley to happen however, just like taking a shower during a thunderstorm. It is possible for the current to travel through the pipes, but a rare occurence as well.
If you are extremely concerned about lightning comming through the computer, it is extremely unlikely for that to happen unless you have a land line, such as a phone-type internet connection. If your house is grounded properly then you have almost nothing to worry about, for you to be struck inside it would take several mistakes in the building and construction of your home, which isn't likely with all the building codes required now days.
If you want to think about things in that sense, nothing is truly safe to do, everything we do puts ourselves at risk in some way.
2007-06-04 01:33:38 · answer #2 · answered by fuct_up_k1dd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your high tech devices are very sensitive and even if you turn them off, they are not safe. Many are always on or in a standby state waiting for you to push the power button. Unplug all electrical devices, especially TV's, video games, DVD players, PC's...in short all. My PC choked when a bolt hit a few blocks away and it wasn't even on. It was plugged in. The processor and memory was okay, the power supply cooked.
When lightning hits there's high energy all around ground zero and it can travel through the ground and power lines. It's also a good idea to stay away from your plumbing too until the storm passes and far gone.
be smart, be safe
2007-06-03 20:21:58 · answer #3 · answered by Bob boB 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard stories about people getting struck by lightning when using it during a thunderstorm. But the Computer can mess up if theres a power surge.
2007-06-03 19:35:29 · answer #4 · answered by Jems 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes there is, if lightning happens to strike on one of the powerlines outside you house, it can travel throughout the whole house and if you happen to be on you computer at the time it's going to get fried. Despite the strip plugs you might have guarding from surges, this is one surge it won't stop, it's too powerful.
2007-06-04 08:52:30 · answer #5 · answered by trey98607 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes , I would think so. If you happen to get a power surge you could fry your computer. Unless you have a surge protector. It happened to my brother on his VCR once.
Basically if it's a severe storm I would have the computer off and unplugged.
2007-06-03 20:27:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there is little danger to you, but your computer is much safer if you turn it off during a storm.
2007-06-03 19:39:23 · answer #7 · answered by Mother Amethyst 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my husband heard (on the news) that one boy got zapped when lightning went through the mouse he was using OUCH, but the boy is ok
2007-06-03 19:33:57 · answer #8 · answered by start 6-22-06 summer time Mom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋