What can i do to protect my computer from thunderstorms hitting it?

Question

So here in SC there are it seems like thunderstorms every night. Last month my nic card got hit in my good tower and then last night my back up tower got hit. What can i do to protect them when i get them repaired. I have them connected to a serge protector and it still isnt stopping them from getting damaged. Any suggestions

Answer 1

One thing you can't guarantee, is what's going to happen when you aren't home. So you have a few choices. Unplug everything every time you leave the house during seasons when thunder/electrical storms might occur, or invest in a really good surge protector (possibly at $100+) that comes complete with "connected equipment" guarantee, and then make sure the amount is more than enough to replace your computer if it is damaged. Go to a computer parts supplier, computer store... wherever good computers and accessories are sold. Either ask about the guarantees or simply read the boxes. It's the surge protecter manufacturer that offers the guarantee. Look for something that offers "connected equipment" protection for at least up to $15,000. You can figure any product where the manufacturer is willing to risk paying out that kind of money, must be a good product.

Answer 2

I just use my MacBook on battery and have it unplugged. My wireless router is on a UPS, the phone line runs through the UPS and is grounded. So I can stay on line during a storm. I shut off my regular iMac and unplug it. We live in a rural area and idiots are stealing the copper ground wires that are on the utility poles and even the Verizon towers. So I can't trust the electric company to ground out the lightning anymore. A surge protector is not going to protect your computer from lightning.

Answer 3

Make sure the ethernet cable running to your NIC first goes through a surge protector. You'll probably have to get a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) that has a place to plug in your ethernet cable.

Additionally, APC makes inline surge protectors, which are cheaper. The ethernet cables runs through it and it is grounded by being connected to a screw on the back of your PC.

Of course, unplugging it all is the only sure-fire 100% guaranteed solution...but really, who can be at their PC every time a storm comes to unplug it? It's just not feasible most of the time.

Answer 4

Dear hannah, you probabley dont realize it but surge protectors usually gaurentee against lightning strikes , anywhere from $5,ooo to $ 100,000.00 . They know it wont stop damage from such a tremendous jolt of power but they do it to edge competition and knowwing the odds of lightning striking a house. Make a claim. Down in southern Illinois lightning strikes farm houses a lot. I' ve counted as many as seven lightning rods on one farm house! Anything short of installing a lightning rod , an arc fault protector on that circuit your computer uses) in your fuse panel and two gaurenteed surge protectors one plugged into the other (that did work for me,twice) After that theres only prayers. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Someone might argue to buy a surge protector / power strip.

Lots of powerstrips will claim that they have surge protection against lightning. Do you really think some rinky $10 wal-mart purchase is going to have the moxy to stand up against something with the current of a lightning strike?

Unplugging them is a 100% way to ensure they are safe (barring a roof collapse or something) :)

Answer 6

Buy a serge protector with the highest amount of joule rating you can find. 1300 or bigger. The higher the number the more the protection.

Answer 7

The very best thing to do is unplug! ESPECIALLY the phone line. Land phone lines (even if you're using them for your DSL connection) are a really bad source for lightning damage. If there's even a hint of thunder, we go for those boogers right away!

Answer 8

Plug your computer and monitor into a circuit breaker bar. If a surge of power comes through it, it clicks off and all you have to do is flick the switch.

Answer 9

It's a pain but I disconnect mine when not inuse. Save $$$ on repair bill's.

I learned the same as you.

Surge protectors will not handle a lighting strike.

Answer 10

if you're on dial up - disconnect the telephone line going to your pc
if you're on cable / dsl or other - disconnect that cable going to the modem and also unplug the power cord / adapter
and if you're connected through a router - disconnect the cable connections there as well as the power cord / adapter

and... disconnect the surge bar at the power outlet at the wall