Electricity and thunderstorms

[GraySenshi]

I know the best idea is to shut them off. but that's can literally be a whole day to week at times. so I was wondering what devices are ok to use and what would attract lighting.

Say ds, iPod, phone, laptop low powered desktop gaming desktop will it not matter. what devices are being used will watts being used matter and will being in the bacement vs first or second floor make a difference

Like we allways leave our fridge on and never had a problem but we never run the dish washer and such doesnt the frigid run on 500-750 a typical desktop runs on less unless your running sli and all that you can push it up to 800

 

[kanewolf]

Anything plugged in can be damaged if a voltage spike happens because of a lightning strike. If you are a victim of a direct lightning strike then even things that aren't plugged in can be damaged. My house was hit by lightning in the 1980s and an HP calculator which was just laying on the floor was damaged.

A quality surge suppressor or UPS is the best protection you can get. Look at some of the surge suppressor/UPS tear-downs on Tom's hardware.

 

[Pinhedd]

I know the best idea is to shut them off. but that's can literally be a whole day to week at times. so I was wondering what devices are ok to use and what would attract lighting.

Say ds, iPod, phone, laptop low powered desktop gaming desktop will it not matter. what devices are being used will watts being used matter and will being in the bacement vs first or second floor make a difference

Like we allways leave our fridge on and never had a problem but we never run the dish washer and such doesnt the frigid run on 500-750 a typical desktop runs on less unless your running sli and all that you can push it up to 800

The risk of damage is not derived from the lightning itself but from the resulting voltage spike on one of the power wires that may occur if lightning strikes in the wrong spot.

Rugged appliances such as fridges, washing machines, dryers, and freezers will be just fine.

Expensive electronics such as Televisions and computers should be plugged into surge protected power bars or uninterruptable power supplies. Do not rely on motherboards that advertise themselves as "anti-surge", these are more likely to shut themselves off when SLI/Crossfire is enabled than prevent damage from a nearby lightning strike.

 

[Kewlx25]

It really depends on where you live. Thunderstorms over here rarely strike the ground. I also have below ground power lines that don't emerge above ground for more than a city block. I'm more concerned about voltage sags caused by high winds and stray branches hitting power lines.

Just giving an anecdote about a low risk area.