Is it safe to use a PC when it's thundering?

[Ruostunut kokis]

So today I've had a surprisingly long thunder, and for that time I mostly haven't dared to use my desktop PC. Those thunders are said to be at least few kilometers away, but I feel skeptic about it: how safe would be using a PC then everyone else in the family basically gives zero f***s over a thunderstorm, despite me suggesting to shut expensive electronics off. And how big would the chances be to get home hit by a lightning and frying every electronic device plugged into a wall? For the past few hours I've used my desktop whenever I've had a chance, but as soon as even a faintest thunder sounds come, I immediately shut it off and unplug from wall. Am I too precautious or just not giving a slightest chance of getting over 1k worth of electronics of mine potentially destroyed?

[nuclear465]

I usualy turn off electronics when there is a storm, not just the PC i turn off everything.

[Cryptonite]

So today I've had a surprisingly long thunder, and for that time I mostly haven't dared to use my desktop PC. Those thunders are said to be at least few kilometers away, but I feel skeptic about it: how safe would be using a PC then everyone else in the family basically gives zero f***s over a thunderstorm, despite me suggesting to shut expensive electronics off. And how big would the chances be to get home hit by a lightning and frying every electronic device plugged into a wall? For the past few hours I've used my desktop whenever I've had a chance, but as soon as even a faintest thunder sounds come, I immediately shut it off and unplug from wall. Am I too precautious or just not giving a slightest chance of getting over 1k worth of electronics of mine potentially destroyed?

surge protectors? uninterrupted power supply? more surge protectors? not even that necessary however good to be cautious.

[Karumu]

-snip-

if you have adequate surge protection, yes

[Jodomcfrodo]

I'm no expert on this but I think a surge protector would keep you safe.

[79wjd]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. If a lightning surge hits your house your computer will be the least oc your problems as it could easily damage any electrical component -- breakers, lights, switches, anything.

But I wouldn't be doing anything you're not willing to lose on the event of a power failure.

[Legion]

If you have good protection it is fine.

I've had the power cut multiple times and I've always been able to get my pc turned off safely. 

[79wjd]

I'm no expert on this but I think a surge protector would keep you safe.

not exactly. Surge protectors only stop part of the surge and are worthless to direct strikes.

[Cryptonite]

not exactly. Surge protectors only stop part of the surge and are worthless to direct strikes.

They pay if something gets damaged. chances are slim to begin with, a UPS can protect your system, usually a PSU will blow but the rest won't be taken out if it does happen and having surge protector on surge protector kinda help a lot.

[Hans Christian | Teri]

Short answer: No

Long answer: The risk is ridiculously low, and in the event that it actually damages your PC your insurance most likely covers it (I know mine does).

[Sauron]

It's safe to use it thanks to modern surge protection in both psus and motherboards, however if you get a power surge and the pc shuts off or flickers it's a good idea to stop using it and check if the psu is fine.

[DigitalHermit]

Not really... Especially if you live somewhere with an unstable power grid... I'm just lucky that my HDD doesn't have bad sectors yet...

[Cryptonite]

Short answer: No

Long answer: The risk is ridiculously low, and in the event that it actually damages your PC your insurance most likely covers it (I know mine does).

not only insurance, but my surge protector has a guarantee of up to R30 000 that they will pay out if something gets damaged, that's around $3000

[Briggsy]

surge protection and/or UPS will do. however, make sure that your modem/router is protected as well.

 

Funny story. 4 years ago at my old apartment, lightning struck a great white pine tree beside the building. A branch of that tree just so happened to be reaching out and touching the side of the house, on a spot where the cable tv wires ran along the siding. The lightning surge ran through the cable, through the internet modem, through the router and into the back of my PC, at which point I heard a loud pop in my headphones. luckily I had a deluxe Asus Mobo with 2 internet jacks, as the lightning killed the one I was using. unfortunately the cablebox for the tv wasn't so lucky. The router and modem are still working, although port 1 of the router got fried. yeah... really long shot of something like that happening, but a 5 foot wide, 60 foot tall tree near a house is just asking for it. good thing I don't live there anymore, because the tree is still there and alive lol.

[Ruostunut kokis]

surge protectors? uninterrupted power supply? more surge protectors? not even that necessary however good to be cautious.

 

if you have adequate surge protection, yes

 

I'm no expert on this but I think a surge protector would keep you safe.

 

I may have surge protector on other devices, but not my main rig.

 

 

I usualy turn off electronics when there is a storm, not just the PC i turn off everything.

I turn nearly everything in my room off too. I advice my sister and mother to do the same, but they don't care.

 

 

Short answer: No

Long answer: The risk is ridiculously low, and in the event that it actually damages your PC your insurance most likely covers it (I know mine does).

Insurance... We're too broke to get insurances other than the mandatory ones. I'm just a bit frightened by the amount of relatively new laptops etc. on second-hand markets being sold as broken, as apparently so many has been hit by a lightning.

[Cryptonite]

So today I've had a surprisingly long thunder, and for that time I mostly haven't dared to use my desktop PC. Those thunders are said to be at least few kilometers away, but I feel skeptic about it: how safe would be using a PC then everyone else in the family basically gives zero f***s over a thunderstorm, despite me suggesting to shut expensive electronics off. And how big would the chances be to get home hit by a lightning and frying every electronic device plugged into a wall? For the past few hours I've used my desktop whenever I've had a chance, but as soon as even a faintest thunder sounds come, I immediately shut it off and unplug from wall. Am I too precautious or just not giving a slightest chance of getting over 1k worth of electronics of mine potentially destroyed?

just a by the way why it was so bad back in the day was because routers were connected to the motherboard instead of being a seperate unit for internet, so if a telephone line got struck your pc got fried even with surge protection. With the surge having to go through your home trip switch, surge protectors and your power supply, the chances are slim to non.

[Hans Christian | Teri]

Insurance... We're too broke to get insurances other than the mandatory ones. I'm just a bit frightened by the amount of relatively new laptops etc. on second-hand markets being sold as broken, as apparently so many has been hit by a lightning.

 

Your home insurance (the same that covers theft etc) should cover it. I know for a fact it does here in Denmark.

[Scheer]

My mother-in-law's computer and printer both died last month during a storm, even when plugged into an APC battery backup... unfortunately for her, she had them plugged into the surge protection only side of the backup, and it wasn't going off the battery. The router and modem that were plugged into the battery backup side are both fine.

[Rashy]

No. EXTREMELY NO. i myself have lived in the tropics of indonesia and experienced a thunderstorm. ive had my tv gone broke without surge protectors. FLATSCREEN. THUNDERSTORMS ARE A PAIN IN THE ARSE

[Ruostunut kokis]

Your home insurance (the same that covers theft etc) should cover it. I know for a fact it does here in Denmark.

I don't know if home insurance is mandatory here. And even if it was, we might now have it.

[Cryptonite]

surge protection and/or UPS will do. however, make sure that your modem/router is protected as well.

 

Funny story. 4 years ago at my old apartment, lightning struck a great white pine tree beside the building. A branch of that tree just so happened to be reaching out and touching the side of the house, on a spot where the cable tv wires ran along the siding. The lightning surge ran through the cable, through the internet modem, through the router and into the back of my PC, at which point I heard a loud pop in my headphones. luckily I had a deluxe Asus Mobo with 2 internet jacks, as the lightning killed the one I was using. unfortunately the cablebox for the tv wasn't so lucky. The router and modem are still working, although port 1 of the router got fried. yeah... really long shot of something like that happening, but a 5 foot wide, 60 foot tall tree near a house is just asking for it. good thing I don't live there anymore, because the tree is still there and alive lol.

that's what you get for not buying a surge protector for your telephone line before connecting it to your router >_<

[Hans Christian | Teri]

I don't know if home insurance is mandatory here. And even if it was, we might now have it.

 

You guys need to get a job then

[Ruostunut kokis]

You guys need to get a job then

I know. I'm currently at my last week on my summerjob, and mother's been unemployed for over 2 years by now on her own will. She's too lazy to get a job, apparently she's too stressed about things happening in home. I've tried to convince her getting a job again, but she just refuses to even try.

[GrmanRodriguez]

If you live in a Faraday cage sure

[Ruostunut kokis]

If you live in a Faraday cage sure

Not sure how would one get power into a Faraday cage. Let alone an internet connection...