Should I unplug my PC when it's storming?

[Adorable Cat]

There's a bunch of lightning going on outside right now, and I just wonder if I should turn off and unplug my computer to avoid damage? It's plugged into an 800v surge protector.

[MedievalMatt]

Just now, Sayori said:

There's a bunch of lightning going on outside right now, and I just wonder if I should turn off and unplug my computer to avoid damage? It's plugged into an 800v surge protector.

I power off my server during heavy storms.  Mostly because i put 18 months of work into digitizing my movie library and really really really dont want a storm fucking that shit up.

 

that said, your PSU and whatever surge protector should keep you well protected.  but, if you are worried about a power outage, better safe than sorry.  turn it off.  you dont really need to unplug it.

[Mira Yurizaki]

A lightning strike has a lot more power than a surge protector can protect against. If you really don't want to chance losing hardware, it's best to unplug it.

[TetraSky]

When I see a really big thunderstorm outside... I totally unplug my computer.
I know that it doesn't really matter because our powergrid here in my city is in a relatively good state, with a good chunk of it being underground, not to mention that most lightning bolts will hit one of the many lightning rods atop the buildings before hitting a power transformer outside...

But there's just this instinctive fear that "if it all goes wrong", I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

So really, you do you. If you want to unplug it, unplug it. If your area is known for its power outage (mine isn't, we get like... 1 every couple years), then it might be a good idea to just do so. Especially if the grounding of your home is bad.

[jt999]

I'm glad it's not just me! One flash in the sky and I begin shutting everything down and disconnecting it 

If I lost a disk or some other hardware it wouldn't be the end of the world, but it would be very annoying indeed.

[aezakmi]

Yes

 

Also unplug the Ethernet cable

[Adorable Cat]

Alright thx

(even though it's all over now)

[Boomwebsearch]

7 minutes ago, Sayori said:

Alright thx

(even though it's all over now)

Most surge protectors and UPS units which offer surge protection will warranty that if you're plugged in devices are damaged they will pay up to a certain dollar limit to have them replaced. I personally have this protection so I keep everything plugged in and powered even in storms and other similar events. Although it is true that some surges will be able to overcome the surge protector and cause damage to connected devices (especially a potential issue if they are not protected by the manufacturer of the UPS or surge protection device). If it is not warrantied against damage of connected devices then I would definitely recommend powering off and disconnecting your connected electronics as some surges have the potential to damage your devices if they are plugged in although off. The best overall protection would be to be warrentied against surges to the appropriate amount (depending on the value of the devices you are going to plug in and have protected by the surge protection unit.

[Zodiark1593]

Old Wive's tale (false) says lightning never strikes twice. In my opinion, even once is far too many. I have mobile devices if I need to do computing during a storm anyway.

 

4 hours ago, Boomwebsearch said:

Most surge protectors and UPS units which offer surge protection will warranty that if you're plugged in devices are damaged they will pay up to a certain dollar limit to have them replaced. I personally have this protection so I keep everything plugged in and powered even in storms and other similar events. Although it is true that some surges will be able to overcome the surge protector and cause damage to connected devices (especially a potential issue if they are not protected by the manufacturer of the UPS or surge protection device). If it is not warrantied against damage of connected devices then I would definitely recommend powering off and disconnecting your connected electronics as some surges have the potential to damage your devices if they are plugged in although off. The best overall protection would be to be warrentied against surges to the appropriate amount (depending on the value of the devices you are going to plug in and have protected by the surge protection unit.

I doubt warranty covers data loss. Even if warrantied, unplugging would be a wise idea.

[Mihle]

I don't and I have never lost any electronics at all.

Now there is a surge protector in the fuse box spesifically to stop it tho, but even before that I did not unplug anything.

[nekogod]

It can be worth while.

 

There is an ongoing thread on the virgin media forums currently (UK broadband provider) where a guy had a bunch of his equipment destroyed by a lightning strike that hit a house in the next street.

 

Apparently lightning hit that house the surge travelled down the coax cable destroyed the junction box at the end of the street and went back out down any attached coax cables destroying the tivo boxes (and anything connected to it or the tv it was connected to) of about 12 houses, it even started a fire in one house.

 

Lightning is some scary ass crap and pretty much nothing bar being unplugged is going to protect you.

 

The thread if people are interested

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Virgin-TV-V6/Lightning-everything-blown-up-virgin-washes-their-hands/td-p/3756336

[DataEmo]

Once had a dead router during a storm. Now I'm using a media converter and optical cables. A fried converter is cheaper than a router.

 

Surge protection in USVs (Class D) alone doesn't help at all. There should be also class B and C surge suppressors on the breaker panel.

[Velcade]

Get yourself a UPS.  You can plug your Ethernet and your PC right into it. 

[Peskanova]

Once I had the headphones on and a lighting striked close and I heard the voltage? on my headphones and a flash between my eyes since then I shit my pants when I game with a storm  

[vindictivegrub]

If lighting is striking the ground and it's a serious storm then yeah turn of your pc unless you have back up generators otherwise let it operate as need be.

[Boomwebsearch]

11 hours ago, Zodiark1593 said:

I doubt warranty covers data loss. Even if warrantied, unplugging would be a wise idea.

 

4 hours ago, nekogod said:

pretty much nothing bar being unplugged is going to protect you

protection units will pay for data recovery if your hard drive/s are damaged by a surge when plugged in. Although if you are not sure about the protection for your devices call or email, or research the manufacturer about their product which you are using (turn off your connected devices first and plug out if you are doing this when there seems to be a significant storm outside). Some surge protectors would not be able to protect against a large surge although some have very high effectivity although mostly nothing is fully protected and guaranteed to protect, that is why their only guarantee is to replace damaged device/s. I would be surprised to find that there is a surge protector or UPS able to guarantee that it would absorb any and all amount of surge because it is not going to be an easy product to design and definitely some amount of surge would be able to cause some damage. This is also why faulty circuit breakers are risky to be running on (fire hazard and damage hazard). If your circuit breaker is not working properly then the voltage would not switch off in the needed cases which could cause some damage and/or a fire.

[NEO_STARK]

Nah, just Crank all the RGBs to maximum brightness, the photons from RGBs will fight the electrons from lightning.

Seriously speaking tho yes, You should unplug your PC. Also, unplug the ethernet cable just for additional safety.

[Dedayog]

20 hours ago, MedievalMatt said:

I power off my server during heavy storms.  Mostly because i put 18 months of work into digitizing my movie library and really really really dont want a storm fucking that shit up.

 

that said, your PSU and whatever surge protector should keep you well protected.  but, if you are worried about a power outage, better safe than sorry.  turn it off.  you dont really need to unplug it.

Nm, misread.  For a power outage, PSU's handle those fine.  For lightning too near your house for comfort, unplug.  Do the count thing, 5 seconds is a mile away.

 

 

[AngryBeaver]

All my machines are either plugged in to really nice powerstrips or nice battery backups. In either case they are protected from damage. The strips and backups I purchase come with protection guarantees so they will reimburse for any damage caused.

[MEC-777]

I unplug all my stuff when there's a nasty storm in the area. Better safe than sorry. I've seen brown-outs kill PC components before. Unless you have really good protective equipment, I wouldn't risk it. 

 

My parent's house was stuck by lightning once. If you saw the fireworks that I saw shoot out of the receptacles, you'd be unplugging your system without hesitation, lol.