can lightning affect the computer?
By stanley777
@stanley777 (9402)
Philippines
7 responses
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
23 Mar 21
your mom is totally right, basing on the comments here.
unplug everything
1 person likes this
@lady1993 (27225)
• Philippines
26 Mar 21
@stanley777 yeah, always listen to mom haha
1 person likes this
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
7 Sep 12
Yes, the lightning can affect your computer, your TV and other electrical devices. Whenever there is a harsh weather, we unplug them, because there were situations in our city that people have watched TV during a storm and the TV got on fire or other electrical devices were damaged, even if they were not in use. But maybe your electric company is safe from this things and nothing bad can happen whenever there is a bad weather.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
9 Sep 12
The same thing as I thought of, they will damage our computers or any appliances that is plugged in the electrical outlet, if by accident hit by lightning.Because of the high voltage that could be transmitted to the conductor of electricity if ever hit by a lightning.So it's better not to use any appliances during thunderstorms.
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
9 Sep 12
I think that nowadays electrical stuff are made in a way that will reduce the probability of being damaged by the lightnings, but I guess we can never be 100%. Whenever there is a "big weather", we usually unplug the TVs, PCs and other more expensive things. Because it would be a big blow to be forced to buy new electrical devices just because there was a storm.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
10 Sep 12
I don't know, maybe there are some companies who may have done this for safety reasons.But I doubt it, if it really will work. I think most electrical distributors had something like what we call lightning rod (arrester) which they had affixed to a tower (highest point in a building)which in case a lightning strike near it, it will serves as an arrester since it's situated in the highest point. Some houses have installed this too as a precaution.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
15 Sep 12
Yes, there have been reports that computers, TV and other appliances that are being used or plugged in during bad weather have been damaged because of lightning. I still remember what my friend had told me. Their TV exploded because the electrical post near their house was hit by a lightning. I guess the same thing will happen if computers are plug on.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
7 Sep 12
Hi Stanley
Well, I am not sure about it, I just have heard from other pepople that yes it may affect sometime. May be they affect electricity and due to fluctuation in it, it can create problem...
Don't be sure on it, I am just assuming it from other people's words. These days lots of lightning going on here, hope my laptop will be safe.
Well, I am not sure about it, I just have heard from other pepople that yes it may affect sometime. May be they affect electricity and due to fluctuation in it, it can create problem...
Don't be sure on it, I am just assuming it from other people's words. These days lots of lightning going on here, hope my laptop will be safe.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
7 Sep 12
From what other the old people would say, that when there's a lightning , it is safe to put off and unplug all electrical equipment.
They say that the lightning might travel through those wires and hit the equipment that could electricute us.
So, when there's a lightning , i unplug the computer and the TV. 
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
8 Sep 12
@ akp,
yes, at home most of them told me it's better to shut of computer or any appliances and unplug them for safety reasons. Usually when it's raining thunderstorms is mostly common so we should refrain from using computers or any appliances because it could be damage when lightning hit electrical lines.
And as simplyd had said, the electrical surge of lightning might use electrical lines if they are hit and use as a conductor to travel more faster that could damage appliances.
@courtknee525 (3742)
• United States
7 Sep 12
If your house or electrical lines are struck by lightning then I think that anything plugged into the wall can be affected. If your computer happens to be plugged in as well then it may become damaged by lightning. Whenever there's a close storm nearby I try to keep most of my electronics unplugged. I think it would be very rare for such a thing to happen. But I'm still cautious because last year lightning struck a tree right in my backyard and it also hit some of the lines for the outdoor lights in the garden. The lines run back to my house and the current traveled the lines and blew off a chunk of our house. It was then that I realized just how dangerous lightning could be
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
10 Sep 12
Yes, anything that is plugged in will be affected if ever a lightning struck our house or any electrical conductor within it.Considering that lightning is a high voltage electrical current anything zapped by it will be damaged.
It's really frightening if we knew that the lightning is very near our house. We knew that the chances of being hit is almost nil but it's better cautious than not.
@fatlex06 (895)
• Philippines
7 Sep 12
Lightning can also affect your computer as well and even other appliances at home like TV. So it is best adviced to turn off your tv and computer when you feel that lightning is just near. :) It happened to our television twice. :( Actually we heard of the thunder and just ignored it and here comes the lightning, it strikes our tv twice. :)
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
9 Sep 12
Yes, most people said that it's not advisable to use computer or any appliances when there is lightning. It's a good conductor of electricity and since lightning is a source of high voltage electricity, it is really dangerous.
@ladyhero (3846)
• Indonesia
23 Mar 21
If what is meant is that the computer is struck directly by lightning when it is operated in a state of high lightning activity, I don't think so. Unless you are actually operating a computer in the open on a fairly high altitude - then chances are, it, the computer will be struck by lightning.
What can happen is that the lightning strikes one of the electric lines leading to the house in which there is an electronic device / computer that is connected to the power line. In this case, even if the computer is not in an operating condition, it is likely that it will still be damaged and even burnt along with all electronic equipment that is connected to the power line due to receiving a very high static electricity charge (more than 10,000 volts).
With a lightning static electricity charge of more than 10,000 volts, even a tiny spark even though it does not strike directly at the power cable is enough to damage any electronic equipment connected to the line of the electric cable. So it is a good precaution, when the lightning activity is high, to unplug electronic equipment from the power socket, including unplugging the antenna cable / TV-cable TV.
