Turning the computer off during a thunder storm

Lubbock, Texas
May 27, 2008 8:31pm CST
I always turn my computer off during a thunder storm. Not just the computer, but printer, modem, and monitor and I turn off the power strip that everything's plugged into. I used to not bother with it, but after having a motherboard and a modem fried by lightening I do now always. What confuses me is our local weather station has people chatting on the weather chat site during storms updating the meteorologist on conditions in various parts of the viewing area. How do they keep from having their computers ruined?
9 people like this
38 responses
@ashly1979 (1376)
• United States
28 May 08
LOL i have a prower cord so when it thunder storms it dont brother my pc sorry to hear about your modem fried take care
3 people like this
• Lubbock, Texas
28 May 08
Yes, I have a power cord with a surge protector on it, but my Rural Electric Association told me that it wasn't enough. If I didn't have a surge protector on the transformer outside lightening could still strike my computer if my power strip wasn't turned off.
3 people like this
@ashly1979 (1376)
• United States
28 May 08
i did not know that thanks i guess i need cut my pc offwhen it thunder storms take care
3 people like this
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
29 May 08
Well, Spit! What a dissappointment!
1 person likes this
• Canada
28 May 08
I am with you. I always turn my computer off during a thunder store. Monsoon season in Arizona in the summertime, is really something. It's ironic, since AZ is in the desert. LOL It's nice o be back at home and away from those darned thunder storms.
3 people like this
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
28 May 08
I find this slightly funny you asked about the weather stations being online during a storm and when I read threw the replies on the first page not one person answered it.. The only thing i can say is they more than likely use the surge protectors, I have two on my computer one that is plugged into the wall and one that Plugs into that.. Rather or not will it fry my computer during a storm i don't know.. It never has sense i've had my computer either... However you are suppose to shut them down during storms. You know that too.. But I think the only way to actually protect them is to unplug everything... But for the weather stations I have no idea how they protect there's... So I can't answer that...
2 people like this
• United States
28 May 08
ahhh ok than I misunderstood the last question but did answer it with the a answer lol.. Yeah I guess the surge protector does do it's job but it's not 100%... I do know alot of people that actually are online and chat during storms it's crazy and i think to myself they must have alot of money to buy a new one in case that one does get fried... lol
2 people like this
• Lubbock, Texas
28 May 08
Thanks for your reply. It really wasn't the weather stations I was wondering about, it was the citizens on line chatting with them I was wondering about. I guess they're confident with their surge protectors.
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
28 May 08
my hubby is a computer geek and says you should always turn off the computer during a thunder storm because the lightning could stike the phone line/computer line and fry your computer and he has seen that happen.
2 people like this
• Lubbock, Texas
28 May 08
Thanks for that. My computer geek grandson thinks I'm just too cautious and an old fogey because he never turns his computer and has never had any problems. I hope he never does, but I'm turning mine off when the lightening threatens.
@ezway9 (35)
• Malaysia
28 May 08
Nevertheless, you are not really Technically IT person. Answer to your question; might be the co. or corporate that running business still using all IT equipments during lightning because they don't dare to loss money. Well, because the installed lightning surge protector so that during lightning strive, there still can defend by not killing theirs properties. I Guess
• Canada
28 May 08
I never turn off any electronics in a thunder storm. The only thing I do is not take a shower. Even if the power turns off for a second, I still leave it on. Only because I need it for work.
2 people like this
@miachen (68)
• China
28 May 08
Maybe most of buildings of weather stations are equiped with powerful lightning rod which are different with it on our roofs. So I usually turn off most of electric appliances.
2 people like this
• Lubbock, Texas
28 May 08
Yes, the TV etc. are protected by expensive surge protectors and have back-up power sources, but the people emailing them on the chat site are just normal citizens living in normal houses, like me.
1 person likes this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
28 May 08
i also turn off. i actually turn of my pcv when not in use. i think taht can save a lot of energy. also during thunder strome, it can cause problem if its switched ion.
2 people like this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
28 May 08
It is probably a safe idea to turn it all off. When I was young and still living at home when a thunder storm was coming and was right on us, we turned and unplugged the tv, record players, radios, all but battery operated, and all appliances that were plugged in. It was better to be safe than sorry.
2 people like this
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
28 May 08
I have always turned things off during a bad lightening storm, I used to live in Texas where they were way more frequent. I not only turned off my computer, printer and power strip, I also unplugged tv's, microwaves, etc. I now have a laptop that I just make sure is unplugged from the charger. So if they are chatting by using a laptop there is much less chance that any damage will be done. I always kept a battery operated radio ready just in case too, to keep up with storm watches and warnings. For the most part I was out there in it, as I was a skywarn weather spotter for 4 years.
2 people like this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
28 May 08
Most of the time we do this. It makes us feel better. Like nothing will happen to our system if it is off. Once in a while my hubby stays on anyhow. He says that is why he bought surge protectors. That may be why people stay on chatting with the news people. Good surge protection.
• United States
28 May 08
First, it's not enough to just turn everything off - you have to actually unplug it from the outlet. Radio/TV stations/etc have a box that sits inbetween their equipment and the power source that both protects them from a power surge and provides a back-up supply of power that gives them enough time to power off their equipment properly.
2 people like this
• Lubbock, Texas
28 May 08
I know the radio/TV stations have surge protectors and back up power sources, but I was talking about the citizens that are communicating with them. Maybe they have WiFi. Is that susceptible to lightening?
1 person likes this
@sun2day (1062)
• Virgin Islands (U.S.)
28 May 08
I turn my computer off also. I suppose with the weather casters they must have special electrical grounding devices in the events of storms.
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
28 May 08
Maybe with a surge protector. At least that was the excuse my husband used when he bought ours. We always trun off the main power strip at night (saves electricity) and during lighting stormes. My husband assures me that if we are not home when the storm starts the surge protector will stop it from being fried.
2 people like this
• Lubbock, Texas
28 May 08
Surge protectors in-house protect somewhat, but see my response to comment #2.
1 person likes this
@amazon13 (69)
• United States
28 May 08
We have actually lost two computers on two seperate occasions because of lightning. My husband's work computer was the first to go in an unexpected storm. One day while I was away a storm came in quickly and as the lightning began, my daughter asked my husband if she should unplug the computer, but before he could get to it the entire thing was fried. To this day, I miss that computer with its multi-disk function. Have not found one like it since. Lost all of my photos on there as well. Now, we keep everything for the desktop computer plugged into a power strip and it is not only turned off, but unplugged from the wall. With my notebook, I may stay on a bit longer, but I will unplug the electrical cord from the back and the wall. This may not be very save either, but a friend told me that it would take a direct hit for it to be damaged. Don't know if he was kidding or serious.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
28 May 08
well, my hubby is the one who always panic and unplugged all the electricity equipments whenever there is a thunderstorm... it is really scary to see our electrical equipments are being struck by thunderstorm and it is also very dangerous as they can catch fire... so it is better to be safe than sorry... take care and have a nice day...
2 people like this
@sriki2526 (179)
• India
28 May 08
I do disconnect the power cable and Internet cables connected to the PC.. During thunderstorms the probability of burning the IC's when connected to external supply is more. Why to unnecessary bury our cash.
2 people like this
• United States
28 May 08
Ya, I just have it all plugged into a power strip. Don't worry about it (imo).
@graham03 (36)
• India
28 May 08
i turn off too as the saying goes precaution is better than cure....
2 people like this
• China
28 May 08
So do I.I am frightened to thunder storm. Usually,I will turn all my electric equipment off during thunder storm including the computer,television set,even my mobile phone.A friend once told me that once time he charged his mobile phone when there is a thunder,then his mobile phone not worked .SO I adviced that turn your electric equipment off during a thunder storm.
2 people like this
@cicpaok (18)
• China
28 May 08
ye, it's necessary.the same as making a call with mobile telephone.
2 people like this