when lightning strikes!

[Dave Batzdorf]

This did not happen to me, but I thought I would pass it along. We all value our PCs in a slightly different way than the general public.



When lightning strikes a computer, charred metal, melted plastic, and burned circuits are the results. This computer’s internal modem was hit with a power surge during a storm. The computer was protected by a surge protector but it did not have modem outlets. And, despite the rise in wireless home networks, Ethernet and modem cables are still a source of danger for computers.


Attached files

[Guest wbottomley]

I have one better for you: http://www.wxii12.com/news/23884024/detail.html

[ErnieHorning]

Clearly this was caused by an actual lightning hit and not by a surge. You can protect against a surge but typically a PC is internally protected anyway. I you get hit by lightning there is really nothing you can do. Lightning has the voltage and current to not only blowout every electronic device in your house, it can vaporize all of the wire in the entire electric system of your house.

But of course, we all back up out computers so it would be no big deal.

[ItsMeBobO]

My house was hit 6 years ago and caused a lot of damage.
The computer lived but the cable modem, network jack, and sound card blew out. Motherboard and HD unaffected.

TV, DVD Phone, clock. Two mirrors.
Door bell, both garage door openers. Exhaust fan in the basement. All the phone wiring in the house never worked again. Been using a mobile only since then.

http://itsmebob.com/Christmas/LightningWeb.wmv

The really sad part was I had been getting broadband for free from charter. Somehow they never charged me for several years! But when I replaced the modem they detected a new mac and started billing. Lucky me they didnt ask for back payment.

[michaelvhunter]

UPS with built in Surge Protectors are also recommended. If you know a storm is coming then shutdown your pc, and unplug the monitor, pc and printers.

[Tim Fischer]

My Father in law's house had a direct hit a few years back. We think it hit the TV antenna on the roof. The ceiling underneath completely collapsed. A light bulb nearby exploded. Downstairs, another area of ceiling (not near the TV or antenna) blew out a hole the size of a silver dollar. A lamp near where my FIL was sitting had the plug blow right out of the socket.

Damage-wise, he lost almost everything electronic in the house, with a few odd exceptions, also most major appliances. The main service entrance (breaker box) had to be replaced. The computer smelled funny inside and was dead, but attached peripherals (printer, scanner, monitor, etc) were all fine. The hard drive data was fine too.

One (tube) TV survived but had a permanent discoloration in the bottom right side.

It was one of the scarier things I've ever seen/heard of that close to my family.

[westom]

Dave Batzdorf wrote:

This computer’s internal modem was hit with a power surge during a storm. The computer was protected by a surge protector but it did not have modem outlets. And, despite the rise in wireless home networks, Ethernet and modem cables are still a source of danger for computers.

Dave Batzdorf wrote: This computer’s internal modem was hit with a power surge during a storm. The computer was protected by a surge protector but it did not have modem outlets. And, despite the rise in wireless home networks, Ethernet and modem cables are still a source of danger for computers.

Let's add facts not yet provided. All telephone and upgraded cable TV/Internet connections already have superior surge protection installed for free. Protection has been required on a telephone subscriber interface for longer than anyone here has existed. Cable protection was installed when cable companies decided they had to install proper wires to provide internet and phones.

The most common source of surge damage is AC mains. When lightning strikes wires down the street (overhead or underground), then lightning connects directly to your every household appliance. Which ones are damaged? Which ones make the better connection to earth?

A surge passed right through that protector (uninhibited), through computer motherboard (because plug-in protector bypassed protection in the computer’s power supply), through modem, then out to earth via phone or cable wire. Modem damage made even easier because a protector was too close to electronics AND too far from earth ground. That protector did exactly what its numeric specs said it would not. Don’t take my word for it. Show me the numbers that list protection from each type of surge. That protector sometimes makes modem damage easier.

Protection is always about where energy dissipates. Damage directly traceable to the human who let energy enter a building. Who did not earth one 'whole house' protector. Not just ‘install’ a protector. Any protector without that short (ie 'less than 10 foot') connection to earth does nothing. If energy is inside a building, then energy will hunt for earth destructively via appliances. Protection means no energy inside the building.

Cable must connect direct to earth (only using a wire) so that surges do not enter a building. Telephone cannot connect directly. So the telco installs a 'whole house' protector on everyone's phone line - where their wires meet yours. No protector does any protection. Protection is only as effective as earth ground - that you are responsible for providing. You determine how good the protection is. If your earthing is not upgraded, then the world's best protector will do nothing. You must connect every incoming wire in every cable short (ie 'less than 10 feet') to the best earth ground - single point earth ground – that you are responsible for providing.

Protection is always about where energy dissipates. Those without knowledge will discuss protectors – retail myths. Those with knowledge will mostly discuss earthing. The latter are a minority who actually learned science from 100 years ago. Most educated by retail myths never learn protection. Spend tens or 100 times more money on scam plug-in protectors. Do what 'big brother' orders them to think.

Essential to computer, router, and even refrigerator protection is earthing a 'whole house' protector. More responsible companies provide them: ie General Electric, Intermatic, Keison, Siemens, Leviton, and Square D. A Cutler-Hammer solution sells in Lowes and Home Depot for less than $50. Protection is always about where energy dissipates. A protector in only as effective as its earth ground. While there, ask him to show you copper clad ground rods.

[ItsMeBobO]

:] Welcome Westom! That was a very long first post!

[Cray Augsburg]

Amen, Bob. It's gonna take me two weeks and a bowl of Wheaties just to recover from reading it!

Cray

[Guest wbottomley]

I'm going to get some popcorn.

[TGabriel]

I got the beer.

Thomas