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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Even turning off your equipment will not protect them from a direct strike or even a good power line strike. A good surge protector can help with some power line strikes tho. A direct strike will fry the wiring in your home and sometimes everything in it. I lost two circuits and everything electrical or electronic in my home back in 84.
The only real protection is unplugging everything which is just not practical with as many storms as we get in KC.
I have a central surge protector at the meter which has protected me many times from some good power line strikes. They are gas tube arrestors which sound like a 12GA shotgun when they go off. The lights also go off when they trip. I also have a large suppressor mounted on my electrical panel. Unfortunately that won't help with a strike on the cable TV lines. The cable lines are lower than the power lines which helps protect them. I have disconnected my telephone lines.
This has been posted B4 but if you want to see some man made lightning click on the picture and watch the video:
http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/day.htm
The only real protection is unplugging everything which is just not practical with as many storms as we get in KC.
I have a central surge protector at the meter which has protected me many times from some good power line strikes. They are gas tube arrestors which sound like a 12GA shotgun when they go off. The lights also go off when they trip. I also have a large suppressor mounted on my electrical panel. Unfortunately that won't help with a strike on the cable TV lines. The cable lines are lower than the power lines which helps protect them. I have disconnected my telephone lines.
This has been posted B4 but if you want to see some man made lightning click on the picture and watch the video:
http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/day.htm
Last edited by Torque1st; Sep 20, 2005 at 11:31 PM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
I unplug my LAN line from the router everytime I leave the computer for security (and safety) and if I am home I unplug the computer from the wall, even with a UPS, if it is bad thunder and lightening storm. I usually run a surge protector on the LAN line too.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Originally Posted by sierraben
Home insurance won't cover squat. Act of god disclosure.
If we can't trust in God we should at least be able to insure against him.I've seen homes set up with a master disconnect that could be used in storms but these only protect you from strikes to the power lines. If the house is hit you can still wind up frying everything. Then again, as mentioned, you've got bigger problems to worry about like where that smell of fried bacon is coming from.
I had a TV knocked out once and it was on a surge protector. We don't get many storms around here but when we do I usually unplug the more expensive appliances now.
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