Lightning!

MikeCh

MikeCh

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Joined
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Colorado
Living where we do, thunderstorms are generally a normal occurrence during three of our four annual seasons. Last summer was pretty crazy with fast moving storms that moved in, dumped rain and gave us a noisy electrical show. I found myself jumping out of bed on more than one occasion to run and unplug audio gear from the wall if the lightning got real intense or too close for my comfort. Similarly, if I was planning on being away from home for an extended period (say more than three hours) I unplugged my audio gear from the wall in advance because these storms roll through so quick it's hard to tell when one might produce wicked and close lightning even if it's a cloudless day at the time I left home.

Heading into this spring season, today two pretty large bolts of lightning (with thunder following 2-3 seconds later which tells me it's close) prompted me into the same mode....run and unplug gear.

Do any of you guys do the same or I am I overreacting? I can see the advantage of using a power conditioner or "gang box" in this instance to allow the unplugging of one cord versus many but wonder if short of our house actually being struck by lighting as a direct-hit is it anything to worry about?
 
+1, Mike.
I do the same after my preamp blew a fuse on one lightning-heavy day.
 
MikeCh said:
Living where we do, thunderstorms are generally a normal occurrence during three of our four annual seasons. Last summer was pretty crazy with fast moving storms that moved in, dumped rain and gave us a noisy electrical show. I found myself jumping out of bed on more than one occasion to run and unplug audio gear from the wall if the lightning got real intense or too close for my comfort. Similarly, if I was planning on being away from home for an extended period (say more than three hours) I unplugged my audio gear from the wall in advance because these storms roll through so quick it's hard to tell when one might produce wicked and close lightning even if it's a cloudless day at the time I left home.

Heading into this spring season, today two pretty large bolts of lightning (with thunder following 2-3 seconds later which tells me it's close) prompted me into the same mode....run and unplug gear.

Do any of you guys do the same or I am I overreacting? I can see the advantage of using a power conditioner or "gang box" in this instance to allow the unplugging of one cord versus many but wonder if short of our house actually being struck by lighting as a direct-hit is it anything to worry about?
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Mike,

I do the exact same thing. The only way to guarantee no damage to your system from a direct lightning strike on your incoming power lines is to unplug your system from the wall. It only takes a minute to unplug and have peace of mind all day or night.

Best,
Ken
 
I don't know how much they cost, but I've seen them on Holmes on Homes and such = You might want to consider a whole house surge protector unit(s). May be worth it.
 
You aren't alone.

If a big thunderstorm is about to bear down on my area, I unplug the gear. If I'm going out of town for an extended period of time, I unplug the gear. Heck, I'll even unplug the gear if I know a big storm is supposed to sweep through the area while I'm at work. Cant say I always remember to do that one though...
 
Like many of you I also unplug the gear when a severe storm approaches and when I am leaving for vacation and time of the year.
 
I live in the central Fl area, which is considered to be the lightning capital of the US. In the summer months you can expect each day to have those clashes between the Gulf and Atlantic sea breezes and with those comes winds and lightning. I like the others, I unplug everything and even with a full house surge system mother nature will still fry your stuff. So have your insurance paid up for those items (a rider some call it a schedule ) that homeowners insurance will not replace at anywhere near full cost. The first thing is to document each item, have a copy of your receipt and have a photo and submit that to your agent for coverage. I found out you can't trust most agents they say sure your homeowners covers it, but try to make a claim, its not going to happen (in my case didn't happen) and I was left way under my replacement cost after lightning hit a tree , fried my surge protection, my TV, AVR, washer, Fridge and Air conditioner. So ask your agent if they offer 'Valuable Personal Property Insurance' which is full replacement cost.. I have my gun collection, my wife's camera equipment, my stereo and HT gear, my guitars, and her jewelery.
 
MusicDirector said:
I don't know how much they cost, but I've seen them on Holmes on Homes and such = You might want to consider a whole house surge protector unit(s). May be worth it.
Click to expand...

+1 on this recommendation. It is however, only limited protection and perhaps some piece of mind if there is a storm and you cannot get home to unplug your equipment.
 
Whole house surge protection is good for helping to mitigate damage from surges coming in from the utility (i.e. electric meter) as long as the ground is properly done. But lightning protection (i.e. lightning hits your house) is a whole different ball game with rooftop lightning rods, heavy cabling, and multiple grounds bonded to the main ground at the electrical service entry.

BTW, in case of a BIG surge simply unplugging a device might not be enough - you also need to make sure the end of the electrical cord is at least several feet from the outlet or the electricity can jump to it even though it's unplugged.
 
Glad to see I'm not the only one that runs to unplug gear.

Something that I don't do unless going on vacation or extended time away, but should do every time I suppose, is to disconnect even the DirecTV coax that runs from the wall to the DirecTV receiver as there are then IC's that connect to my linestage. Essentially, ANY path that could carry electricity needs to be disconnected.
 
CPP said:
I live in the central Fl area, which is considered to be the lightning capital of the US. In the summer months you can expect each day to have those clashes between the Gulf and Atlantic sea breezes and with those comes winds and lightning. I like the others, I unplug everything and even with a full house surge system mother nature will still fry your stuff. So have your insurance paid up for those items (a rider some call it a schedule ) that homeowners insurance will not replace at anywhere near full cost. The first thing is to document each item, have a copy of your receipt and have a photo and submit that to your agent for coverage. I found out you can't trust most agents they say sure your homeowners covers it, but try to make a claim, its not going to happen (in my case didn't happen) and I was left way under my replacement cost after lightning hit a tree , fried my surge protection, my TV, AVR, washer, Fridge and Air conditioner. So ask your agent if they offer 'Valuable Personal Property Insurance' which is full replacement cost.. I have my gun collection, my wife's camera equipment, my stereo and HT gear, my guitars, and her jewelery.
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Good advice Chris. I just called my insurance agent to confirm our coverage. The fellow said he'd have the owner of the insurance agency call me back as he too is quite an avid audiophile with expensive gear. I want to compare notes on what kind of coverage he has since I'd think he values his gear as I do mine for full replacement cost.
 
MikeCh said:
Good advice Chris. I just called my insurance agent to confirm our coverage. The fellow said he'd have the owner of the insurance agency call me back as he too is quite an avid audiophile with expensive gear. I want to compare notes on what kind of coverage he has since I'd think he values his gear as I do mine for full replacement cost.
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Never hurts to ask. Its a big investment if something happens, lightning, a breakin etc..
 
The Sandman said:
...
BTW, in case of a BIG surge simply unplugging a device might not be enough - you also need to make sure the end of the electrical cord is at least several feet from the outlet or the electricity can jump to it even though it's unplugged.
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Well now you have gone and wrecked whatever peace of mind I thought I had with respect to preventing Lightning damage. :lol: You are saying it will spark out of the outlets up to three feet, go up the PC and into equipment? Umm, that is just scary! :panic:
 
McGolf said:
Well now you have gone and wrecked whatever peace of mind I thought I had with respect to preventing Lightning damage. :lol: You are saying it will spark out of the outlets up to three feet, go up the PC and into equipment? Umm, that is just scary! :panic:
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Depends on the size of the surge - if it's a big one the current can definitely jump more than a few inches. I said several feet to be on the safe side.
 
I absolutely unplug the system if Im traveling or if a storm is forecasted...not taking chances...even with surge protection installed in the house
 
MikeCh said:
Good advice Chris. I just called my insurance agent to confirm our coverage. The fellow said he'd have the owner of the insurance agency call me back as he too is quite an avid audiophile with expensive gear. I want to compare notes on what kind of coverage he has since I'd think he values his gear as I do mine for full replacement cost.
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Mike,

You'll want Scheduled Personal Property for Audio/Video Equipment. It does not come cheap but it will cover replacement cost on your stereo system. Each individual component will be scheduled under the SPP endorsement.

Ken
 
Alpinist said:
Mike,

You'll want Scheduled Personal Property for Audio/Video Equipment. It does not come cheap but it will cover replacement cost on your stereo system. Each individual component will be scheduled under the SPP endorsement.

Ken
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Thanks Ken.

My agent and I spoke twice today. I think I made a new Audio buddy. LOL.

He shared that he and I both have the same policy type and there won't be any worries for replacement as there are no "sublimits" (or something like that) on any claim type....so long as my replacement contents total is sufficient to replace the gear + whatever else gets destroyed in a given claim like fire, electrical storm, etc. He shared that if I owned a $250k pair of speakers and equivalent cost electronics, then yes it would be prudent to go with a specific policy type rider. Same if I owned any Picasso's or cases of 1967 Chateau D'yquem or several Beatles LP's valued at $10k, etc. Since I don't own anything real unique like that, but instead stuff that's a bit "better than bose" as long as I have proof of ownership, pictures and/or receipts, then I would be fine to sit down with an adjuster and get replacement cost items back.

My wife and I typically go thru the house every couple years taking hundreds of pictures of everything including what is in closets, every room from different angles, drawers, furniture, garage cabinets, etc. and burn the images to CD for storage in our fire safe. We also make a copy and give to one of our parents to store offsite. I need to do this again this spring with a focus on my gear and records and wine. At the same time I guess we need to evaluate the value as best we can and see if we should bump our total coverage number up some too.
 
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