Surge bar and the weather

[MYellowRose]

This is just a curiosity question. When it started thundering yesterday afternoon my DD shut down her computer and told me turn off the surge bar. I'm confused because I thought it was supposed to stay on to protect her computer. She says her hubby told her if it's on, the tower and monitor will both be trying to find electricity and that is more dangerous to it than having the surge bar off. Can anyone clear this up for me?

[MadTripper]

I'm not so sure the monitor and tower will be looking for electricity however, by shutting the switch off, you are breaking the connection between your house mains and your computers. So, if a power surge did occur, it is next to impossible for it to affect your equipment. Of course, surge protectors are designed to protect against surges. They usually have some form of circuit interupter that breaks connection when a surge occurs. The idea of purchasing these devices is to eliminate the hassle of unplugging your equipment for every storm that could cause issues. Even the cheaper models come with some type of insurance claim that they will replace $xx.xx worth of electronic components if their device fails. I suppose they will but who wants to go through all of that red tape and paperwork.

So, its like this, do whatever you feel like doing. Odds are you aren't making too much difference either way. Using a surge protector is a good idea and will keep your equipment safe most of the time. If you want to feel like you are doing something extra to protect it by shutting it off during storms, go for it....but why wouldn't you just avoid the surge protector and unplug your equipment during a storm? That would be cheaper and just as easy.

Tripper

[DV8]

I agree, the biggest probability of a surge will be when power to the dwelling is first restored. *The surge protector SHOULD handle that surge & tho it may be ruined, the pc shouldn't be affected at all.

BUT if it was me, I ALLWAYS unplug my surge protector, especially if it's an expensive one, as if it DOES surge & fry the surge protector, then you'll need to replace it as well.

I can't afford another one, so I simply unplug mine whenever lightning hits.

ALSO to keep in mind is the danger from modem to pc (or phone line to modem)... Higher end surge protectors have slots to plug in phone lines & NIC cables to put the surge protection in between them & your modem/pc as well.

I unplugged a laptop from power once, only to have the phone lines get struck by lightning & fry my laptop thru the 56k Modem port...

Good Luck !!
~DV8

[woodburner]

Turning off the surge bar may help but unplugging the pc and all electronic devices connected to it may be best. I had a direct hit two years ago (10 foot from house) to a big maple tree. The back was split, the sap bubbled, the UPS's kept running, the surge bars stayed on, and I lost two computers, one TV, one electric light, one light switch, and had a hole blown in my basement water pipe. The lightning hit the tree and came in on the ground. Ground is supposed to be safe and a neutral reference but lightning can energize it and no surge protector will stop it. If my devices were not plugged in they would have been safe but go figure. It was amazing even the UPS kept on running and I have all my computers, monitors, faxes, and TV's on them. So unplugging is the only sure fire way. I don't even want to think about electromagnetic surges...