Any way to protect a computer against lightning strikes?

[BartmanPDX]

I live in Oregon where lightning is rare, but my Mom lives in Georgia and has had her computer wrecked for the second time in just a few months due to lightning despite having it hooked up to a surge protector.

She's been told that surge protectors don't protect against lightning at all, but I don't think that's necessarily true of ALL surge protectors. She's also been told that a lightning rod won't help (house is surrounded by very tall trees). But it really seems like there ought to be SOMETHING she could do.

I know there are experts on this forum in a wide variety of areas, so I'm hoping someone here can help with reliable information. I have no idea if the person who told her all this knows what they're talking about or not.

Anybody got ideas? My first thought was to replace whatever surge protector she has with a Tripp Lite or something.

[fenderhutz]

It is a true statement that just about any surge protector is worthless against a direct hit. No matter what the joules/watts rating.

The only safe way is to unplug it from the wall.

The other question I would be asking is how old is the house, wiring, and does it have a metal roof? Is the house grounded properly?

[fdeck]

Notebook computer. Plug it in only when charging.

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

It is a true statement that just about any surge protector is worthless against a direct hit. No matter what the joules/watts rating.

The only safe way is to unplug it from the wall.

The other question I would be asking is how old is the house, wiring, and does it have a metal roof? Is the house grounded properly?

I don't know how directly the house was hit. The first time was a direct hit and lots of other things were destroyed as well but this time the only thing damaged was the computer. We haven't gotten back there yet to check for ourselves; someone else staying at the house said the computer stopped working but didn't say the house took a direct hit.

House was built in 1910. Wiring is probably almost as old. Regular composite (asphalt type) shingle roof.

It's possible the house is not grounded properly. I have in the past gotten a nasty shock from touching the fridge and the sink at the same time. Don't know if they fixed that.

I don't think my mom will go for a notebook computer. She's about as techo-phobic as they come; still doesn't own a cell phone. It took us a long time to convince her to get a computer at all but these days most of her charity work is done via email so she needs one.

But maybe the lightning issue will push her into getting one. Sure is a PITA to unplug the computer all the time but she may have to do that since storms can roll up on you in just minutes around here.

[colcifer]

Unplugging it seems like the best option...

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by colcifer

Unplugging it seems like the best option...

Probably is but given the frequency of lightning storms around here (almost daily), it sure is a major PITA.

[IconBasser]

control the weather.

[Georynn]

Believe it or not, a lot of the damage done to computers and electronics by lightning are done through INDUCTION!!!

SERIOUSLY, I deal with tons of the stuff...

Electrostatic discharge, even just a small amount will induce SOME current into parts of the circuits of the computer that are not designed for the type of current the inducted zap introduces...

EXAMPLE: I had a computer on my "repair bench" in my lab, at work, a few years ago. It was in a sealed metal cabinet, running off of a battery, not connected to any external power source. A stroke of lightning hit very close nearby. The slight amount of current induced through the USB MOUSE CABLE zapped the motherboard WHILE I WAS USING IT!!! I felt the very slight static POP in my fingertips (think balloons and wool socks)... BAM it shuts off. A half second or so after the screen goes black, a HUGE thunder clap rattled the building. The PC never powered on again...

SCARED THE CRAP out of me...

So, turn it off, and disconnect it and put it in a Faraday cage...

Seriously, turning the computer off, even if it isn't connected to an external power source is VERY important...

[Raven2k360]

Just my two cents, but a buddy of mine was actually electrocuted through his keyboard from a lightning strike to his house. He had surge protectors and all that jazz....just sayin'.

[Absentia]

Get a really good surge protector. I know she has one but spend more money on it.

That or buy a decent UPS.

I would also have an electrician come out and check the ground on her house.


My question is how certain are you that it's because of the lightning strikes and not because of regular old faulty hardware?
I've managed thousands of computers over the past decade and never had anything like this happen, even once.

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by Absentia

Get a really good surge protector. I know she has one but spend more money on it.

That or buy a decent UPS.

I would also have an electrician come out and check the ground on her house.

My question is how certain are you that it's because of the lightning strikes and not because of regular old faulty hardware?
I've managed thousands of computers over the past decade and never had anything like this happen, even once.

The first time was certainly a very close hit. The house had a burn mark and many things were damaged.

We haven't been back to the house since the second hit but the person who was there said the computer died right as lightning hit close by. Why they had the computer on at all in that kind of weather is a mystery to me though I suspect it has to do with the fact that they live in CA and thus have almost zero experience with lightning.

[L-A]

If there isn't any lightning rod, what's the object most likely to act as one near the house? Tall trees aren't as conductive as, say, metal sheets used in a chimney.

[westom]

Originally Posted by BartmanPDX

She's been told that surge protectors don't protect against lightning at all, but I don't think that's necessarily true of ALL surge protectors. She's also been told that a lightning rod won't help (house is surrounded by very tall trees). But it really seems like there ought to be SOMETHING she could do.

Correctly described were Tripplite, Belkin, Monster, etc protectors. Do not claim to protect from typically destructive surges. Read manufacturer specs. No protection claims. Only profit centers.

However, for over 100 years, direct lightning strikes were made irrelevant by properly installed protectors from other and more responsible companies such as Siemens, Intermatic, ABB, General Electric, Leviton, and Square D. A Cutler-Hammer solution sells in Lowes and Home Depot for less than $50.

How many times is that GA town without phone service for four days while they replace their switching computers? Or do Georgia towns disconnect phone service with each approaching storm? Of course not. A CO can suffer 100 surges with each storm. And no damage. They use technology proven over 100 years ago. Direct lightning strikes, without damage even to a protector, are routine.

Notice a difference between a post based in science compared to other who only recited advertising myths. Key to an effective protector is a dedicated wire that connects short (ie 'less than 10 feet') to single point earth ground. This solution works on all wiring - 2010 homes or 1910 wiring. This solution means no changes to any wires (safety grounds) inside. This solution means the earth ground must both meet and exceed 1990 National Electrical code for earthing.

No protector does protection. Not one. Protection is always about where hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate. If energy is connected short (ie 'less than 10 feet' since the expression is that major important) to earth, then energy is not inside hunting for earth via appliances. If energy is permitted inside, then nothing (especially not power strip or UPS protectors) will stop that surge.

Appliances need not be powered to be damaged. Will a millimeters gap in a switch stop what three miles of sky could not? Will 2 centimeter parts inside scam power strip protectors absorb hundreds of thousands of joules? Of course not. If energy is permitted inside, then nothing will stop a destructive connection to earth. A lighting strike way down the street is a direct lightning strike to all appliances inside IF a 'whole house' protector is not earthed.

Lightning rods do not stop surges. A lightning rod connects a direct strike harmlessly to earth outside the building. Then lightning does not use the building as an electrical conductor to earth. Surge protectors do not stop surges. An effective protector connects a direct strike harmlessly to earth outside the building. Then lightning does not use appliances as an electrical conductor to earth.

Effective protectors connect hundreds of thousands of joules to earth. Do virtually nothing if inside. Can make appliance damage easier if adjacent to appliances. Protection is always - did I say no exceptions - always about where hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate. Protection is always about what effective lightning rods and protectors connect to. Earth ground. A majority educated only by hearsay and advertising would never know this. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Then, like telco CO all over the world, your mom suffers direct lightning strikes without damage even to the protector.

A solution based in science and over 100 years of well proven experience. Unknown to a majority only educated by advertising. Plug-in protectors are only profit centers – not protection. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. The superior protector costs about $1 per protected appliance. The superior solution costs tens or 100 times less money. Protection from direct lightning strikes means spending no money on profit centers (power strip protectors) that have a long history of not providing effective protection.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Get the wiring in the house sorted.

Or build a giant faraday cage around the house and ground that.

[L-A]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Get the wiring in the house sorted.

Or build a giant faraday cage around the house and ground that.

That ought to work.

[westom]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Get the wiring in the house sorted.

Upgrading interior wires will do nothing. Protection is always about what exists at the service entrance. The always critical earth ground.

Europeans may be confused because safety ground is often confused with a completely different earth ground. Safety ground is irrelevant to surge protection. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground.

Earthing should be upgraded to meet and exceed post 1990 code. Every incoming wire must make a short (ie 'less than 3 meter') connection to that single point earth ground. Interior wiring upgrades would do nothing to protect that computer. As demonstrated by over 100 years of well proven science.

Any post that does not discuss where energy dissipates is best ignored. Protection is always about where energy dissipates.

[BartmanPDX]

Thanks for all that great info, westom!!!

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by westom

Upgrading interior wires will do nothing. Protection is always about what exists at the service entrance. The always critical earth ground.

Europeans may be confused because safety ground is often confused with a completely different earth ground. Safety ground is irrelevant to surge protection. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground.

Earthing should be upgraded to meet and exceed post 1990 code. Every incoming wire must make a short (ie 'less than 3 meter') connection to that single point earth ground. Interior wiring upgrades would do nothing to protect that computer. As demonstrated by over 100 years of well proven science.

Any post that does not discuss where energy dissipates is best ignored. Protection is always about where energy dissipates.

Actually, it wasn't just about the lightning comments.

If the wiring is older, it won't have been put in place to handle higher usage (heck, it likely won't have had any thought put into the design at all). And I bet there would be hotspots showing up throughout the place. I was thinking from a stricter/all around safety point of view.

Also, I'd still say that earthing would be classed as part of the house wiring. As you said, in the US there is this 1990 code (honestly not familiar with), and it seems like the house is unlikely to be up to the standard.

[westom]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

If the wiring is older, it won't have been put in place to handle higher usage.

Code has been that standard. If a wall receptacle will accept that plug, then wiring attached to that receptacle is more than sufficient.

An earth ground is separate from household wiring. Earth grounds that were installed pre 1990 may not have been sufficient for transistor safety. May also be insufficient for today's human safety standard. But worse, in some cases, earthing is completely missing. Lights will continue to work normally when the critically important earth ground is missing. Only visual inspection can determine if it exists and if it is sufficient.

[MatticusMania]

Bears. A bear can protect against almost everything... except maybe Elephants.


Elephants. THATs your answer!