Is it true that it is dangerous for http://www.payoffyourmortgages.com" alt="Pay Off Your Mortgage" target="_blank">your computer to use it during a thunder storm? Or is this just an old wives' tale?
[question posted by DeenaD]
responses and comments:
I think mothers just said that as an excuse to force their children off the computers, because they wanted to spend time with them. [RideCuStomy2k]
since iam new to the computer i don't really know, but people have told me it wasn't good for the computer, so i usually turn mine off, better to be safe than sorry! [shaggydog]
I don't think it is dangerous. However, during a thunderstorm many people advise you to turn off your computer because if you home gets hit by lighting, it can fry your computer - even with a surge protector. [sedel1027]
I turn my off. My neighbor's house was struck by lighting while she was on the computer, and it made an electrical current through her hands..something I do not want to experience. [kcrowson]
That must have been terrifying. I know they say you should not use your phone unless it's cordless, and you should not shower during a thunder storm. I hadn't thought about using the computer before. [DeenaD]
My place got hit and it killed my modem and fried the cable lines..I am so glad I had un did my PC from the modem!! I live in a very rural area so the likely hood is probably higher to be struck than if you live in a city...but it's definetly not an old wives tale!! [bhchy1]
I live in a rural area as well. [DeenaD]
Power surges can be caused by lightning stikes which can cause damage to any electrical appliance that is plugged in at the time. It does not need to hit your home, hits anywhere on your power grid can do it, though it is not a common occurance. Power surges can also happen if apower line falls down due to a tree falling or a crash involing power poles etc. In Australia most homes have a safety switch built in to the power supply that should protect from surges and I have only known 1 person who had a Television blow up in a storm. The other thing to consider is that if the power goes out you lose any unsaved data. [alveraks]
Losing data is maddening. I'm careful about saving important work, though - and saving frequently. [DeenaD]
not an old wives tale...never heard of anyone being killed by being on their computer when a surge hit their home though. I do know it will fry your system if it surges and no, surge protectors dont help..their crap [enticinmel]
if the power goes out, the computer turns off in the wrong way. This won't fry the computer the first time, but if it happens often, it could put extra wear and tear on the computer. [paullaura]
Sometimes you can't help it, but during a storm, you can. [paullaura]
Actually is partially true. Working your pc during a thunder storm can have hazardous effects such as: power shortcut, extra lightning within seconds that can harm your eyes, and the last can cause your pc problems if you don't have a ups connected. [remaster74]
its dangerous if it is a desktop plugged into a non surge protected plug. otherwise somehting bad can happen. but if you have a laptop with a battery your fine. and if you have a Surge Procector on your outlet or extention cord. its good. [xandtomorrow]
oO its not..... wat if u got a f*k'n modem n' its hook'd w/ it ? its da fuck'n same..... w/e [FreeMax]
I was using my computer during a thunderstorm a few weeks ago, and I saw some lightning, heard a little "bzzt" sound near my CPU. The thunder clap indicated the lightning was a half mile or more away. It turned out that my NIC card was fried. I'm thinking lightning hit the phone company's broadband infrastructure somewhere near my neighborhood. On one hand, it's an indication that despite all the surge prevention you can take, it's still possible to get hit, even from a ways away. On the other, that's the first time in 10 years I've been struck. [Snooze]
Well, I dont know if it really dangerous but my sister in law's computer got messed up while using the computer during the thunder storm. She paied almost 1,000 dollars and now, she have to buy a brand new one to replace the broken one. [maya_n_bennett]
no... it qill attack the ariels only... computers don hav na... [nilk007]
I think it's true. In Philippines, it very usual to have storms. One day while there's a storm, my sister and my nephew were playing game on our desktop and suddenly it thunders and our computer monitor blew up. I think something in the power supply but it really blew up inside. Then we have to buy for a new one. [maevic]
one more thing, my nephew told me that there's some light went to the monitor, but I really can;t confirm about that...I didn't see it. [maevic]
i shut mine off. my hard drive crashed after that. [niremor]
yes its true lightning struck mine [corinna]
y cant u use it underwater [gimil007]
yes it's dangerous, thunder can move in the cable and blow your monitor. [istanto]