Should you unplug your electronic devices during a storm ?

© Unsplash/Jonathan Bowers

This article was co-written with Régis Reeb, expert in lightning and surge protection, approved by the Ministry of Ecology.

Lightning is an electrical discharge that occurs between two areas of opposite charges, in clouds or between clouds and the ground. Lightning can reach several million volts and several tens of thousands of amperes. When it strikes the ground or an object, the lightning current can cause thermal, mechanical, but also – and this is the number one problem for electronic – electromagnetic devices.

The risks associated with lightning are significantly lower in cities than in the countryside, due to the proximity of high points more likely to attract the impact of lightning. According to data from the French Tornado and Violent Storm Observatory (KERAUNOS), there were 1,362,000 lightning strikes in France in 2022, including 1,045,000 on the ground.

Some electronic devices are very sensitive to the current and electrical voltage of lightning

However, if many electronic devices are sensitive to the effects of lightning, it is because they contain components that can be damaged by a power surge. Depending on how the lightning strike occurs, for example a strike on a house, a church or a field near homes, the consequences can be more or less serious.

If the lightning strike directly hits the home and/or the antenna, the devices connected to the electrical network and connected to the electrical ground of the home can be completely destroyed (frozen) or even cause a fire. If lightning strikes an overhead power or telephone line, this will create a surge that propagates through the network and reaches the device, more often causing destruction, malfunctions or damage.

The electronic devices in the home that are most sensitive to lightning surges are those that are connected with cables (electrical, Ethernet, etc.), such as televisions, computers, internet boxes, landline phones or game consoles.

It is therefore advisable to unplug them in the event of a storm or to implement surge protectors in the electrical installation as recommended by the electrical standard NF C15-100. Implementing surge protector power strips with antenna or telephone line protection is not sufficient and can be dangerous; they must be coupled with a type 2 surge protector in the electrical panel.

In some cases, such as computers, a power inverter may be necessary, especially if the computer must remain switched on permanently – but this is not necessarily essential. Other electrical devices can also be damaged by surges from direct and indirect lightning strikes, even if they have no contact with the outside world.

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These include devices that have sensitive electrical components, such as the compressor or capacitor. These devices include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens and microwaves. Some electrical devices are less sensitive to lightning because they have a higher surge voltage rating or good insulation. Examples include lamps, fans, radios, and phone chargers.

How to protect everything in case of a storm?

Obviously, as the title of this article suggests, the simplest thing is to unplug all the devices that need it in the event of a storm. But this solution is not always very practical. Above all, it is impossible to implement when you go on vacation for example.

The first thing to do for a more permanent solution, especially if you live in a house located in an open area, is probably to have a type 2 or type 1 surge protector installed as recommended or required by the NF C15-100 standard.

In areas with high lightning strikes, it is possible to implement an external lightning protection system (lightning rod). This is a long metal rod on the roof that will be the highest point – and therefore likely to be impacted. The lightning current will thus be safely conducted to earth.

The implementation of this solution makes it mandatory to install a type 1 surge protector on the power supply in the panel but also on the telephone line. Contacting a professional will allow you to determine whether this is necessary or recommended in your case.

The surge protector blocks surges that can be conducted by your power line. In addition to the surge protectors installed in the panels, there are surge protector power strips with antenna and telephone line protection. They are ideal for televisions, landline telephones or ADSL boxes.

In any case, you must pay attention to the conformity of these products, which are governed by strict standards – the NF EN 61643 series.

If you are worried that lightning will trip your installation, you can also install an inverter on certain devices such as the ADSL box that remain permanently switched on. This can help you keep active internet access for a few dozen minutes or hours if lightning has caused damage to your power line.

These inverters are equipped with a more or less powerful battery, as well as filters. It should be noted, however, that these devices do not replace surge protectors. Protect your electronic devices against lightning ? Have any of your devices ever fried following a storm ? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

• The electric current following the impact of lightning can indeed damage or destroy electronic devices, especially when you live in a heavily lightning-stricken area such as the South-East sector.
• To protect yourself, you must therefore unplug your devices a priori
• However, protection solutions exist for electronic devices.
• Despite everything, it must be emphasized that storms and lightning remain a natural risk.

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