Unplug Your Electronics Before a Thunderstorm
Bad weather just around the corner? You may need to get through a rainy day without distraction from your electronics – that is, if you still want your TV to turn on the next day.
CNET raised one question today that many of us have asked ourselves during a thunderstorm: Should I turn off PS4, Xbox and other electronics, or risk burning them all to death when the storm looms?
Well, it turns out this is a very real risk and you may have to reconsider your actions on a rainy day. Why exactly? Well, if lightning struck an electric pole, it would release a wave of energy that would fry everything in its path.
As CNET mentions, anything plugged into the wall in North America is rated at 129 volts, with a maximum of 169 volts. A voltage spike will mean millions of volts, so it’s safe to say that your flat screen or refrigerator will never see daylight again.
But another important question arises: how often does this actually happen? There is not a ton of research into the number of power surges caused by storms (although in 2014 a thunderstorm broke out as a result of a large-scale power surge in the Chicago area that affected about 244 residents and irreversibly damaged stoves, air conditioning outlets and stoves.After that, it’s again happened to the same area in 2018).
At the same time, we know thunderstorms are very common. According to the National Severe Storm Laboratory, the United States experiences about 100,000 thunderstorms a year, and there are 2,000 thunderstorms around the world at any given time. And even the Department of Homeland Security recommends turning off unnecessary electronics during a thunderstorm.
So what if you hear about a thunderstorm rearing its ugly head in the weather forecast? First, unplug electronics before a lightning storm, not during a lightning storm (otherwise, you may experience a power surge first-hand). The National Weather Service even recommends avoiding bathing or showering during a storm to avoid risking a wave of water entering the water.
However, you don’t need to turn off all electronics. You can and should keep with you any electronics that will help you receive weather information (of course, a disconnected laptop will do). However, stay away from any connected cables or wires.
In terms of surge protectors, CNET noted that they are not designed to withstand the voltage of the storm, so unplugging your Xbox is still the best option so you can play Fortnite another day.