NBR - Thunderstorm TV advice

R

ringmerseagulltoo

Active member

Feb 16, 2012

439

• May 29, 2017

• #1

Following the storm last night, I remember that during storms we used to unplug TV's. I never knew if that was in case the roof top aerial was struck by lightening or the possibility of a power surge.

The question is, with all the modern fail safe systems, should I still be doing that?

 

Coldeanseagull

Opinionated

Mar 13, 2013

7,788

Coldean

• May 29, 2017

• #2

I was always told to leave it plugged in, otherwise you have a bolt of lightning looking to earth down to something else?

 

dazzer6666

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Mar 27, 2013

52,495

Burgess Hill

• May 29, 2017

• #3

Unless you live on top of a prominent hill I reckon it makes next to no difference - chances of being hit are really, really tiny anyway. There is an argument (can google it) to suggest leaving the TV aerial plugged in a good thing, as if the tiny chance of your house being hit happens to occur, you'll end up with only a fried TV and not a fried house as the TV will absorb the charge. I dunno though, I'm not scientist........more of a fatalist.

Mate of mine's house in Burgess Hill was hit a few years ago. Big hole in the roof, ground floor ceilings fell in and the house needed completely rewiring. Every appliance was fooked.

 

beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius

Jul 21, 2003

35,313

• May 29, 2017

• #4

unplugging from mains will only protect from a surge, not a strike to the aerial. for that you'll need to unplug the aerial too. likelihood of a aerial strike is far far lower than the local power grid catching a strike, though thats tiny chance, and somthing should trip and you'll have a power cut. in this case be more concerned with computers getting upset by instant shutdown, so may be good idea to power off when a lightning storm is very local.

 

Chicken Run

Member Since Jul 2003

NSC Patron

Jul 17, 2003

18,475

Valley of Hangleton

• May 29, 2017

• #5

I'm on holiday at present and unplugged everything in the house including the tv and vcr, left the fridge on though?

 

easynow

New member

Mar 17, 2013

2,039

jakarta

• May 29, 2017

• #6

Chicken Run said:

I'm on holiday at present and unplugged everything in the house including the tv and vcr, left the fridge on though?

Click to expand...

Appreciate that, mate. The ice cream was delicious.

 

drew

Drew

Oct 3, 2006

23,067

Burgess Hill

• May 29, 2017

• #7

dazzer6666 said:

Unless you live on top of a prominent hill I reckon it makes next to no difference - chances of being hit are really, really tiny anyway. There is an argument (can google it) to suggest leaving the TV aerial plugged in a good thing, as if the tiny chance of your house being hit happens to occur, you'll end up with only a fried TV and not a fried house as the TV will absorb the charge. I dunno though, I'm not scientist........more of a fatalist.

Mate of mine's house in Burgess Hill was hit a few years ago. Big hole in the roof, ground floor ceilings fell in and the house needed completely rewiring. Every appliance was fooked.

Click to expand...

I saw a lightning strike hit a house in Culpepper. Struck the aerial and blew a hole in the roof. Luckily no one home but the dogs.

 

dazzer6666

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Mar 27, 2013

52,495

Burgess Hill

• May 29, 2017

• #8

drew said:

I saw a lightning strike hit a house in Culpepper. Struck the aerial and blew a hole in the roof. Luckily no one home but the dogs.

Click to expand...

Yep, that's it !