On a question whether it is necessary to switch off the computer during a thunderstorm, many people answer positively, our parents often said that when on the street the bad weather was played, it is worth switching-off all electric devices. But, nevertheless let's learn how experts comment on a similar question and with what facts they operate at discussion of such subject.
Whether it is obligatory to switch off the computer during a thunderstorm?
To understand whether it is necessary to switch off the computer during a thunderstorm, it is necessary to talk about what is represented by an electrical network a little. Let's not go deep too into engineering questions, we will just remember that at lightning stroke there can really be a power surge which can cause certain damages. However, modern electric systems have various protection, for example, automatic machines familiar to all which interrupt the movement of current on a chain at emergence of this jump. It would seem, existence of elements of protection in a design of network already gives the grounds to answer in the negative on a question whether it is worth switching off the computer during a thunderstorm, but not everything is so simple.
The main problem of any system of protection is that it can just not manage to react to jump and will pass current on a chain whether there will be it, depends on a set of factors therefore nobody can precisely predict the probability of such outcome. Proceeding from this fact, experts, arguing on a subject whether can burn down during a thunderstorm the computer, answer in the affirmative, however, surely mention that there will be such trouble only at failure of circuit breakers. By the way, even if the device does not work, but is included forks of its wire in the socket, at emergence of power surge and the admission its automatic machines it will burn down too therefore if you do not want to risk, it is worth disconnecting at the first signs of a bad weather all equipment from network, but not just to switch off it.
One more argument of experts on a subject why it is necessary to switch off the computer during a thunderstorm, it is quite difficult to understand to the one who in principle badly knows physics. The fact is that during a bad weather the electromagnetic field which can affect not only electric wires, but also on the Internet cables is formed, having broken their work. In this case the effect will be practically same, as well as at power surge, that is the equipment can just burn down, for this reason it is not recommended to use during a bad weather local networks and cable type modems.
Probability of damage of the equipment during a thunderstorm
It was already told above that precisely to count the probability of whether there will be misfortune, and whether will pass circuit breakers the power surge is impossible, but it is quite possible to address statistics on the matter. According to statistical data, the systems of protection, of course, it is only about modern devices and devices, seldom miss jumps, that is in 9 cases from 10 they will fulfill the purpose. Therefore if you really have a need of use of the computer during a bad weather, statistically, it is quite possible it and not to disconnect. To trust or not to these data, solves everyone for himself, but most of people nevertheless do not switch-off devices during a thunderstorm, without testing any negative consequences from adoption of such decision.
If you want to protect completely yourself and the property, and do not like to risk, then it is better to disconnect the computer from network, and if there is an opportunity, to use the accumulator. As we know, time in a year and a stick can shoot, and it is not clear whether there will be it now or to happen never.
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