Thunder and lightning - safe to be by the computer?

[A_S_G]

Well. .right now it's thundering and lightning, and I herd before that it's not safe to be in front of a computer? Is this true? :lol:

[Ebuski]

I'm pretty sure your house has something to ground any electrical charge from lightning, I tihnk worst case scenerio is that your computer will shut off, someone correct me if i'm wrong but I think all houses has somthing to ground lightning to prevent something like this from happening.

[DurfBarian]

It's safe for you.

You're an idiot to be risking your computer in that way, though.

[A_S_G]

It's safe for you.

You're an idiot to be risking your computer in that way, though.

That's what Warranties are for!! WoOt!!1!!one!!1!! :lol:

[Draconis]

The only danger is if it's connected to a phone line (metal, not fibre obviously.) Then a lightning strike on the lines could fry your box pretty badly with a huge power surge. I'm not sure if you can get the same phenomenon through the power supply though, they don't tend to run overhead power cables in residential areas.

[Mecal]

Well. .right now it's thundering and lightning, and I herd before that it's not safe to be in front of a computer? Is this true? :lol:

well, seeing as how thunder is nothing more than a mere noise, i doubt it.

lightning on the other hand can effect it, if you have, like someone else said, a phone line hooked up... or if the lightning happend to hit your cable box (the one outside, if you have one - i do) then it would....

[Kawaii]

That's what Warranties are for!! WoOt!!1!!one!!1!! :lol:

Most warranties explicitly exclude atmospherical discharges.

[Fast Willie]

is it safe to store my cellphone taped to a 25 foot iron rod in the middle of a large field during a severe thunderstorm?

[Cain]

Myth: Turning your computer off during a thunderstorm will save it from being damaged.

Fact: Whether your computer is on or off makes absolutely no difference. The only way to protect it from a surge is to have a really good surge protector, or unplug it from the wall (and the phone line and/or lan cables)

[AeroJonesy]

My best friend got shocked (he thinks by his computer) when lightning struck his house. It blew out all the electronics in their basement, phones, TVs, computer, etc. He was near his computer/TV/printer when the lightning hit and he got hit in the arm. The lightning was strong enough to break their chimney and make it fall off.