Do You Unplug Equipment During Thunderstorms?


On one hand it seems like a good idea to unplug audio equipment during thunderstorms. But on the other hand the chances of getting your house hit directly by lightning seem fairly low. Some places get more thunderstorms than others. So I am curious what other people here do. Do you unplug your audio equipment during thunderstorms?

sid-hoff-frenchman

I have a Furman on my main system and a whole house on the main panel.  However, if you have lots of wires (cat5, telephone, power, cable, usb, etc.) remember that lightening is agnostic, it will travel whatever is available. 

Several years ago, i had a strike on a tree 50' from house. The charge came down the "dog fence" wire, to that fence's transformer (which exploded thru the space my head had been 5 min before) and then on to my PC and my Bryston integrated via house wiring.  Took out my mother board but not my drives. 

Bryston service repaired the integrated since it was under warranty.  However, they said the "don't usually warrant lightening strikes."  Pretty much only buy Bryston these days. 

 

I try to unplug it all now. I have lived in my house now 36 years and used to work outside the home. Ground surges from lightning are a real issue here in the mountains of Colorado. Twice I have had equipment fried by lightning. First, one channel of a dual mono amp took a hit and proceeded to blow. It's surge also blew the woofer of the speaker it was connected to. The woofer was kindly replaced by the speaker's maker (easy install by me), and the amp was sent to the manufacturer would repaired it.

The second time, about 5 years ago, it fried the D/A processor and a different power amp. This time the repairs/replacements would have been much more expensive and the insurance company balked, telling me I had to prove it was from lightning. WTH!

I have always had "protective" surge connectors, with guarantees, but those don't mean diddly. They may protect from regular utility company surges but not from mother nature. Now I work from home and unplug when I can.