Unplugging power cords from amps/ pre amps

I think if the equipment is turned off, it’s O.K. to unplug at equipment end. To be extra sure, find which circuit breaker provides power and trip it before unplugging. Some equipment these days remain active, somewhat, even when turned off. Not and issue, IMO.

Yes, either is fine.  What wears when done too much is the springs in the female sockets, either on the wall or in the unit.

Any unit with a remote or those with low and high power states may have current flowing but at such a low current it's relatively safe to pull them.  Having just gone through a close thunderstorm I do _not_ do this however and rely on the switches in my conditioners when I'm around.  I'm not always around though.

I wrote about this practice a little here.

IF your system is plugged into separate circuit(s), (as it should be) simply turn the breaker(s) off, back on after storm passes.

WHY would you unplug if the circuit is off?

IF your equipment is plugged into a protective device, either trust your protective device, OR, unplug the protective device, thus everything plugged into it is unplugged.

In your case, or if you do not want a protective device, a high quality plug strip into your separate circuit(s), outlet end located where you can reach it, plug/unplug the pieces there.

I mistyped,  I meant to say:

What wears when done too much is the springs in the female sockets, either on the wall or in the cable.

Not sure lightning will be stopped by a 6mm gap in a breaker. 

IF your system is plugged into separate circuit(s), (as it should be) simply turn the breaker(s) off, back on after storm passes.

My Coda manual very specifically states to disconnect the wall connection before disconnecting the cord from the amp. Connecting is the reverse of that. If the main switch on the back is off, it probably is not an issue, but it is easy to forget this step. The result can be arcing when plugging/unplugging a live cord into the the amp. 

@zlone

Arcing during a disconnect is bad, but AFAIK, does not cause a voltage surge. It does have the potential for leaving carbon deposits which prevent current flow, or heat up and cause a fire. That’s 100% true. I’ve seen it in a bad outlet wiring (my own fault!).

The arcing is proportional to the current flowing at the time the switch or cable is pulled out, or relay disengages. For this reason it’s important to turn off the gear first.

I’m not sure however that it makes much of a difference which end of the cable you pull out, except perhaps that if you pull out the equipment end you risk the chance of the arc damage being on the IEC connector?

Maybe the EMI/RFI noise during the arc can be amplified through the amp, so having it happen further away minimizes the noise?

Not sure lightning will be stopped by a 6mm gap in a breaker. 

IF your system is plugged into separate circuit(s), (as it should be) simply turn the breaker(s) off, back on after storm passes.

There is an extended surge protector thread going on at the misc forum right now, and I mentioned that getting back to my outlets is a b, so what I said I had been doing was tripping the breaker(s) during atmospheric electrical activity (which we are getting a lot of as of late). @jea48 informed me on that thread that a massive surge could easily jump across a tripped breaker. I have started unplugging my stuff during T’storms, even though it is a bit more of a PITA. As a matter of fact, my stuff is unplugged as I am typing this stuff. Activity last night and gray skies today. As I get older my paranoia increases.

@tattooedtrackman that's exactly how I unplug my amps, crossover, and powerstrip every time a storm rolls through (I just did it again, actually).  It's easier for me to do it at the component than at the wall.

Not sure lightning will be stopped by a 6mm gap in a breaker.

A direct lightning strike would not be stopped by unplugging your equipment either. I have seen the aftermath of a direct lightning strike.

Ty everyone. From reading all your replies I think it will be ok to disconnect from the comments ends. I also do have 4 dedicated outlets for my components and to be more on the safe side I will also turn off the 4 dedicated breakers also before disconnecting from the components. I did not even think of that to be honest. 

@noromance

You wrote:

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The normal surge testing is at 5kV, which is believed to be the maximum voltage a home could receive from the electric grid.

That is according to Wirecutter which is not correct. Wirecutter may use 5kV...

The actual recognized testing voltage is 6kV , for 8/20 µs. That’s fast. Fast enough to cause a 120V incandescent light bulb to explode and totally vaporize. Nothing left but the metal screw in base.

Video, Eaton- Surge Protection

Video, Leviton Whole House Surge Protection.

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VPR – Voltage Protection Rating. A rating per the latest revision of ANSI/UL 1449, signifying the “rounded up” average measured limiting voltage of an SPD when the SPD is subjected to the surge produced by a 6kV/3kV 8/20 µs combination waveform generator. VPR is a clamping voltage measurement that is rounded up to one of a standardized table of values. The standard VPR ratings include 330, 400, 500, 600, 700, etc. As a standardized rating system, VPR allows the direct comparison between like SPDs (i.e. same Type and Voltage).

https://www.nemasurge.org/faqs/

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https://www.se.com/us/en/faqs/FA370836/

UL1449, 3rd Edition now requires that all SPD Types be tested to verify that the average transient voltage surge is limited to the voltage protection rating (VPR) assigned to the SPD. The VPR of an SPD is often referred to as it’s "let-through voltage" and is determined during a combination ring wave test conducted at a setting of 6kV/3kV . This VPR rating is required to be clearly visible on any compliant UL1449, 3rd Edition device.

Type 1 and Type 2 rated surge protection devices are additionally tested to UL96A "Lightning Protection Systems" specifications, as they are at or before the electrical service entrance. Type 3 surge protection devices are subjected to an operating duty cycle test with a combination ring wave at a setting of 6kV/3kV . This test represents the typical surge encountered at a distance of 10 meters (30ft) from the main electrical service panel. A Type 3 surge protection device is not intended for direct lightning protection, therefore it is tested beyond the potentially effected area.

I don't unplug anything when there's a thunderstorm.  Does anyone unplug all the electronics in their house -- the well pump, HVAC, fridge, microwave, washer/dryer, etc...?  A direct hit, well If you're really unlucky, then you're really unlucky and there ain't a damn thing you can do about it.  Just get a whole house surge protector and go on about your normal life.

+1 @onhwy61 I suppose it matters more if you have a substandard power grid and/or live in an area with crazy storms, but I’ve lived in the New York City area and Chicago my entire audiophile life (about 45 years, 40 of which my components were all plugged directly into the wall) and never unplugged my equipment due to storms and have never had an issue.  Maybe I’ve just been lucky or have robust equipment, but all my stuff since five years ago runs through an Audience power conditioner and that’s enough to keep me from yanking power cords every time I hear thunder — just not gonna do that.  If I was really that concerned, and as onhwy61 mentioned, I’d get a whole-house surge protector and continue to live dangerously that way.  Maybe I’m just whistling past the graveyard, but I’m not letting every potential storm stress me out — too many other things to worry about and stress over.  But that’s me.

Does anyone unplug all the electronics in their house...

My stereo is easily the most expensive and hardest to replace, so I naturally unplug it.  I also unplug my computers and welders, but they're just expensive.

Do you own your own home ? 
do you have a dedicated 20 amp. Line 

IHave several layers A Siemens home surge protector handles small as well as big surges at your breaker box.  VH Audio has a great surge protector with power factor correction. You put on your specific breaker.

if you have $$ there are dedicated Battery 🪫 systems you can play music a solid 8 hours or more .

Does the manufacturer specifically warn to unplug the power cord only at the receptacle and not at the equipment? 

Since the power cord detaches at the equipment, it is reasonable to assume that some end users would find it more convenient to plug/unplug at the equipment end. If that is a problem for some reason then a caution would be printed on the owners manual and the back of the equipment. Also, the equipment end is chamfered to fit the receptacle, preventing inadvertent polarity switching. All these signs point to it's okay to unplug everything from the equipment.

@OP There is no problem unplugging your equipment at the component end. Just  be absolutely sure to do it after turning off the relevant components.

The biggest risk in thunderstorms is to anything that's connected to an antenna like a radio aerial or satellite dish.

I have seen fires started by lightning strikes to such equipment.

I just blew out my Jeff Rowland Model 201 stereo amp power modules by plugging in the IEC into the amp when  the power cable was plugged in. 

Make sure the power is off to the power cable before plugging in the IEC to your amp. 

@soix Maybe I’ve just been lucky or have robust equipment, but all my stuff since five years ago runs through an Audience power conditioner and that’s enough to keep me from yanking power cords every time I hear thunder — just not gonna do that.

Has using a power conditioner improved your sound ? i.e. dirty power artifacts etc. Are you using audiophile AC cables to your components?

I am in a 110 apartment building built-in 2010. We have fiber optical Internet, but I don’t stream just yet, happy just playing records for now

I am using a SurgeX SEQ for sequencing and surge protection. I'm not sure how it affects the sound yet. but I don't worry about lightning as much now.

Now that my amps are plugged directly into the wall, I unplug them when the weather gets noisy. Lately, I’ve started unplugging the power conditioner as well. 
It can’t hurt.

Has using a power conditioner improved your sound ? i.e. dirty power artifacts etc. Are you using audiophile AC cables to your components?  I am in a 110 apartment building built-in 2010. We have fiber optical Internet, but I don’t stream just yet, happy just playing records for now

@groovey Unfortunately I made the mistake of changing several things at once when adding the power conditioner so I can’t say what the effect of it alone was on my system.  At some point I’ll do a comparison with and without it but just haven’t gotten around to it.

Definitely take the plunge into streaming ASAP — my only regret about streaming is that I didn’t start sooner.  While the convenience is certainly nice, discovering worlds of new music I would’ve mostly never have heard otherwise (and much of it in hi res BTW) has been one of the biggest thrills I’ve ever had as an audiophile and has reinvigorated my love and enthusiasm for the hobby.  Listening to good music you know and love is great, but the ability to easily find tons of great new music is next-level rewarding and fun IME to the point that I rarely spin a disc anymore.  Just my $0.02 and something I wish someone said to me when I was on the fence about streaming years ago.

@soix 

+1

👍👍

My system is on a dedicated 20 amp circuit that runs from the breaker panel through an isolation transformer and then up to the wall outlet where it feeds through a line conditioner/voltage regulator before going to each component. If a spike gets through all that, my home owners insurance will pick up the tab. 

Preventive measures a worth a pound of cure. If your plugs are not accessible, then take time out to make them  accessible. Consider this, that some components have circuits active even if their power button is in off position. 

I have a whole house surge protector installed in my electrical panel.  My home theater systems are plugged into power conditioner/surge protectors.  My computer equipment, NAS, monitors, and routers are plugged into UPS devices.  My standalone TVs are plugged into surge protectors.

My listening room equipment is on a dedicated 20 amp circuit.  All equipment, except my power amp is plugged into a Denali power conditioner; the amp is plugged into a wall outlet. During thunderstorms, I power down all my listening room equipment and unplug the Denali and power amp from the wall sockets.

If I have a direct lightning strike, my homeowner’s insurance covers that.  I unplug my expensive gear because I don’t want to go through the hassle of replacing it.  And I hope the power conditioner/surge protectors do their job well enough to prevent my other electronics from being destroyed.