Protect Your Electronics From Lightning Damage
© 2003 Reprint by permission only. All rights reserved.
by Matt Hyatt

You just never know what to expect from Mother Nature. Last year was a drought year here in Gwinnett, and this year I’ve already lost count of the number of rain storms we’ve had. Not just little storms either – big, threatening ones carrying high winds and plenty of lightning.

I got a powerful reminder of Mother Nature’s fury last week when a Snellville church asked us to help assess the damage caused by a recent lightning storm. We were surprised to find that a single bolt of lightning damaged eight computers, two copiers, most of their telephones, and a host of other equipment. Many of the damaged items were even plugged into surge protectors at the time of the strike.

So how did that happen? A surge protector is supposed to protect your equipment from a lightning strike, right? You’d think so, but the truth is that many so-called “surge protectors” are little more than el-cheapo power strips that were designed to sell, not necessarily to protect. I suspect that at least one of those computers was plugged into a surge protector of the “under $10” variety, and that’s all it took. From there, the spike of electricity traveled through network and phone cables to cause significant damage to other computers and equipment.

There are at least a few lessons to be learned here.

One, all of your valued electronics should be connected to good-quality surge protectors. We could go into lots of detail about which specifications to look for, but the technical jargon can be mind boggling. Instead, here are a few easy rules of thumb: Buy a brand that you recognize or visit a good computer or electronics store for advice. Look for a model with a lifetime warranty and a solid equipment protection guarantee. And finally, remember that you usually get what you pay for. A good surge protector is going to cost between $30 and $70, depending on features.

Two, remember that electrical spikes can travel through phone, cable, and network lines just as easily as power lines. Many of the best surge protectors include ports to connect your data lines, but they aren’t much good if you forget to use them. Make sure you’re using surge protection on all of the lines that connect your valuable equipment to the wall.

Three, check your homeowners or renters insurance policy – you may need to use it if your surge protector guarantee doesn’t pan out. Find out if your insurance pays for electronic equipment damaged by lightning and other electrical problems. Does the policy pay for replacement cost or depreciated value? If you have a large investment in electronics not covered by your regular policy, consider purchasing supplemental insurance to protect your investment.

Of course, there are some low-tech things you can do to protect your electronics, too. When I was a kid, my parents used to run around and unplug things before going on trips or whenever a lightning storm was imminent. Of course, most of us aren’t home all the time to monitor approaching storms, but unplugging things doesn’t cost a penny and works great when you’re home to do it.

Computer and game system users often use the power switch on the surge protector itself to turn their systems on and off, lowering the risk of a damaging electrical spike while the systems aren’t in use. While that method isn’t practical for things like telephones and VCR’s (which may lose their time or programming memory), it can be a good idea for expensive items like computers and televisions.

As I write this, the news says there are no more storms threatening Gwinnett in the next few days. But since I doubt Mother Nature spends much time watching the news, it’s hard to say just how long it will be before the next powerful storm comes rolling through. When it happens, I hope you’ll rest easy knowing that your electronics are protected and safe.

Matt Hyatt is founder of Rocket IT, an IT consulting firm near Atlanta, Georgia. For technology help with your business, contact Rocket IT at 770-441-2520 or visit online at www.rocketit.com.

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