How Your Computer Can Get Damaged From High Voltage Lightning Strikes
Ever wondered how your computer can get damaged from high voltage lightning stikes? A sudden surge of energy from lightning can overwhelm and damage the delicate circuits and components that make up a computer, causing it to malfunction or even be completely destroyed. Read our tips to learn how to take precautions to protect your computer from lightning strikes, such as using surge protectors and unplugging your equipment during thunderstorms.
How Your Computer Can Get Damaged From High Voltage Lightning Strikes. Image source: Pexel
Australia is one of the most lightning-prone countries in the world, with an average of 20 million lightning strikes annually. This means that there is a lightning strike every 1.5 seconds somewhere in Australia. Most lightning strikes occur in the northern and eastern parts of the country, where the climate is more humid and there are more thunderstorms.
Lightning is a powerful force of nature that can cause serious damage to your computer. Even if your computer is not directly struck by lightning, a nearby strike can still damage it.
How Lightning Damages Computers
When lightning strikes, it creates a sudden surge of electricity. This surge of electricity can travel through power lines, phone lines, and even the air. If your computer is plugged in when lightning strikes, the surge of electricity can travel through the power cord and damage your computer.
The surge of electricity can damage the following components of your computer:
- Motherboard
- CPU
- RAM
- Hard drive
- Graphics card
- Power supply
In some cases, a lightning strike can even destroy your entire computer.
How to Protect Your Computer From Lightning Damage
There are a few things you can do to protect your computer from lightning damage:
Unplugging Your Computer
Unplugging Your Computer
The simplest way to protect your computer from lightning damage is to unplug it during a thunderstorm. This will prevent the surge of electricity from travelling through the power cord and damaging your computer.
Using a Surge Protector
Using a Surge Protector
A surge protector is a device that helps to protect your computer from power surges. When a power surge occurs, the surge protector will divert the surge of electricity away from your computer and into the ground.
Installing a Lightning Rod
Installing a Lightning Rod
A lightning rod is a device that is installed on the roof of your home. When lightning strikes, the lightning rod will attract the lightning and direct it into the ground. This will help to protect your home and your computer from lightning damage.
Conclusion
Lightning carries a huge amount of energy that can overload and damage the delicate components of a computer. To prevent damage from lightning strikes, it is important to use surge protectors and unplug your computer during thunderstorms. If you live in an area prone to lightning strikes, it is essential to take these precautions to avoid costly damage to your computer equipment. Have you ever experienced a lightning strike damaging your computer? What precautions do you take to protect your electronic devices during thunderstorms?
Written by The Original PC Doctor on 5/5/2023.
