Unplugging during thunderstorms

Ectophile

Seems to be a sealed unit and no sign that anything else could be added.

It should appear to be sealed against nosey householders opening it, and electrocuting themselves.  But consumer units can be opened up for maintenance.

Whether there's enough room to fit a surge protector is another matter.  If you open the flap on the front, there would need to be at least two adjacent blanking plates where breakers would normally go.

A 20 year old consumer unit will be obsolete anyway.

grumbler

fenwick458 said:

you ... would need to have 2 spare ways in your consumer unit,

I am no expert, but I see  SPDs needing just one spare slot - https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/spds/cat12370001

kipsterno1

I remember coming home from school and wondering why the TV wouldn't work. A lightning strike had completely blown it.

Teapot55

Years ago a two to three foot bolt of lightning shot out of the telly during a thunderstorm. It didn’t seem to affect the telly. I was about ten foot away and glad it went to one side and not out of the front. 

GDB2222

Do you disconnect the modem from the electricity, the telephone, or both?

fenwick458

grumbler said:

fenwick458 said:

you ... would need to have 2 spare ways in your consumer unit,

I am no expert, but I see  SPDs needing just one spare slot - https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/spds/cat12370001

Ideally they are supposed to have a dedicated MCB too
https://www.toolstation.com/contactum-surge-protection-retro-fit-kit/p30045

brianposter

Several years ago returned to the house to find a black puddle on the floor where the router had been. Not sure whether we were very unlucky as thunderstorms are very unusual in the area, or very lucky as it is a wooden house.

grumbler

fenwick458 said:

grumbler said:

fenwick458 said:

you ... would need to have 2 spare ways in your consumer unit,

I am no expert, but I see  SPDs needing just one spare slot - https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/spds/cat12370001

Ideally they are supposed to have a dedicated MCB too
https://www.toolstation.com/contactum-surge-protection-retro-fit-kit/p30045

Is there anything special with retro-fitting? I didn't see any dedicated MCB in a modern populated CU.

TELLIT01

I remember by parents going round unplugging things when I was a kid, but it's not something I've ever done.

Arfa__

My mum still unplugs everything during a storm. But then, I do recall as a kid a lightning strike hit a nearby telegraph pole and blew all the phones in the house. To the extent, all phone sockets were blackened and the cables had been shot out of them!

Can't be arsed myself these days to unplug stuff and anything valuable has surge protector power strips or UPS'.