Unplugging during thunderstorms

youth_leader

Good reminder, thanks!  Twenty years ago the lightning hit my telephone line, travelled up the cable to my computer and sizzled it.  

Eldi_Dos

GDB2222 said:

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

Our telecom comes via undergound cables (from house to cabinet and then back to exchange) and I do not unplug modem from telecom line. If I lived in area, usually rural, that was fed by overhead cables I would in conditions like we had here on Sunday.

GDB2222

Eldi_Dos said:

GDB2222 said:

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

Our telecom comes via undergound cables (from house to cabinet and then back to exchange) and I do not unplug modem from telecom line. If I lived in area, usually rural, that was fed by overhead cables I would in conditions like we had here on Sunday.

My brother has a cottage in the country, and he disconnects from both electricity and phone if he leaves the place for a prolonged period. I live in London, where the cables are all underground, and I have never disconnected anything. 

Risteard

fenwick458 said:

never considered unplugging during a storm.
I have fitted plenty of Surge protectors(99% of them in a new consumer unit , only one a as a separate job) and I'm still yet to find one or even hear of one thats operated due to a surge.
however I've also never (knowingly) suffered a failed appliance due to a surge/storm etc
you would expect to pay £150-200 as a separate job to have a type 2 SPD installed and would need to have 2 spare ways in your consumer unit, and thats assuming it's a modern consumer unit with DIN rail mounted MCB's and normal busbar arrangement, but if upgrading the consumer unit at the same time it's about £50 as the part comes built into the consumer unit and it doesn't require any extra labour to install

Bear in mind that a Type 2 SPD won't protect against direct lightning strikes. You would also need a Type 1 with an LPS for this. Type 2 SPDs are more for the like of switching surges on the network rather than overvoltages of atmospheric origin.

fenwick458

grumbler said:

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.

that Wylex SPD is the only one I've seen which doesn't require an MCB, all the one's I've fitted, including in new CU's, all have an MCB for over current protection.
According to their website (link) it's rated for 100A therefore doesn't need the MCB, maybe other brands will follow

Risteard

fenwick458 said:

grumbler said:

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.

that Wylex SPD is the only one I've seen which doesn't require an MCB, all the one's I've fitted, including in new CU's, all have an MCB for over current protection.
According to their website (link) it's rated for 100A therefore doesn't need the MCB, maybe other brands will follow

Hager's 2 module Type 2 SPD doesn't require overcurrent protection when connected downstream of a maximum rating of 100A BS 1361/BS 88 fuse. But as you point out, many (most?) do require further overcurrent protection.

Silvertabby

When I was a child, everytime there was the hint of a thunderstorm my mum would hyperventilate for a few minutes, then run round the house drawing all the curtains and unplugging/switching off all electrics.  Then she would drag my sister and I into the understairs cupboard where, with every flash of light and every rumble of thunder, she would shriek loud enough to hurt our ears, and would grip our arms so hard we would be bruised for days.  It took me a while to realise she probably did this due to her memories of being in the thick of the blitz.

Now?  Mr S just unplugs the Sky box, in case the dish takes a hit. 

twopenny

I'm thinking it may have been because the aerials were on top of the roof so potential for lightning strikes. Now they are in the loft 
The direct strike to the nearby police station that blew our routers though would, now cause a lot of hassle with my newly taken broadband provider and further so I'll continue to detach that I think.