Electrical Lightning Surges – What To Do?

Power surges are where the electrical energy of an electrical system increases in its voltage levels. This happens within the electricity network and the increase in the current will cause electrical appliances to often be damaged. Power surges and spikes can lead to serious problems, including electrical fires, melted wires and appliances not working. Power surges will often occur in larger appliances as they require more power to function. Large appliances and electrical devices include:

• Air conditioners
• Fridges
• Televisions
• Computers
• Microwaves
• Printers

Electrical lighting surges are when lighting strikes directly on or near a house and cause appliances to experience surges and spikes. When lighting directly hits a home this is a rare occurrence but the lightning damage will be great. It will damage the electrical equipment of the home but will also cause damages to nonelectrical equipment. 

When the lighting strikes nearby a house then it can enter through pipes and wires. This can be plumbing that extends to the home and other wires as well, such as the communication lines, the private power pole and other utility cables. The damages will be less severe than a direct lighting strike. But it can still cause people to be shocked if they are touching the system at the exact time and can also easily cause power surges to occur. 

Electrical Systems and Cables

Electrical systems are the most common way that lighting will travel into the home. The lightning will travel from the power line then into the path that has the lowest resistance then into the home’s panel. If there are no surge protector devices installed then the lightning will often travel to the other wiring systems. The surge protector device if installed will stop the lightning and divert it to the earthing systems. 

Communication Cables

At times the lightning strike may enter the communication cables, which includes data and phone lines, internet cables and the television. This means that these appliances and systems will receive major damages and often not work. When these systems are connected to a surge protector then the lightning will be diverted to their grounding systems.

Large Appliances

Larger appliances are the more likely systems to experience surges in general and can also experience damages from lightning. If the device uses mechanical functions then it will often withstand the force of lightning. If the appliance uses electrical components then it will often be more sensitive to surges.

There are two main ways to protect electrical appliances and systems from electrical lightning surges:

Surge Protectors

These are the main devices that will protect appliances from general and lightning surges. The main type is one that is installed in the main electrical switchboard where multiple are installed to protect different circuits. This means that if one circuit experiences a surge and the power to that system is temporarily unavailable the others can still work.  

A powerpoint that also has an inbuilt surge protector is another option. This means that there is further protection for those appliances that are more likely to experience surges, such as the washing machine, fridge and air conditioner. Portable surge protectors are also there for when people work with power tools for example and make sure that the device is safe from surges. 

Preparation Tasks

Before a storm occurs it is advised to turn off and even unplug devices to make sure that they are not damaged. Disconnecting the TV ariel, unplugging the wifi and turning off the air conditioner are some ways to make sure the lighting does not damage these systems. When a surge protector is present and working well then it should be safe to use these appliances. But to be extra safe or when there is a major storm unplugging and disconnecting appliances from power is recommended.

If you want to know information about how to plan and prepare for a blackout, then our blog is here with helpful information.