Do You Shut it Off?

I use to, but then I realized that even if you turn an electric appliance off, there is still electricity running to the plug in. So I might as well be using them!

No I don't. I'll only shut down my computer if the net connection is disturbed by the storm and it stops working. As for the T.V. is concerned, I never switch it off either unless again the connection encounters a problem due to the storm and is out of service. Once one of my neighbour's T.V. stopped working with a loud bang. It was a stormy night and she left her T.V. on. The mechanics said it was due to the storm and her T.V. was of older model and it is prone to hazards on such weathers. So I guess new T.V.s are safe from storms. Not sure. There's also a neighbour who switches off every electronic gadget, including the refrigerator on such weathers. Don't know how he is benefited from that. Good day!

I don't, and I won't unless that storm is really bad, but my mom will make me. I have an aunt whose TV got fried because lightning hit her wires while she was watching TV. It's a good thing that's the only thing plugged during that time or else everything could have been toast. Last night, a storm was brewing, and I was typing like crazy trying to make it to payout. And then everything went pitch black . I guess our power provider deemed it necessary to cut off power in anticipation of the storm. So, I had to choice but to go to sleep. There's always next month, anyway, if I don't make it today.

Hi, With the racket outside, there's no use going on to watch or stay on the net in times like that. I'd rather go outside and watch the fireworks and the winds slapping the branches and scattering the leaves. Makes one for great viewing when nature is at its fury. Besides, spiking current from lightnings do pose a hazard to the appliances especially when the circuit has no built in surge protectors. Added to that is the sudden power blackout when the power line was cut off by a flying branch or or a fallen tree somewhere or a transformer got hit by lightning. Unless, of course, one has a UPS that can sustain the power for the next half hour or so. At the first sign of a storm, its shut down time for me and I should hurry, like now...

You don't have to turn off your tv or other electronics items...but if there is storm with lightning you should not use your cellphone or go near in the window...better if you close your windows for your safety.

The reason people say to turn off your computer and your tv is because electronics such as these could not take a surge. When a power box blows, due to lightning striking it, or striking a line, it shoots a blast of energy- a power surge- through the line. This surge then travels into your home. If your tv and/or computer is on, drawing power from this line, the surge will cause unrepairable damage to that electronic. If your tv is off, or your computer is, it will be okay as it isn't running to draw in an electrical current to it. Having said all of that, no I do not turn off my electronics. This is because they are not plugged directly into the wall outlet in my home, but instead are plugged into a surge protector. A surge protector is made to absorb the shock of a power surge, and will trip its breaker to quickly shut off whatever is plugged into it, and save your electronics from damage. And yes, if brother still watched the tv during a storm, and something happens to it, by all means, make him buy you a new one! Lol

I always turn my computer off when I hear thunder and know it's lightening. I've had a computer go bonkers thanks to not turning it off in a thunderstorm before. I learned my lesson.

I never turn my tv or internet off when it storms. Like the other night when I heard a loud pop and I think it was a nearby transformer. The tv fluttered and if it had gotten real bad or happened again I would have turned everything off. But it just fluttered and after afew minutes I had forgotten all about it.

Why should I?

If its a real bad storm than I will, but normally I dont. Most electronics have features, not like they use too. I guess it still could, but I remember as a kid we could have this or that on as when it storms it could start a fire.

I never shut anything off. I don't think it's dangerous as long as the windows are shut. We had a storm here a couple of hours ago, lightning and hail and a lot of rain. When I was little I remember at my grandmother's house her and my mother and my aunt were all sitting at the kitchen table and the window was open. It was raining and lightning out. Lightning came in the window and hit the coffee pot that was on the table. One of those old electric percolator types. There was no fire it just damaged the coffee pot but they all started screaming. And I saw a show on TV quite a few years ago where lightning came through a landline phone and zapped a guy. So I looked for it and found it and other incidents of lightning & electronics. Thought you might find it interesting. www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp

Hello, In our home in the Philippines we turn off the tv when there is a storm especially if it is accompanied with lightning because we use antenna for it. We are just being cautious, we're not really sure if the wire that is connected to the antenna and the tv will also send electric waves to the tv and destroy it or else cause fire when it is struck by lightning. As for the Internet we still use it as long as the connection is fine.

I used to do that but now a days I keep on even if there's thunderstorm unless there is a power outage or the internet connection is acting up.

The reason people say to turn off the tv and computer during a storm is because these items couldn't take an electrical surge. If lightning strikes a power line, or even if a power box blows I believe, it sends a burst of electrical current down the line, into whatever homes that line supplies. These power surges can blow the circuits in your tv, computer, and other electronics. But this only happens if your electronic is powered on, otherwise it is not pulling electricity into it. Having said all of that, I do not turn off my computer or tv during a storm, because neither are plugged directly into the wall. Both are run through a surge protector. These are designed for just this reason- if a surge happens, it hits the surge protector which shuts off power to whatever is plugged into it, keeping your electronics safe.

I have a UPS on my PC. When I see trouble I shut it down. And my TV of course. You never know what could happen.