Protect your computer and TV from lightning

Especially in summer there are thunderstorms that are dangerous for computers and televisions. Learn how to protect your devices from lightning strikes here.

1. Protect the computer and television with an electrical outlet

Most often, lightning strikes your computer or TV through the wall outlet. To prevent this from happening, there is the power strip with integrated surge protection. Of course, the best protection is to disconnect the devices from the mains.

• So if a lightning strikes, only the fuse in the strip is destroyed, but your connected devices remain unaffected.
• Such power strips with surge protection are available from 10 euros. However, you should ensure that the plug connector has a sufficiently high amperage.
• If it really happens that the lightning strike reaches your computer or television through the socket, your insurance company may take over the damage (see paragraph 4). You can install safe sockets with our home tip.

2. Protect other lines from lightning

So that you really have protection against lightning strikes, you should not only protect the power line. The enormous energy of a lightning bolt can also destroy your computer or television through the network or telephone line.

• There are sockets with a looped network connection for the telephone connection. With the MGE Protection Box, for example, you also have protection for your network connection.

3. Avoid tangled cables

To protect your computer and TV from lightning strikes, you should also avoid cable clutter.

• Make absolutely sure that not too many devices are connected to a power strip. This prevents, among other things, that a chain reaction occurs when lightning strikes and that all devices are destroyed one after the other.
• For this reason, never operate the computer and television at the same socket.
• It is best to distribute the devices to all sockets in the room, if possible. This means that fewer devices are connected to each socket.

4. Check the insurance contract terms

Many think that overvoltage damage is insured through their own household insurance. However, this often only applies to damage caused by overvoltage in the power grid - and this does not include a lightning strike.

• Take a close look at the contract terms of your household insurance. In order for surge damage to be insured by a lightning strike, this must also be explicitly stated.
• Some insurance companies trick that damage caused by a lightning strike is only regulated if the lightning strike caused a fire.

Now that you have protected your household from lightning, you can take a relaxed look at the natural spectacle and take pictures of lightning.