Can your computer get fried through the cable lines?

[superlittlegirl]

It's thundering here, and although I'm unplugged from the wall (running on battery) I'm a little concerned that a surge could come through the cable. Does anyone know if this is so? I mean, if lightning strikes, I'll be dead too, so at least I won't be around to lament the loss of my laptop, but I'd rather not take chances.


Tell me, O computer gurus!

 

[Willing and Unsure]

I'm no expert, but I think it can travel through the cable line. Lighting can travel through the phone line, so I dont see how it couldnt go through cable too

 

[Cibo]

It's thundering here, and although I'm unplugged from the wall (running on battery) I'm a little concerned that a surge could come through the cable. Does anyone know if this is so? I mean, if lightning strikes, I'll be dead too, so at least I won't be around to lament the loss of my laptop, but I'd rather not take chances.


Tell me, O computer gurus!

Lightning can travel through each and every single wire in your house, depending on what it hit first. So the answer is yes, it could go through the cable wire, blow out and burn the wire as well as what it's connected to. So be careful hun.

 

[superlittlegirl]

OK, Thanks for the quickness of the advice! I'm outta here for a while!

 

[Cibo]

OK, Thanks for the quickness of the advice! I'm outta here for a while!

Have a good day and be safe.

 

[Guest]

I asked Time-Warner when I got HS On-line recently, and they said not like through phone lines, so unplugging cable was not necessary. I even had them check with a supervisor to be sure. Still makes me nervous though...

 

[fgarvb1]

Fuck that shit. If lightning can strike you through a glass window it go through just about anything.

I turn off my computer, unplug my telephone line and my surge suppressor. AND i stay the hell away from windows!

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

I asked Time-Warner when I got HS On-line recently, and they said not like through phone lines, so unplugging cable was not necessary. I even had them check with a supervisor to be sure. Still makes me nervous though...

IT may or may not be as susceptible - but it all depends. I know phone lines have all kinds of protection built into them with regards to lightning strikes, but it really kind of depends on where the energy enters the line and what kind of energy we are talking about. Some strikes would get shunted to earth, others could easily overcome the protection.

Same goes for any other electrically conductive line which both cable and phone lines are, including cable - the only exceptions might be optical lines, and most people do not have those coming into their homes.

You can get and should surge protectors for your any expensive electrical equipment in your home, including your TV and stereo, not just your computer, but sometimes that isn't enough. During a lightning storm, depending on your area and the severity, it is sometimes best to unplug everything and wait for a while. Also, be aware, that surges can travel from one device to another; if you have your computer unplugged, but still have the monitor plugged in, then a surge can go into your monitor and over to your computer because your monitor shares a ground with the computer via the video feed. Same for the printer, scanner, etc.

I usually don't have problems with lightning where I am at, but we do have power outages, etc. and I run a small UPS that I bought for $20. It keeps my computer up long enough to survive most power outages which only last a few seconds, and if they last more than a few seconds, then it will power my computer long enough to gracefully shut it down.

 

[sabbathstorm]

I've dealt with situation where people have had lighting strikes affect a shutdown computer. Even though it was unplugged, it came in through the phone line and fried the DSL modem and kept travelling, doing some damage to the motherboard. So needless to say, I shut everything down and unplug when I hear the slightest rumble of an impending storm.

 

[WaxNWane]

I've dealt with situation where people have had lighting strikes affect a shutdown computer. Even though it was unplugged, it came in through the phone line and fried the DSL modem and kept travelling, doing some damage to the motherboard. So needless to say, I shut everything down and unplug when I hear the slightest rumble of an impending storm.

What she said.

I've seen it go through the phone line, melt the modem and a kill the motherboard.

But, you do get the fresh, autumn breeze aroma of burning plastic.

 

[Hot4Heels]

Years ago I had a direct lightning strike on a phone line. The current arced to a clock radio a foot away from the phone and proceeded to fry everything in the house. It even welded light bulbs into the sockets. After having been so up close and personal I take no chances what so ever and disconnect everything when lightning is close by.

 

[Guest]

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Are the cable lines above ground? Or buried??

In some cities, all lines are buried, so it doesnt make much of a difference.

It does make a difference; an overvoltage can travel along buried cable lines as easily as along lines on telephone poles. The difference is the probability of strikes is much less with buried lines - but buried lines do come above ground from time to time. If I get a lightning strike on or near my house, and it come in via power, phone or cable lines, or my satellite dish, or tv antenna, it can go out via power, phone or cable lines down a buried line and into someone else's house. It can even come in via a water line.

 

[Guest]

 

[redrock911]

I agree with the others, I have seen many computers that have been fried by lightning through phone lines. I live in Florida, lightning capital of the country. Many people don’t understand the just unplugging the computer from an outlet will not protect it. Phone lines are just as susceptible to power strikes. I have seen it fry modems, DSL modems, motherboards, and even fry everything inside a computer, only thing that didn’t get fried was the sound card i believe. I mean it took out the floppy and CD-ROM even. Not fun to replace a brand new computer you bought just because you didn’t get a good surge protector or left it plugged into the phone jack without a surge protector. Also most warranties don’t cover lightning damage. One more thing before i go. When you buy a surge protector, don’t go to Kmart and buy the blue light special that sells for $9.95. Go get a good one, pay $30-$40 for one. Most of the more expensive ones are better built and these days most come with a guarantee that if any device hooked up to it takes damage they will cover up to $25,000. So its worth it in the long run, better to pay a little more money now, than a grand on a new computer later.

Also never seen a computer hit from lightning through cable, but it does sound very possible.

 

[sabbathstorm]

Lightning strikes are definitely not covered by warranty. I've actually had to use the "act of God" explanation on why I couldn't do a service for a system.

 

[Nicky9]

you can get fryed

you can get fryed by..Nicky9

 

[tenyari]

I'm glad I live in California.

I'll take a dangerous Earthquake every hundred years any day over storms, hurricanes, tornados, and so on every year...

If you want coverage from a surge, get one of those expensive surge protectors. Many of the newer ones have a surge protector link for phone lines as well. With some effort I'm sure you could find one for the cable line.

Most of them guarantee to replace your equipment if the unit fails to protect it.

 

[Weird Harold]

It's thundering here, and although I'm unplugged from the wall (running on battery) I'm a little concerned that a surge could come through the cable. Does anyone know if this is so?

The correct answer is yes it can but it probably won't.

The one factor that makes a lightening strike on your cable system different from a strike on power lines or phone lines is that the cable is shielded.

The part of the cable that carries infomation is surrounded by a wire mesh that is (if properly installed) connected to "ground." In theory, (and in practice 99.9% of the time) a lightening strike on a cable system will be grounded by the shielding without producing a surge in the center conductor.

If your house and cable system are properly grounded, the chance of lightening damage coming from that source is neglible. It's NOT impossible, though -- just not very likely.

 

[nipplebyter]

It's thundering here, and although I'm unplugged from the wall (running on battery) I'm a little concerned that a surge could come through the cable. Does anyone know if this is so? I mean, if lightning strikes, I'll be dead too, so at least I won't be around to lament the loss of my laptop, but I'd rather not take chances.


Tell me, O computer gurus!

APC makes a good surge protector
that has a coaxis cable connector.

Professional SurgeArrest 8 Outlet w/Tel&Coax 120V
Part Number : PRO8TV
http://www.apc.com/resource/include...u=PRO8TV&language=en&LOCAL.APCCountryCode=ww#

 

[superlittlegirl]

Thank you, everybody for your generosity of concern and advice! For now, I'm just leaving everything unplugged unless I am actively using it. It's thunderstorm season here, and I'd rather just not get caught out when one sneaks up. Thanks, nipplebyter, for the name of the device and the links. I'm gonna go check it out!

--Freya

 

[dreamer]

I agree with Harold. Cable modems are pretty damn safe. The big thing are the more traditional phone modems. I can't tell you how many people I see with expensive surge strips and blown systems due to having their phone line plugged directly into their computer.

Phone lines...BAD.

 

[Weird Harold]

Cable modems are pretty damn safe.

A caveat -- properly installed and grounded cable systems are pretty safe. That's NOT something I take for granted.

However, if your cable system hasn't fried your television during a thunderstorm it probably won't fry your computer either. If it does fry your computer, your TV and cable box are gonna be toast too.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Can your computer get fried through the cable lines?

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Re: Re: Can your computer get fried through the cable lines?

The correct answer is yes it can but it probably won't.

The one factor that makes a lightening strike on your cable system different from a strike on power lines or phone lines is that the cable is shielded.

The part of the cable that carries infomation is surrounded by a wire mesh that is (if properly installed) connected to "ground." In theory, (and in practice 99.9% of the time) a lightening strike on a cable system will be grounded by the shielding without producing a surge in the center conductor.

If your house and cable system are properly grounded, the chance of lightening damage coming from that source is neglible. It's NOT impossible, though -- just not very likely.

I got a hit. Fried my cable modem, one of my USB ports and a hub upstairs. My cable might not be grounded properly.