Is it safe to use a laptop after a thunder and lightening storm has ended?

Hello I have some questions to ask and I am from the UK(Google image of how the power outlet looks like) and it has been sunny for a few days but today its just rain,thunder and lightening

1) If your not using the laptop(OFF) but plugged into the wall outlet(OFF) but see lightening outside the sky and hear thunder noise could this damage the laptop?

2) Is it safe to the laptop after a thunder and lightening storm has ended like maybe 5 hours later in terms of running on battery/plugged in the wall outlet?

 

If it's storming outside (l&t) the safest is to unplug from the wall outlet.

If the storm has really ended (who knows for sure...) then 10 seconds later you should be able to plug in and use the system...


On battery power... I have used many systems like that during a storm - but not one which was directly overhead.


Good luck.

 

1) Yes it could. The chances are small and if you have a spike buster, you should be fine. Worst case, you would only damage it once because lightening never strikes the same place twice

2) After it has ended (espcially several hours later) there should be no danger.

EDIT: Tiller beat me to it. I do use the method he has described. We have a thunderstorm where I live every 10 days or so. They only last an hour usually so I simply unplug the power cord (I do have a spike buster but still).

 

Actually, lightning will strike the same place twice, though that's usually for tall skyscrapers, not someone's house.

Anyway, if you have a decent surge protector, you should be fine with using the laptop plugged into the wall during a storm, though if it's right on top of you I'd still unplug and use battery, just in case.

 

Check with your homeowner's insurance company to see if they cover power surges. Some policies cover them under certain conditions only (lightning strike).

As a general policy, I unplug my notebooks whenever they are shut off. It's pretty much always a good idea to unplug the notebook during a storm, agreed. Make sure you unplug the adapter from the notebook first, then unplug the adapter from the wall.

 

Get yourself a good surge protector. Most of them come with damage coverage of anything plugged into them, and will protect your components.

 

I do have a surge protector plugged in but i wasnt using the laptop plus it isnt switched on and the power outlet is OFF meaning no electricity was going through to the laptop. Should i still be concerned if lightning or thunder could damage the laptop?

 

If your surge protector isn't protecting, I'd unplug it during a storm. I'd turn on the urge protector and if that doesn't work for some reason, buy a new one (preferably with some warranty to cover damages in case it fails).

 

During the thunder and lightning storm i was using a computer but nothing happened *touchwood* so im not sure if my electronic equipment are safe? Another question if you could see lighting in the sky could the light damage the electronics if it was on/off

 

It's always a gamble when using plugged-in electronics during storms. I remember as a child when one of our desktops was literally fried during a storm (directly plugged to the wall), so we take surge protection somewhat seriously in my family. Since then, we haven't had electronics fried during storms, even when plugged into the wall (via a surge protector), but nothing's ever 100% reliable, so sometimes we'll unplug stuff when storms are directly overhead.

The light itself won't damage anything (unless you're staring at the Sun or something lol). But the electric surge from the lightning bolt can travel through a power line, into your house, and damage plugged-in stuff, depending on where the bolt strikes and the protections on the line.

 

After it's ended - yes, but I'd highly recommend you get at least a cheap APC SmartUPS (with integrated power filter). Cheap surge protectors are too slow for lightning strikes, and brownouts can affect power supplies, as well.

Good news is that your power supply will probably blow before it damages the laptop itself...

 

I always leave my stuff plugged in and on. Once, over nine years ago, lightning struck next to the house and the power went out for a second. My desktop required a bios flash in order to boot again.