[olug] One Point Twenty-One Jigawatts

[Joe Catanzaro]

I didn't grow up in a place that has lots of lightning like the Mid-west, 
so I have several questions regarding best practices for lightning and 
computers. Just like many of you, I have about 6 computers running 24/7 and 
would like to prevent the loss of data and fried hardware as much as 
possible. And bear with me here, I'm not very smart when it comes to 
lightning strikes.

When a storm rolls in, do you turn off the computer? Rely on a cheap surge 
protector? Rely on an expensive surge protector? Unplug everything?

How does the lightning get to my computer? Does it strike the power pole in 
the back ally and then travel through the circuits in my house? Or does it 
hit my house directly?

Are lightning strikes common and is it worth getting that OPPD "whole house 
surge protection?"

I grew up in Hawaii and the last thing we were concerned with was a bolt of 
lightning.



Joe Catanzaro
joecatanzaro at cox.net