Is it bad to leave your computer on during a thunderstorm?

Generally when I hear the crack of thunder, my PC goes off immediately. Today I'm working though, and wondered - how bad is it to leave it on? If the power goes out, will it kill it?

I use a power strip - that protects it, right?

Solution 1:

Most power strips don't provide surge protection, and then those that do provide a very basic level of protection. UPS battery backup units usually provide far better protection, but they themselves can also be damaged.

The best approach is to shut off your computers during a storm, and disconnect all the power cords (computer, monitor, speakers, printers, and other connected peripherals, etc.).

The risk is serious, and taking a short break from the computer to enjoy nature's power can actually be a really nice change of pace once in a while.

(As per comments below, I've added a picture of a good power bar to my answer here...)

Solution 2:

You're probably not going to find a surge protector that can stop a direct lightning strike. A lightning strike is anywhere from 1,000 to 100,000 Amperes with rise times measured in microseconds. Too high and fast for most/all surge protectors, and that's why many people suggest unplugging.

Since lightning strikes are rare (especially direct strikes) a standard UPS with decent surge protection is going to protect you against lesser (more common) surges, and is definitely worth having.

In the end I think it's choice and risk mitigation. If you have home insurance that would probably affect your choice (insurance will replace the hardware anyway), and you can mitigate your data loss risks by having backups, etc.

Check out this article, it's got lots of good 'lightning vs. computer' information.