2. amps-preamps
  3. 190034-78903

Unplugging power cords from amps/ pre amps

This might be a stupid question but when there is a thunderstorm lightning storm I used to unplug my power cords from the outlet but now I can’t do that because of a lot of things in the way to reach my plugs from the outlets. I want to know if it is ok to unplug my amps / pre / cdp from the female end that goes to my equipment and then replugging them back after.  Of course the units are off when unplugging / plugging them back. Ty. 

tattooedtrackman
immatthewj
3,300 posts
 

Not sure lightning will be stopped by a 6mm gap in a breaker. 

IF your system is plugged into separate circuit(s), (as it should be) simply turn the breaker(s) off, back on after storm passes.

 

There is an extended surge protector thread going on at the misc forum right now, and I mentioned that getting back to my outlets is a b, so what I said I had been doing was tripping the breaker(s) during atmospheric electrical activity (which we are getting a lot of as of late). @jea48 informed me on that thread that a massive surge could easily jump across a tripped breaker. I have started unplugging my stuff during T’storms, even though it is a bit more of a PITA. As a matter of fact, my stuff is unplugged as I am typing this stuff. Activity last night and gray skies today. As I get older my paranoia increases.

ketchup
702 posts
 

@tattooedtrackman that's exactly how I unplug my amps, crossover, and powerstrip every time a storm rolls through (I just did it again, actually).  It's easier for me to do it at the component than at the wall.

invalid
1,309 posts
 

Not sure lightning will be stopped by a 6mm gap in a breaker.

A direct lightning strike would not be stopped by unplugging your equipment either. I have seen the aftermath of a direct lightning strike.

tattooedtrackman's avatar
tattooedtrackman OP
888 posts
 

Ty everyone. From reading all your replies I think it will be ok to disconnect from the comments ends. I also do have 4 dedicated outlets for my components and to be more on the safe side I will also turn off the 4 dedicated breakers also before disconnecting from the components. I did not even think of that to be honest. 

erik_squires
16,898 posts
 

@noromance

You wrote:

Not sure lightning will be stopped by a 6mm gap in a breaker.

Lets discuss. The breakdown voltage of air is about 30 kV / centimeter. A 6mm gap would take 18 kV.

Here’s where it gets interesting. The normal breakdown voltage for insulated 14 gauge wire is between 600V and 1,000V. Plenty for a home, and totally inadequate for lightning.  Any surge higher than that will burn through the insulation and short to ground. 

The normal surge testing is at 5kV, which is believed to be the maximum voltage a home could receive from the electric grid. The reasoning is that the natural inductance, and low insulation strength (relatively) of the wiring that goes to your home would mean anything more than that would naturally find some other path to ground.

So, for anything that comes in from the mains, 5 kV is the absolute worst case scenario. What about a direct strike? If you have 18kV at your breaker or even power switch you have a hole in your living room. :)

Here's where I'm at.  In the half dozen or so cases where I've lost equipment or been present when equipment was damaged it was not from  a direct strike like that. 

So, yes, pulling your gear is the best way, but 99.9% of your damaging surges won't be that kind of strike.

More to discover