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.
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.
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You wrote:
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. |
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That is according to Wirecutter which is not correct. Wirecutter may use 5kV... The actual recognized testing voltage is 6kV , for 8/20 µs. That’s fast. Fast enough to cause a 120V incandescent light bulb to explode and totally vaporize. Nothing left but the metal screw in base. Video, Eaton- Surge Protection Video, Leviton Whole House Surge Protection.
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https://www.nemasurge.org/faqs/ . https://www.se.com/us/en/faqs/FA370836/
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I don't unplug anything when there's a thunderstorm. Does anyone unplug all the electronics in their house -- the well pump, HVAC, fridge, microwave, washer/dryer, etc...? A direct hit, well If you're really unlucky, then you're really unlucky and there ain't a damn thing you can do about it. Just get a whole house surge protector and go on about your normal life. |
+1 @onhwy61 I suppose it matters more if you have a substandard power grid and/or live in an area with crazy storms, but I’ve lived in the New York City area and Chicago my entire audiophile life (about 45 years, 40 of which my components were all plugged directly into the wall) and never unplugged my equipment due to storms and have never had an issue. Maybe I’ve just been lucky or have robust equipment, but all my stuff since five years ago runs through an Audience power conditioner and that’s enough to keep me from yanking power cords every time I hear thunder — just not gonna do that. If I was really that concerned, and as onhwy61 mentioned, I’d get a whole-house surge protector and continue to live dangerously that way. Maybe I’m just whistling past the graveyard, but I’m not letting every potential storm stress me out — too many other things to worry about and stress over. But that’s me. |
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