Re: Lightning strike

> In actual fact it tends to jump the other way . . .

You are confusing the construction of a plasma wire with the acutal
(and destructive) event. Once that plasma wire is constructed from
cloud to earthborne charges, then electric current flows through
everything in that circuit. If the circuit includes electronic
equipment, then something inside that electronics may be damaged.
Electrons can flow either way. The damage to electronics can be
either at on incoming side OR outgoing side. But the point is that
current flows thought electronics seeking earth ground.

Damage from direct strikes is routinely avoided. But not by some
plug-in device device that will stop or absorb what 3 miles of sky
could not. Ineffective plug-in protectors would have you believe it
stops transients. Protectors don't stop transients. They shunt.
Shunt to what? Earth ground - if the connection to earth ground is
short (ie 'less than 3 meters').

Effective protection earths lightning before lightning can even enter
the building. Earthing system being the magic and essential component.
Appliances already contains any protection that works at the appliance
(meaning plug-in protectors don't provide any significant improvement).
Protection that can be overwhelmed IF lightning is not earthed at a
single earth ground; before it can enter the building.

We don't unplug to protect equipment. Humans just are not reliable
enough. Wall receptacles would wear out from so much unplugging.
Effective (earthed) protection system costs so much less than plug-in
protectors AND is always available (unlike humans). Described often
are examples of damage because no effective protection system exists.
The protector is part of that system. But protector is only as
effective as the most critical compnent - earth ground - including that
'less than 3 meter' connection. Direct lightning strikes shunted to
earth by a 'whole house' protector need not cause household electronic
damage as is routinely demonstrated every year in most every town.
Unplugging appliances is just not reliable protection.

.

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