Overcoming Lightning: Price Issue or Something Else?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of protecting electrical devices from lightning strikes, particularly in residential settings compared to commercial buildings. Participants explore the effectiveness of grounding, surge protection, and the economic implications of implementing such technologies in homes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration over the inability to protect electrical devices from lightning, questioning why modern technology has not solved this issue.
  • Another participant notes that while buildings are grounded, typical homes lack the capacity to handle the immense voltage of lightning, which can reach hundreds of millions of volts.
  • A follow-up question arises regarding whether tall buildings are designed to withstand such high voltages and if it is prohibitively expensive to equip homes with similar protections.
  • It is mentioned that commercial buildings often have steel girder construction that enhances grounding, unlike homes which may have less conductive materials.
  • One participant shares their experience with surge protectors, suggesting that they can mitigate damage during storms, although they acknowledge limitations in extreme cases.
  • Another participant humorously points out that surge protectors may not be effective if lightning causes significant structural damage, such as blowing off a roof.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that grounding is important for lightning protection, but there is no consensus on the feasibility or cost-effectiveness of implementing similar protections in residential homes compared to commercial buildings. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approaches to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the specific requirements for grounding and surge protection in homes versus commercial buildings, as well as the economic implications of these technologies.

Alpha2005
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Hi, I was just very curious and sort of frustrated when this topic comes to my mind. How the heck we can't overcome lightning in such a modern age? You see when there's lightning, I cant:
1)On my com
2)Online
3)On the TV
4)Pick up the phone
5)everything related to electrical and electronics stuff

I was just wondering why? I always thought the guy (hmm what his name already? The scientist who uses the key and kite to draw lightning) has tell us how to take lightning to be earthed.

I don't think the solution hasnt been found. Large and tall building such as the tallest building in the world at my place now...they don't off their computer when lightning strike right? Well, that's obvious. If every office do so, the economy will be dead. So what's the problem?
Is it because:
Price issue? Is it too expensive to get the equipment use by those tall building?

If not please tell me why? why?
Please help.
 
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Buildings are grounded. Houses are not to a point that they can handle lightning. Lightning is incredibly powerful... I mean we're talking about something with hundreds of millions of volts. Normal household wire is designed for up to 220V... not 100,000,000 volts.
 
Pengwuino said:
Buildings are grounded. Houses are not to a point that they can handle lightning. Lightning is incredibly powerful... I mean we're talking about something with hundreds of millions of volts. Normal household wire is designed for up to 220V... not 100,000,000 volts.

Okie...so does it mean tall building is designed for millions of volts? hmm...
So does it still mean it's expensive to have the equipment built for houses?
 
Most commercial buildings have steel girder construction, with the bottom girders deeply planted in the ground. Homes generally have concrete or stone foundations and wooden structural components which don't conduct.
 
However, I have a good surge protector on my desktop computer (and other important appliances) so I don't generally pull the plug unless the storm is really, really bad. With good surge protection, you shouldn't need to pull the plug - some high-end ones even come with insurance against damage, iirc.
 
A surge-protector is good for... well, surges, but it won't do any good if a lightning bolt blows your roof off and your computer gets rained on. :-p
 

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