How Lightning Destroys Your Devices

Does a lightning rod protect against electronics damage?

Lightning rods effectively protect buildings from direct lightning strikes but do not protect electronics from power surges. Lightning rods divert lightning energy to the ground, reducing fire and physical damage risk, but surges can still travel through electrical installations to our devices.

Can you use a smartphone during a storm?

Using mobile phones during a storm does not increase the risk of a lightning strike. The same applies to other electronic devices using wireless transmission.

Power surges - the biggest enemy of devices

When lightning strikes power lines during a storm, it can cause a so-called surge - a sudden voltage increase that can jump from the grid to our devices in a fraction of a second.

How lightning destroys from a distance

When lightning strikes a metal structure, it briefly turns into a giant inductive charger, generating a very strong magnetic field that can induce an electric charge in device wires even 1-2 kilometers away.

What to do during a storm?

Disconnect devices from the power grid. Don't count on surge protector strips protecting your devices.