Lightning

Lightning interactive: Click to get interesting facts from our lightning interactive.

Protecting the toys

A typical bolt of lightning contains enough energy to power the air conditioning and lights for a single game of the Orlando Magic.

That fact comes from Rudy Masi of Florida's Progress Energy. Masi spends a great deal of time pondering the dangers of lightning as manager of a program that evaluates lightning protection equipment.

Electrical surges and spikes are a fact of life in Florida, where lightning strikes, dense vegetation and rapid population growth interfere with electrical service.

"Florida is lightning capital of the United States," Mali said. Florida experiences lightning strikes at least 100 days per year. In comparison, California has four or five thunderstorm days per year.

"Interstate 4 between Orlando and St. Petersburg is called lightning alley. There is more lightning activity on lightning alley than any other area in the U.S."

If a single strike of lightning can power the T.D. Waterhouse Center in Orlando, home of the Orlando Magic, imagine what a bolt of lightning can do to all those electronic toys in your home -- televisions, stereos, computers, printers and sensitive electronic devices.

A surge is a split-second increase in electrical energy that can travel along electrical, telephone and television cable lines. Surges are frequently caused by lightning. Electric motors in air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, dryers and power tools also can create internal surges. If unprotected, household products can be damaged or destroyed by surges.

Masi suggests using surge protectors in layers. Plug one strip surge protector into an electrical outlet. Plug a second surge protector into the first surge protector. In extreme conditions, the first surge protector may fail before the surge makes it to the second protector.

Both Progress Energy and Florida Power & Light recommend outside surge protection.

A meter-based surge protector, sometimes called a surge arrestor, provides protection against these surges, especially when used with the plug-in surge protection inside your business or home. Meter-based surge protectors may be installed on your electric meter or panel and may be purchased with protection for telephone and cable television lines, depending on your electric utility.

Progress Energy currently offers meter-based surge protection. The meter-based surge protector is owned and maintained by Progress Energy. There is a monthly maintenance fee and a one time installation fee. See their meter-based surge protection site for more information.

Experts caution that there is no fail-safe lightning or surge protection device.

Surge suppressors are not lightning protection devices; they cannot protect your home or your home's internal electrical wiring from a direct strike. However, surge suppressors can protect your equipment from voltage surges caused by unexpected occurrences such as a utility pole downed by a storm.

Surges also can be generated from inside the home. For instance, appliances such as furnaces, air conditioners and vacuum cleaners can cause power surges in your home's electrical system when turned on or off. And in some cases, remote lightning strikes can cause surges. However, UL listed transient voltage surge suppressors (TVSS) can reduce the risk of such damage.

The unpredictable nature of surges makes it difficult to suppress them; you never know when, how long or how powerful they will be. In some cases, a surge may have a higher energy level than the device can handle. When this happens, the surge suppressor may be damaged and lose its ability to provide protection against future surges.

Some surge suppressors look very similar to multiple-outlet power strips but obviously have additional features to suppress surges. Other surge suppressors resemble common plug-in adapters. Not all power strips and adapters offer surge suppression, so make sure the product and product packaging clearly state "UL Listed Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor."

UL evaluates surge suppressors for fire, electric shock and personal injury hazards, and also measures and categorizes the devices for how much voltage they can "clamp," thus preventing excess voltage from passing through to electronic equipment. UL refers to this as a "suppressed voltage rating," with ranges from 330V (volts) to 4,000V. Believe it or not, the lower the rating, the better the protection.

While it may appear that a suppressed voltage rating of 4,000 is best, most home appliances and delicate devices like computers are better served by devices with ratings of 330V.

Whatever surge suppression protection you're looking for, make sure the surge suppressor has been tested and listed to the stringent requirements of UL 1449, the standard for Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors.

Masi recommends reading the directions, requirements and warranties carefully.

Lightning protection tips

Lightning claims the lives of 100 people each year and injures another 300 across the nation. Lightning is electricity in the air, and it can jump from cloud to cloud or from a cloud to the ground. A lightning bolt is fast, traveling 300 miles per second. It can have up to 50 million volts of electricity -- enough to provide air conditioning and lights for an Orlando Magic basketball game.

Experts recommend observing the 30-30 rule when lightning approaches. When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If it takes 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is less than six miles away and that puts you within striking distance. Get to a safe place indoors immediately. Even after it seems that a thunderstorm has passed, wait 30 minutes from the last roar of thunder you hear before going outdoors.

When you see lightning or a thunderstorm is near:

• Get inside a building or an enclosed vehicle. Keep away from windows and open doors. If you are outdoors, go to low ground and crouch down. If you are in a group, stay several yards apart from one another.

• If there is no shelter, crouch in a low area with low brush or bushes. Lightning often strikes the tallest object. Never crouch beneath tall trees.

• Avoid standing near water, tall objects (including trees or poles) and metal objects. Electrical current can easily travel through them and then to you.

• Stay out of the water. Never go swimming or boating during a storm. Electricity flows easily through water and also through you if you are in the water.

• Swimming, wading, snorkeling and scuba diving are not safe.

• If you are in a boat, get below deck or on the beach.

• Do not stand in puddles even if wearing rubber boots.

• During severe storms, do not use electrical appliances or the telephone. Lightning can strike outside and follow the wires into your home. Also, protect equipment with surge suppressors and unplug your computer and other sensitive electrical equipment to avoid damage caused by lightning surges.

• Avoid the shower, sink and bathtub. Lightning surges also can occur inside your home by traveling through your plumbing.

• Keep away from fallen power lines and treat them all as if they were energized and dangerous. If you are in an automobile that is hit by fallen wires, do not leave the vehicle. If you must leave because of a life-threatening situation, use extreme caution. Jump out and off with both feet at the same time so you are completely clear of the vehicle before you touch the ground. Never touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.

• Sign up for a first aid/CPR class. Check with your local hospital community education department or the American Red Cross for availability. Your knowledge could save a life.

• For boaters, have a weather radio on board, and don't be on the water when a storm comes up.

Sources: aroundcentralflorida.com research, Florida Power & Light, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, Progress Energy.