Will T.V. "attract" lightning

[frankiee]

When I was young I was led to believe that during a lightning storm that we turned off the T.V. because when left on it could attract lightening.
I still turn it off during a storm but usually don't unplug it.
What is the story on T.V. during a storm? Can it blow up?
Will shuting it off help?
I take it for granted that the cable is grounded somewhere.
Thanks

 

[itsmoked]

Hey all,
I got this email and thought it sorta fit in this discussion.

***** From Marine Surveying & Consulting ******
On the Panama Canal in 1994 I witnessed a truly large lightning strike.

It blew one of the mooring bollards out of the concrete quoin and threw it several hundred feet into the jungle.

Suddenly almost all of the nearby [within 500 feet or so] vessels radar scanners began revolving , and later there were many reports of fried electronics of all kinds, including some still new in their boxes.

The local telephone system also died.

One of the electric mules that assist the ships died in its tracks, some 400 feet away.

Apparently the Radio Frequency electromagnetic pulse was the favored culprit.

Several months, and dozens of government, insurance and university expert opinions and reports later, the best answer was that lightning can and will do whatever it wants to.

The one interesting thing was that the vessels with lightning grounding systems suffered LESS damage than the others.

Duck & cover,
Kristoffer A. Diel
***************** END ***************************


Seems bollards need lightning arrestors too!

 

[davidbeach]

the best answer was that lightning can and will do whatever it wants to

That probably sums up most of what needs to be said about dealing with lightning.

 

[jraef]

I sometimes think that lightning would be the best thing to hit my TV in years...

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[itsmoked]

You speak of great and eternal truth.

 

[zeitghost]

I have a memory of the robot in the good old tv series "Lost in Space" remonstrating with Will Robinson about the dangers of transmitting during a storm...

"Will Robinson there is danger" etc.

 

[Barry1961]

Getting back to the original question: Will T.V. “attract” lightning?

It depends on which show you are watching.

Barry1961