Do You Unplug Equipment During Thunderstorms?

I formerly lived in Florida. Despite having a whole house lightning arrester and zero surge protection, I unplugged if the lightning is too close for comfort/

A direct or nearby strike can STILL fry things.

Short answer: YES.

@mytthor 

Unplug.

l agree with you. I always unplug between listening dates as it makes so much common sense. Leaving hi-fi on all the time invites trouble. If you are the sort of person who leaves the house regularly it probably doubles the risk of an embarrassing event. The ‘event’ does not just have to be a lightening strike but a catastrophic failure causing a fire.

It makes me wonder if insurance companies have some ducking and diving ‘riggle-room’ if a house burns down?
If the fire officers investigation discovers that the owner was out, the hi-fi was the seat of the fire, the owner admits…..’oh shucks, l always leave my hi-fi on because it sounds better that way’ how would the insurer feel about that?

As an observer, this scenario would just make me laugh. It would be so cringe worthy.

Yes, disconnect if you know its coming.  3 million volts is hard to stop but most damaging surges are a lot lower.  We have some sort of powerr event 2-3 times a month that are not 3 million volts.

@mylogic thats when you sue the equipment maker and end up owning your own tube amp company 😂

Absolutely, yes.

Being in lightning alley, if you will, I will even unplug the system if I am out for the day and I know that storms are on the way. Rain, no. Storms that produce lightning, yes. 

Having actually heard two of my amps literally being sizzled while being broadcast over the speakers, as they were sizzling is a sound I wish on no one. That particular storm snuck up on meor just popped up out of nowhere, and I had just gotten out of the shower, as I was listening to music.

That one strike took out two of my amps that I had just had revamped a week or two earlier. Grrrr.

Tom