• Question: How does lightning affect TVs?

    Asked by johnson95 to Dean, Jess, Luisa on 25 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Luisa Ostertag

      Luisa Ostertag answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      I don’t think it affects TVs, which are not plugged into a socket.
      But if they are plugged in and the lightning goes down close to the house/ flat or into the house/ flat in which they are plugged in the lightning can damage the cable or even the whole TV. It goes through the electric system (cables) and might burn some connections or fuses in/ on the TV.
      Maybe that’s a little basic, I am sure Dean will explain in more detail!

    • Photo: Dean Whittaker

      Dean Whittaker answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      Depends on the TV. Old cathod ray tubes (the big bulky things) use magnetic fields to direct electrons at the screen and light up some chemicals. Lightning changes magnetic fields so could make the screen go a bit wobbly.

      LCDs are probably fine, unless you get a power surge.

    • Photo: Jessica Housden

      Jessica Housden answered on 25 Jun 2010:

      Rain affects TV signals – especially satellite ones. Lightening is caused a static build up in the atmosphere which will affect propgation of electromagnetic waves (including radio waves.

      Of course, if the lightening actually hits the aerial, then that is a different matter, but I’m sure you wont be worry about your TV, unless you have a lighening rod as well.

      I’m not sure about digital TV though.

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