Why Do Lights Bulbs, And Other Electrical Items In Your Home Go Off During A Thunder Storm ?

Question

It's always puzzled me this. How does what is in the sky ( Lightning ) effect what we are getting from a power station ? I can understand if it was to hit a overhead power cable in the street, but just sheet lightning most of the time manages to always for a couple of seconds turn of all electrics, lights, tv, pc etc.

Answer 1

When lightning strikes a powerline, the pylons are designed to short the strike down to earth, but if some of the strike hits the line itself, the voltage surge will travel to the nearest substation. The transformers of the substation are oil-cooled and if they were allowed to overload, would make a massive bang, so are surge protected. It is the tripping out of these surge protection devices that temporarily cut the power to the consumer

Answer 2

The heat from lightning is 3 times hotter than the surface of the sun, and has a tremendous amount of electricity. Electrics in homes and businesses may get a bit overloaded because of the tremendoud electricity around them from lightning so the electrics, in order to cool down, take a few seconds break. This is the main reason that all electrics are grounded.

Answer 3

i always thought it hit a wire overhead in some part of the city...=/

Answer 4

simply put

a power surge