When an electrical appliance is hit by lightning, it can experience significant damage or stop working altogether due to several factors associated with the powerful electrical discharge.
Overvoltage: Lightning strikes can generate extremely high voltages and currents, far beyond what the electrical appliance is designed to handle. This sudden surge of electricity can overwhelm the circuits and components within the appliance, causing them to fail or even get permanently damaged.
Electrical Surges: Even if the lightning strike does not directly hit the appliance, the electrical surge induced by the strike can travel through power lines and cause voltage spikes in the electrical system. These surges can propagate through the wiring in a home or building and reach connected appliances, leading to their failure.
Electrical Pathways: Lightning seeks the path of least resistance to the ground. If a strike hits an electrical utility pole or transmission line, the electrical energy can jump to nearby power lines, enter buildings, and travel through the electrical wiring. This energy may find its way into appliances and cause damage.
Circuit Board Damage: Modern electrical appliances often have sensitive electronic components, including microprocessors and circuit boards. Lightning can cause arcing and high temperatures, which can melt or vaporize circuit traces on the board, leading to irreparable damage.
Electromagnetic Interference: The electromagnetic fields generated by a nearby lightning strike can induce currents and voltages in nearby conductive materials, including the wiring inside an appliance. This interference can disrupt the normal functioning of the appliance's electronics.
Heat and Fire: Lightning generates intense heat, and if the strike is close enough, it can cause fires or melt components in an appliance, rendering it inoperable.
Magnetic Fields: The magnetic fields created by lightning can also cause magnetic interference with electronic components, potentially leading to failures.
To protect electrical appliances from lightning strikes and power surges, it's essential to use surge protectors and lightning arresters. Surge protectors can absorb and divert excess electrical energy, while lightning arresters provide a path for lightning to safely reach the ground, bypassing the electrical system of a building. Taking these precautions can significantly reduce the risk of damage to appliances during lightning storms.