To protect electrical equipment in the house during the rainy season

During this year's rainy season, many households in Thai Nguyen province suffered significant economic losses when a series of electrical equipment was damaged by lightning. This fact shows the need to raise awareness of lightning prevention in each family. Records in Gia Sang ward show that just one sudden lightning strike is enough to cause many households to lose tens of millions in a moment.

Mr. Vu Duy Doan's family, Huong Son 11 group, Gia Sang ward, had their rolling door motor broken due to the impact of the rain and lightning on the evening of August 5.

On the evening of August 5, a thunderstorm damaged many electrical devices of residents in the Gang Thep area.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Bac, group Huong Son 11, Gia Sang ward, said: Before the rain, I turned off 3/5 of the house's circuit breakers, leaving only the power source for a few light bulbs and a fan. At about 9 pm, when it started to rain again, a loud thunderclap sounded, the light bulb in front of the house fell and broke both the bulb and the holder. Another light bulb behind the house, about 30 meters away, also burned. Checking other equipment, I discovered that the rolling door and camera on another power line were also broken, although I had turned off the circuit breaker on this power line, but had not yet unplugged the power cord from the socket.

About 60 meters from Mr. Bac's house, Mr. Vu Duy Doan's family also had a camera eye and a rolling door motor damaged, with an estimated loss of about 4-5 million VND. About a month before, Mr. Nguyen Dang Thai's family, group Huong Son 10, also had dozens of electrical devices damaged by lightning, with an estimated loss of about 30 million VND.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Thai recounted: Among the damaged electrical equipment (including: TV, industrial sewing machine, washing machine, camera, ceiling fan, electric meter, light bulb), the ceiling fan and camera were unplugged but still burned; the other equipment, I still plugged in. What was more frightening was that 6 light bulbs and 1 camera eye in my house exploded like firecrackers. After that lightning, my family had to invest nearly ten million VND to build a lightning protection system. At the same time, the loss of tens of millions of VND was really a big loss for the family.

It is known that some households near Mr. Thai’s house also suffered damage to many of their electrical appliances during the recent lightning storm. Most of them were due to not turning off and unplugging the appliances from the power outlet.

According to some electricians and electronics repairmen in Gia Sang ward, every rainy and stormy season, the number of electrical equipment damaged by lightning strikes increases. This year, the number of electrical equipment damaged by lightning strikes has increased significantly.

The rain and thunder on the evening of August 5 caused damage to many electrical equipment in some households in Gia Sang ward.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Viet, a long-time electrician in Gia Sang ward, some electrical equipment often breaks down during the storm season, such as: electric fans, computers, televisions, cameras, rolling door motors, etc. Many households are still very subjective when it comes to lightning and rain, but still use electrical equipment.

Discussing with us on this issue, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Thai Nguyen Province Hydrometeorological Station, informed: In weather forecasts with thunderstorms and lightning, we always advise people to turn off the circuit breaker, turn off and unplug all electrical equipment from the electrical system, even if the circuit breaker is installed to avoid short circuit and fire.

In addition, some other recommendations are also given by experts that it is necessary to install a surge protection system. This is an effective measure to prevent excessive voltage from entering the electrical lines in the house. Do not use electrical equipment during thunderstorms, such as: turning on the TV, computer or charging the phone during heavy thunderstorms. It is necessary to periodically check the electrical system, such as ground wires, circuit breakers, lightning protection devices, etc.

Recent electrical equipment fires show that every citizen needs to raise awareness in preventing and combating natural disasters in general, and lightning in particular. Even when many families have unplugged the power, damage can still occur. This proves that the risk from lightning is not only on the main power line but can also spread through the surrounding environment. Therefore, each family investing in a standard lightning protection system is not only a technical solution but also a "shield" to help protect their own family's assets.

Lightning is an unavoidable natural phenomenon, but damage from lightning can be completely minimized if proactively and properly prevented.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/thoi-su-thai-nguyen/202508/de-bao-ve-thiet-bi-dien-trong-nha-mua-mua-bao-8a15903/