Do You Sew...
 

During Lightning storms? Ok, I know it sounds foolish but at what point do you say I should stop? Our coffeemaker has been blown out 3 times now, it will sometimes trip the kitchen breaker. I use a power strip that says it will help but just wondering if anyone has had any major problems during storms.

I don't and I keep my machine unplugged unless I'm using it. It probably depends on how attached you are to your sewing machine. If it's a cheapie from a big box store and if it breaks you are just going to get a new one, then go ahead. If it's a more expensive machine, I wouldn't. You should check with your insurance agent to see how much, if anything, you would get for your machine if it was destroyed by a surge. The strips that you get most places aren't much good. The ones we used at work cost hundreds of dollars and still were not 100% guaranteed.

Don't sew during a lightening storm and my machines are plugged into a surge protector at all times. If I am home and it is a bad storm... close to us ....I unplug...otherwise I don't.

I unplug my "good" machines and the computer when I can during a lightning storm. I also try to stay away from water.

I have most of my electronics and small appliances on sstrip surge protectors. When it gets really nasty, I just unplug all of them. I wouldn't care if I only paid $10.00 for a cheapy machine, I don't want to take the time and money to go get another one. I have both machines on one strip. So just one unplug will do it and I lay the cord where I can see it for a quick check glance. I started doing this when I worked in a salon. I could unplug everything (curling irons, blowdryers) on my protector and not worrying about setting the salon on fire. So simple and who wants to take a chance on having to pay more?

A power strip is NOT the same thing as a surge protector, and some surge protectors are better than others. I had my computer on a surge protector when we lost power for about 20 minutes. When it came back on, my computer tower started smoking. Fortunately, I was right there and yanked the plug, but my son still had to replace the power supply.

I do not sew during an electrical storm and make sure my machine and iron are unplugged.

I hand sew during storms. :)

During the last big snow storm, we lost electricity. Had the fireplace up and running and got out my "converted to a hand-crank Singer 99", started sewing, and we had a great day!!!!

I rather read during a bad storm then sew. I don't unplug anything though.

It has never crossed my mind to unplug any item during a storm. I love watching the lightening flashes and wait for the thunder crack. This has made me think about unplugging.

My machine was too expensive to even have it plugged in during an electrical storm even though I use a power strip. In fact, I keep it unplugged when not in use. You have a breaker thrown regularly? You are pushing your luck.

I usually just switch over to the treadle machine .

I unplug "all" electronics during electrical storms, even though I do have a whole house surge protector. When you lose electric, you should quickly unplug items as it's the surge when power tries to come back on that causes the damage. Keeping everything unplugged when not in use also saves on electricity use.

Glad this question was asked. We've always unplugged the computer, but never thought about my sewing machine!!
Good grief where has my mind gone??

No, I don't. Too afraid that I could get zapped through my foot pedal . I've had two friends whose children were electrocuted.. One was an 11 year old son on a playground during a storm. The metal merry-go-Round he was on got hit, and the current traveled through his body. We unplug all electronics and stay off the landline too.

The only sewing I do during a thunderstorm is with my treadle or handcrank! I unplug my tv and all sewing machines. Had a direct lightning strike on the pole closest to our house and it actually melted the inside of my business phone. I don't talk on corded phones during a thunderstorm, either! Even a surge protector will not help if you get a direct lightning strike close by. The way it was explained to me, surge protectors only protect against the occasional surge of electricity that sometimes comes through the power lines and nothing will help if there is a direct lightning strike. The person who explained that seemed very knowledgable about electricity, maybe someone else has a different explanation...

My computerized machine stays unplugged unless I am using it. I don't dare plug it in during a storm.....had two experiences with lightning that taught me that!!!

Depends on the intensity and proximity of the storm. If not bad/close, I might sew. I don't generally unplug anything. We have a battery-back up/surge protector on the computer and I do have a surge protector/strip on the sewing machine. Knock wood - haven't had any appliances blown out during any storms.

Please do unplug your machines during an intense thunder storm...especially those that are computerized. I lost a beautiful Bernina that I bought 2nd hand. The board just fried, and it would cost more than what I paid in the first place. :(

Storms can be the death of many electrical toys.....I usually have a side thing going when I have to stay away from my machine. Like more cutting of squares, or laying out another quilt, or rearranging my sewing fabrics. I don't take a chance on my machine attracting death.

I don't sew during storms, but that's because they scare me to death and you'll find me hiding under a blanket. But when it does storm I unplug all small electronics and appliances unless I really need them. I've had storms completely fry a computer and all the phones in my house. Gotta be careful

Get replacement cost coverage on your home owners insurance policy. Otherwise you only get what a . portion of what it originally sold for . Example all that fabric or anything else you own will be pro rated to a fraction of what you paid for it new. It does cost a bit more but is well worth it. Diane C.

Because we lived in Fla. for 20 years, I learned not to sew, run water, watch TV, play the piano, sit near the windows, etc. That means it's a good day or time to read. After losing so many appliances and a hot water heater and seeing houses around us get hit or damaged, we decided to play it safe and unplug everything.

[QUOTE=lovelyl;7352267]The only sewing I do during a thunderstorm is with my treadle or handcrank! [QUOTE]

This is what I would do, too. But have never had to do that yet. Usually, if we lose power, it is only for a second or two.

But have you noticed how many fewer of such storms we have had over the last three or four years? Climate change? ? ?

When it looks like its going to be a doozie of a storm I unplug all my equipment as I can't afford to replace them, even with home insurance. I love my old Viking and I'm sure if it got fried, they would just replace it instead of fixing it and I don't want her replaced.

No I don't and I unplug my machine when it's not in use. I used to sell serge protectors.....they help but do not fully protect your electronics. The higher the juele number the higher to protection but nothing really protects from lightening.

Nope, and I unplug it. Love my Juki, don't want it to expire.

A lightening storm blew out the motherboard on a computerized embroidery machine of mine, very expensive! Since then, I never leave my machines plugged in unless I am using them, and I don't sew during storms. It was an expensive lesson to me. I had to buy another machine.

My surge protectors are a known name for safety. I wouldn't trust any non known name to protect you DSM. I had a telephone burned out from when the electricity was turned back on after a power failure.

I just paid a visit to my sewing machine dealers shop wanted to see what's new and what I might be missing, along with what kind of deals he has coming up (black Friday). Found some GREAT machines with large spaces for quilting (all DM's), with prices to match. The ones that I was falling in love with ALL STARTED at $7,000.00 and UP. So is my machine plugged into a surge protector when in use - YES. Would I have my machine plugged in at all during a storm - NO. I have always been very careful with my machines, but after seeing the prices of the new machines I will be even MORE CAREFUL. Surge protectors are good, but still NO guarantee that they will keep your machine from being killed in a storm.

I unplug all my computerized machines during lightning storms and any time I am gone from home. I have a treadle machine to use whenever I hear thunder and until the storm passes. The best of both worlds.

BTW, I lost a lot of electronics several years ago when my surge protectors did not protect the devices from the power surge when power came back on after an outage. And did you know that the electric companies are protected by law from any liability for those losses? Yup. That was an expensive lesson for me.

I would never use anything electric during a storm. I lost one TV that was not on but still plugged in and two neighbors have had direct hits on their homes and lost every electric thing in their homes that was plugged in. Everything in my house is on power strips even the heating and air condition unit.

After seeing someone hit by lightening in a Walmart parking lot years ago, I unplug all electronics during even small electrical storms.

I unplug my sewing machine at the machine when I am not using it. I don't sew with an electric machine during storms, just my treadle. I also use a battery operated Ott light, rather than one of my electric ones.

I also don't bathe or shower during electrical storms, either. My house is old enough to still have metal pipes, and I have an enamel coated bathtub, and I was told that the electricity could follow the pipes, and if I was in the tub, I'd get shocked. Has anyone else been told this?

I keep my sewing machines and my embroidery machine unplugged when not in use, and if a lightning storm occurs and I am sewing or embroidering, I stop immediately and unplug everything. I also use a very good surge protector for every machine. I spent a lot of time researching and comparing machines before I purchased, and I don't want to have to replace them any time soon, there's always another day to sew, and my machines are safe.

I bought a surge protector with a battery backup. My machine has a computer....electrical storms are not the only issue..."brown outs and power surges" are more likely to blow out your circuit board...

I don't sew and unplug everything in my sewing room. Sometimes I get to my computers. Shows you where my priorities are!!

Lightning and Thunder? In Silicon Valley?

Let's say it is not an issue.

tim in san jose