Where I live, it rains and thunderstorms often. There's also sometimes heat lightning.
I usually unplug everything when there's lightning. But with the bearded dragon's lights and such.... what do I do about that? Is it safe to keep the lights plugged in, or should I unplug them and maybe take the beardie out a play with it for a while or hold it until the storm passes? How long can it go without lights?
Does anyone know if there is such a thing like a portable phone charger, but one for plugs that use outlets? (does that make sense?)
Also, if a lightning/thunderstorm happens to occur while I'm at school... would the lights and the bearded be safe ? or?... That's what I'm really nervous about. I wouldn't be home to unplug the lights.
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OTHER question!
Would it be okay to cover the sides of the tank at night with like a blanket while the beardie sleeps? So that light doesn't come through? Because the tank will be in my room, and I stay up my lights on for about an hour probably after the beardie would go to bed. I don't really want to disrupt sleeping patterns.
As long as the screen on the top isn't covered, would it be OK?
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Lightning :
The lights should be fine, you can use a surgebuster type power board to protect the electronics in the hoods , but a direct lightning strike (which is unlikely to happen) will kill the electrics (even if turned off but still plugged in (no Zenner diode will handle the pulse of current in direct strike).
A surge will likely also fry the electronics in thermostats and MVBs and the electronics in everything else inside the house that's plugged into a wall socket.
Covering viv at night:
Some people throw sheets over their vivs at night .... I don't see the need (but all my vivs and rearing tubs have solid lids so they hold the warmth in nicely at night and all my gang sleep fine in the living area of the house (they are very accustomed to our night time routine and like to watch tv with us (from either on us , or next to us, or from inside their tubs and vivs .... they even have favorate shows).
I agree that at least a surge protector is a good idea to protect the lights during storms. You could also hook them up to a computer battery backup which will give them some surge protection along with a little bit of run time during a brief power outage.
I haven't found that the ambient lights bother them too much, especially if it's only for an hour or so. My tank is in my living room and the lights don't seem to bother my guy. You can certainly cover the sides or build some kind of curtains though if you want to.
Yeah, a surge protector is the best thing to install to protect the home from storm. Moreover, people who live in the region where storm occurs usually, need to take more care of the home. My sister lives in Miami, which is the region where storm or hurricane occurs very often. She has gone with the installation of hurricane windows Miami to protect her home from being damaged. The hurricane impact windows hold the capacity to withstand in any heavy storm. I am really impressed by this idea of protecting home and thinking to give a try by renovating my home with the installation the impact doors and windows.