Hey Mari My computer isn't grounded,but the electric system of the house is grounded. If there is a terrible thunderstorm,a surge protector,and unclipping the telephone wire from the wall behind the computer should be sufficient. My satellite TV receiver box is grounded,because the satellite Dish could be struck by lightening. So anything with a outside antenna needs to be grounded.
I'm not a electrician,or an expert by any means. These are some things that I have learned over the years.
The electric system of this house is basically protected by the ground rods that I have driven into the ground. If there isn't a ground rod protecting your electric system,I'd get it grounded. It takes a standard 8 foot ground rod to protect the electric system. Lightening wants to go into the ground,so the ground rod protecting the electric system is a good idea. A ground wire from the rod in the ground can be attached to a metal screw in the back of the computer cabinet case. It's not needed if the electric system in the house is already properly grounded,but you can.
The electric outlet in the houses standard plugs can be checked to see if they are grounded with a ten dollar electric outlet polarity socket checking device from Lowes. I believe that the electric power supply in the computer is grounded by the electric power outlet if it is grounded through the electric systems ground.
It's complicated because people will tell you different things. I've had one of my antennas struck by lightening,but the lightening didn't come down into the radio room,and the antenna was heavily grounded,and the lightening went right into the ground. It could have because you never ever know exactly what lightening will do.
What I get concerned about is the tall transmitter,and reciever antennas on top of this house could get struck by lightening,and the lightening can come down in the room where I have my radio transmitters,and receivers. One of those antennas are over 20 feet tall on top of about 20 feet of mast,attached to the chimney on a second floor,and there are wires called guide wires to keep the antenna in place during high winds.
I have two scanner antennas on top of the roof,and one is attached to the back of the house with about 30 feet of mast. I have two other dipole antennas that are horizontal.
I'm not an expert,or an electrician. I just know the basics. I hope that this helps. I hope that I didn't make it to complicated. If anyone out there is a electrician,please feel free to add anything that could be helpful. BF
