What are the chances...

dougal85

Some of you may remember a thread a few weeks ago about fixing my computer?

Well anyway, I established that the mobo and the CPU had bit the dust. So i decided to bite the bullet and do a bit of an upgrade since i was buying so much new stuff.

I've been running the new PC for about a week now, it took me a while to get set up because I've been busy with exams etc. Anyway, I was on it today and suddenly there was a lightening storm outside, seemed a bit random they rarely happen in Scotland.

Lightening hit my flat (well an areal or something) and its damaged my TV, killed all the rj45 ports on the wireless router and all the rj45 ports on my PC.

I'm not 100% sure this is the explanation but its the only thing i can think of. Strangely enough its happened to me before in parents house.

dougal85

oh and what are the chances of the damage being restricted to the network ports only? I could live with buying a pci network card...

Piranha

Talk about bad luck. And there is not a thing to do about lightning either. I have 2 UPSes (on different computers) that handles power failures and a couple of other problems with the power, but lightning would go right through it.

Elizabeth

I don't know what the repercussions are either, but I've made a mental note to not be in the same room with you if the weather's looking particularly menacing outside. 🙂

NogDog

Sounds like the jolt came in through the cable or phone line (whichever you connect to) rather than the power line.

Though not a 100% guaranteed protection, you might want to get a surge protector that includes phone and/or cable connectors. I use a DSL connection, so I have a surge protector with a phone line connection into which I run the external phone line, then a line out to the phone/DSL splitter. So far, so good (knock on wood).

dougal85

it seems to have hit the phone and the tv arial. I spoke to some people that live above me, there brand new tv and dvd player blew up! They got it yesterday and are going to return it as if thats how it arrived aparently.

Bunkermaster

Happened to me a few years ago. Fried various home appliances and I ended up changing my router, DVD player, network card, ashtray (wasn't related but it felt like it was time to) and a few other less noticeable stuff (wife's stuff mostly). Now everything is behind a UPS/surge master, all RJ45 and RJ11 wires go through the UPS sockets and despite rather spectacular storms I had 0 casualties.

Piranha

The problem is that a surge master won't do when it is direct lightning. It takes smaller power spikes, but it is simply to much with lightning. In addition most surge master's won't cover if the lightning comes through the ground.

But of course, it is better to be as protected as possible. Say that it covers 95% of the power spikes, then it is of course well worth the money.

dougal85

Apparently my insurance covers lightening! I guess its because it doesn't happen here that often here (they obviously don't know me).

However my PC has been fine since it happened, only the network ports not working. So I'm wondering if I should buy a network card and not bother wasting time sending them the computer to confirm its damaged. I find it quite amazing that everything else appears to be fine... The first time it happened it took the computer out completely.

Piranha

Wow, I didn't think there was any insurance against lightning. Since it covers lightning I would try to get as much evidence as possible that the computer is damaged, there could probably be damages that doesn't show up right away. I know that many argue that it can be that way with static electricity, I just guess that it may be the same with power spikes. From wikipedia

In semiconductor junctions, excessive electrical current may destroy or severely weaken that device.

A new computer (if the insurance pays) would be the best thing for you.

Piranha

That is more than I know. I looked at wikipedia to try and get an answer, but since there are so many ways to offer surge protection I can only guess that it depends on what way is used. Coming to think about it, it is possible that some surge protectors can handle lightning as well, but not the cheap ones for home use.

dalecosp

bradgrafelman wrote:
Speaking of surge protectors.... aren't they only good for a limited number of spikes/etc. before they become useless (as far as protecting the deivce plugged in)?

Anecdotal evidence from my experience seems to say, "Yes". A good "double tap" could very well take out "protected" equipment --- we've seen a few computer with what was believed to be a "good" "surge suppressor" die after close lightning strikes.

Cordless phones, external modems and the like are also great targets; in a close lightning strike, extra voltage may be present on both the power grid and the Telco/ISP network, and many of these devices have the power adapter input and the phone line input close together so the current may "jump" between them and do some damage.

Pirahna, it's also possible that, some time down the road, your mobo may again bite the dust and there's really no way to be certain that a lightning strike this week might not have contributed. If the insurance company (or, even, the makers of any power protection equipment you own, but I have little experience with claims against them) will do so, have them replace the motherboard with the exact model (this way you won't have to reinstall Windows - if that is indeed what you're using). If you don't look forward to dealing with them, then it's possible that a PCI network card will work; particularly if you're not in a lightning storm again soon.

The suggestion to get power protection that includes a place for network cable was an excellent one.

HTH,

NogDog

Well, if you don't mind paying almost as much as "starter level" PC's cost these days, PS Audio has power conditioner/protection units with replaceable surge-protection modules should they be blown out by a strike.

http://www.psaudio.com/products/quintet_power_center.asp

(I've been thinking of getting one for my stereo system.)