Lightening took out PC

[ellisz]

Hi all,

My neighbors house got hit by lightening and it appears my PC might have been effected. We felt it hit and it kicked 4 breakers in my house. I was watching TV through my Winfast PVR and my screen froze. I powered down the power strips and after things let up a bit, I tried to reboot. The computer turns on and the fans start but I don't get the boot beep and my monitor acts like it is not getting a video signal.

My cable and phone got knocked out as well. Not sure if it was a surge through the power line of it came in through the cable line. The PC was on a surge protector but that is it.

Any ideas on where I should start troubleshooting?

Thanks

 

[CrispyFried]

Ouch.

I would try another PS 1st. Check the 12v (prolly ok as fans run) and 5v rails. Maybe just the 5v is gone.

But if the vid was just frozen I think it was getting 5v at that point too. Hard to tell really.

Lighning can go through a surge protector like its not even there

 

[ellisz]

I had always heard that about surge strips but never had a problem before

Not sure where some of that stuff is but I will look into it. I have a volt meter but I have never tested voltage on the MB.

I do have another PS so I might try that first and then start removing components to rule them out. I was not sure if the MB, CPU or something else was the typical victim in a lightening strike. I guess it is never that simple

Thank

 

[FlyingPenguin]

A surge protector is just aditional insurance. NOTHING can stop lightning if it wants to go somewhere. I've seen a pallet of audio amplifiers sitting in the middle of a warehouse NOT PHYSICALLY CONNECTED TO ANYTHING damaged by a close lighting strike due to voltage induction in the power transformer from the lightning bolt's electro-magnetic field.

ANYWAY. First of all, let me tell you (because most people don't know) that you are usually covered for lightning damage by your homeowners insurance. Of course a lot depends on your deductable. Check everything in the house from the clock radios to the hot water heaters. As a computer repair tech, I usually have to fill out a form for the insurance company certifying that I believe the damage was caused by lightning.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING: Have an electrician check the house surge protector in your electric box (not sure about your area but ALL houses here in Florida are required to have a whole house surge protector in the panel - it's code). It's usually located outside attached to the box the meter is mounted on. The reason it's mounted outside is because it can blow up and burn during a bad strike.

If the house surge protector is damanged you want to replace it. You should replace it to play safe anyway. It's not expensive - $30 - $40 at Home Depot.

As for the computer, PULL ALL YOUR CARDS except video (I've seen shorted NICs hit by lightning cause a computer not to boot) and disconnect ALL the drives. Try that and see if it POSTs, then swap PSU first, then the vid card. Memory is the next likely culprit then the CPU.

Good luck.

 

[ellisz]

Thanks for the tips!

I don't believe we have Whole house surge protectors in IN but I am in the middle of a elictrical add on so I will have my electrician check it all out then.

As for insurance, I hate to go that route for just the PC. I built it so I don't know how I would show a value without digging up receipts to prove what is in it. My deductible is $500 and I know my rates are a bit higher since I had a claim 4 years ago. Unless I have more damage, I think I could build a another one for $500. An new one would be cool but ...

I will do some testing tonight.

 

[Fern]

I built it so I don't know how I would show a value without digging up receipts to prove what is in it.

Don't know if this will help, but in last years hurricanes I had my 22" Professional Viewsonic die due to water damage.

I didn't have a receipt, but told them what kind of monitor it was (I bought used, a new pro monitor is very expensive and they knew it). So, I told them I bought it for $400 and they paid me that.

Maybe you can tell them what you paid for it and they will pay you that too.

Good luck with it.

 

[corkyg]

Flying Penguin is absolutely right. I live in what is sometimes called "the lightning capital of the US," - Tucson, Arizona.

My house has taken a direct hit, and I lost my entire security systems and a few other appliances. But - no harm to my computers - they were unplugged. (I always unplug them when going away for a few days.)

Surge protectors and UPS's won't stop lightning on a direct hit, but can help against nearby hits that cause surges.

My rule here is - when ever I hear the boomers getting close, I power down and disconnect. It's something you learn to live with.

 

[theMan]

yeah, i blew my monitor during a storm. damn that sucked. would using a circiut breaker dealy on your comp, so when the surge came it would blow the circuit? dont know too much about electronics.

 

[CrispyFried]

Originally posted by: theman
yeah, i blew my monitor during a storm. damn that sucked. would using a circiut breaker dealy on your comp, so when the surge came it would blow the circuit? dont know too much about electronics.

No they are too slow to trip. Best bet, as was mentioned above, it to unplug all electronics. Plus your inet connection .. disconnect the cable or phone line from your modem or comp/router.

Just turning off powerstrips or whatever isnt enough, unplug em from the wall.

 

[ellisz]

Thanks all for your help.

I got home and disconnected everything except the video card. Booted right up

After putting the firewire card in, then the tv card all still worked. The network card was a no go though. I swapped in a spare that I have and all is working again. Woohoo.

After talking with my neighbor and you guys, I will definately be unplugging stuff next time. The telephone guy said if you get hit once, it is a good bet that it will happen again. My neighbor took a direct hit and lost all TV's and most other electronics, I believe. Another neighbor had a fire.

Was a crazier night than I thought. Good thing too since I have a ton of money in my saltwater fish tank, I would hate to lose some of that equipment.

Thanks

 

[aGreenAgent]

Yeah, you should buy one of those expensive surge protectors that have their own insurance on them. I have one on my computer.

 

[ShadowBlade]

dont mean to steal thread....
this is probly a stupid question, but if you chain together a bunch of power strips, will it increase your surge protection by that much?

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
dont mean to steal thread....
this is probly a stupid question, but if you chain together a bunch of power strips, will it increase your surge protection by that much?

I see no reason why not, as the multiple fuses present in the protectors should stop a surge better than a single one.

 

[corkyg]

Yeah - that would go a long way in trapping a good surge - but a direct hitZ? Chances are your string of power strips could be welded into one strip. The only defense against a direct hit is a good lightning arrestor/grounding system. Then back that up with all the other gizmos - but unplugging is the safest way.