We just had a small lighting storm roll through about 20 minutes ago and there was one shot of lightning that was really close. Well the power flickered for a quick second and the tv blacked out and came back on but the picture was screwed up. So, since the cable is my job, I had to start trouble shooting.
It came down to that the HDMI port in the back of my DVR is fried. Now I'm going to have to hook it up with components for now to watch whatever is on the DVR. I am not going to bother getting another DVR for a little while because we are moving, I'll deal with that later.
I'm glad the TV didn't fry. I would have been even more pissed.
Your hatred is misplaced. You should hate lightning.
I hate on poor quality surge protectors. 
I find your avatar very ironic considering the post, Mojo
It takes serious electrical system mods to make your equipment safe from lightning strikes, even the best off-the-shelf surge protector is nothing to them.
GameboyRMH wrote:
It takes serious electrical system mods to make your equipment safe from lightning strikes, even the best off-the-shelf surge protector is nothing to them.
The UPS style that run off battery all the time and charge from grid power are the only reasonably safe, affordable ones I've seen and they start somewhere near $550 IIRC... so "affordable" only if what you are protecting is worth it.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
GameboyRMH wrote:
It takes serious electrical system mods to make your equipment safe from lightning strikes, even the best off-the-shelf surge protector is nothing to them.
The UPS style that run off battery all the time and charge from grid power are the only reasonably safe, affordable ones I've seen and they start somewhere near $550 IIRC... so "affordable" only if what you are protecting is worth it.
Still when lightning comes through at a jillion volts it could jump any puny circuit gaps in your UPS like it's no problem, maybe even the plastic case if it looks good. The building should really have a gas discharge arrestor on it.
GameboyRMH wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
GameboyRMH wrote:
It takes serious electrical system mods to make your equipment safe from lightning strikes, even the best off-the-shelf surge protector is nothing to them.
The UPS style that run off battery all the time and charge from grid power are the only reasonably safe, affordable ones I've seen and they start somewhere near $550 IIRC... so "affordable" only if what you are protecting is worth it.
Still when lightning comes through at a jillion volts it could jump any puny circuit gaps in your UPS like it's no problem, maybe even the plastic case if it looks good. The building should really have a gas discharge arrestor on it.
It protects from line surge extremely well - but not even a gas discharge is a guarantee with a direct hit. Afterall, lightning jumps a 5 mile air gap just to get there. If Jesus wants to slay your DVR, he will damn well kill your DVR and there is nothing you mortals can do about it.
Grizz
SuperDork
5/28/13 10:43 a.m.
Tall trees short house, I've never had lightning hit a house I lived in.
NEW THREAD:
DIY LIGHTNING RODS
My girl laughs when I run around before storms and unplug all the electronic stuff I don't want to risk. It is mildly annoying, but I hate replacing stuff due to my laziness.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
It protects from line surge extremely well - but not even a gas discharge is a guarantee with a direct hit. Afterall, lightning jumps a 5 mile air gap just to get there. If Jesus wants to slay your DVR, he will damn well kill your DVR and there is nothing you mortals can do about it.
As someone who engineers grounding/bonding systems as part of his job, I found this post enjoyable.
Brown out messed up my TV. Would like to find something that will trip my main breaker off when it senses low voltage.
You don't hate electronics you hate the electrostatic potential between clouds and the ground. As a matter of fact, you clearly love electronics, or you wouldn't be so angered that one was damaged.
No I still hate electronics. They blow out too easily surge protector or not.
I feel your pain. When my parent relocated us to central Florida when I was a wee lad they moved me into this house that is a lightning magnet.
While UPS and surge protectors helped save some stuff after the first strike. The ones thereafter have mainly damaged anything related to the phone lines. Routers, phones, NICs, etc. Which aren't fun to replace.
wbjones
PowerDork
5/28/13 6:42 p.m.
Grizz wrote:
Tall trees short house, I've never had lightning hit a house I lived in.
NEW THREAD:
DIY LIGHTNING RODS
but if it comes in on the power or on the cable, tall trees won't be much help 
