[Skip]

Originally Posted by Laker14

VillageTinker, what is your opinion on the lightning arrestor systems I see around the neighborhood? I'm talking about the ones with the metal rods that stick up along the roof lines?

I'll let him answer but my experience is that they actually attract lightning, but you can still get a lightning strike nearby that comes into your house via the cables/wires. Remember the heavy roof wire leads the lightning into the ground at your foundation. It can still come in via the burried TV cable, etc. I know of one instance where the lightning hit the roof shingles and not the spikes and still caused a fire to the house. They are not 100% effective. But they might help. Hard to collect data on a system like that.

Skip

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by Skip

I'll let him answer but my experience is that they actually attract lightning, but you can still get a lightning strike nearby that comes into your house via the cables/wires. Remember the heavy roof wire leads the lightning into the ground at your foundation. Cab still come in via the burried TV cable, etc. I know of one instance where the lightning hit the roof shingles and not the spikes and still caused a fire to the house. They are not 100% effective. But they might help. Hard to collect data on a system like that.

Skip

I appreciate your input, thanks.

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by Caymus

Watch what you touch. Some capacitors can remain charged.

YEP. Up to 24 hours and can prove fatal

[Wyseguy]

Originally Posted by mulligan

A surge arrester is NOT protection from lightning strikes. Only surges in power.

Wouldn't a lightening strike to the lines result in the surge protector popping before the surge reached the tV? I assume the surge that possibly was the cause of the damage came through the power chord.

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by laker14

during yesterday's storm i was watching tv. We had a really close lightning strike. The flash and crack were instantaneous. Not sure where it hit, but i don't think it was my house.
The tv went blank. All other appliances, including wifi continued to function. The tv, however, did not respond to resuscitavive efforts.
I popped the back off, and nothing looks fried.

Anyone out there have any experience with trying to have a modern tv repaired? Or is this just throw away item now?

forget your lightning story.
Contact store and say my new tv doesn't come on.
Put ball in their court.

[juddfl]

We had 5 tv's when lighting hit between our house and the neighbor. (4 out of 5 went dead) I had comcast at the time. Repairman was able to get 2 back because they were plugged into a surge protector. That was good news because I only wanted 3 tv's anyway. My brother told me to check everything out and don't settle with insurance company. He said that you could find things months later. He was right. A week later the air condition guy came for regular maintenance and it had blown out the surge protector on the furnace. The light had gone from green to red. I had that replaced. It blew out one section of my lawn sprinklers and the box was also blown. That's when he found out that a water pipe was blown and I had to get state inspection approval and they dug up a part of my back yard. I can't remember everything else. Insurance company was good and they ended up sending me 3 different checks every time I found something else. I think that was about it. Check everything out.

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by Laker14

During yesterday's storm I was watching TV. We had a really close lightning strike. The flash and crack were instantaneous. Not sure where it hit, but I don't think it was my house.
The TV went blank. All other appliances, including WiFi continued to function. The TV, however, did not respond to resuscitavive efforts.
I popped the back off, and nothing looks fried.

Anyone out there have any experience with trying to have a modern TV repaired? Or is this just throw away item now?

If there was no physical damage to the home it was probably a near by indirect strike. Did you have any other electronic damage to garage door openers, irrigation system, etc. Did your neighbors have any damage to appliances or electronics? Did you have a surge protector on your meter by SECO or Duke? Would you be willing to share what village you live in?The POA will be sponsoring a presentation on lightning on Tuesday, May 17th, 7 PM, at Laurel Manor. You do not need to be a member to attend.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

You can also purchase from Seco and pays for itself in a few years.

However from reading this thread is it worth buying?

SECO's whole house protector does NOT cover televisions or computers.

[coralway]

On some models, if you remove the back cover, you void the warranty. You don't even have to touch anything, just opening the case voids the warranty.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Skip

I'll let him answer but my experience is that they actually attract lightning, but you can still get a lightning strike nearby that comes into your house via the cables/wires. Remember the heavy roof wire leads the lightning into the ground at your foundation. It can still come in via the burried TV cable, etc. I know of one instance where the lightning hit the roof shingles and not the spikes and still caused a fire to the house. They are not 100% effective. But they might help. Hard to collect data on a system like that.

Skip

Lightning rods along with a full lightning protection system are designed to intercept a lightning strike that is already occuring to a structure and route it safely to ground, preventing a fire and reducing any damage to wiring, appliances and the building itself.

Lightning rods do not attract nor are they designed to attract lightning. Since the descending stepped leader of a lightning bolt doesn't 'decide what to strike' until it is very close to the ground, lightning will only strike a lightning rod system if it already happens to be in (or very close to) the lightning's path.

Check out what SpaceX does to protect their rockets.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Robbie0723

Lightning rods along with a full lightning protection system are designed to intercept a lightning strike that is already occuring to a structure and route it safely to ground, preventing a fire and reducing any damage to wiring, appliances and the building itself.

I stand corrected, "attract" was not the word I should have used:
"Lightning rods do not attract lightning; they provide a conductive path for an existing electrical charge that is already in the vicinity. The reason buildings place lightning rods around them is not to draw lightning. But instead, the lightning rod will be more likely to take the strike than the building itself in the event it strikes. This safely transfers that electricity to ground. Otherwise, the lightning strike could create a building fire, damage electrical equipment, or injure people."

Skip

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I would suggest you read the SECO warranty. The "exclusion" section is very interesting. I read it at least 4 times, and could not identify anything in my house that would be covered by the warranty. It does not cover lightning damage. Also, it does not cover electronics (TVs, computers, etc.), or anything that has a microprocessor or a microchip. I think every appliance in my house has some type of microchip, including my microwave, stove, oven, dishwasher, washer and dryer. It doesn't cover anything with a motor. It does not even cover electrical outlets or switches or security systems. I think they hired a team of lawyers to write a warranty where they can deny coverage for everything in your house. LOL.

Then why get it.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The OP already said that Samsung will repair it (Post No. 15). With no physical damage, I don't think have any choice.

Taking care of don’t mean it’s free?? We see when repair done?

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Then why get it.

Because it will reduce the risk of damage from a strike on the power line side.

It will also dissipate/limit/reduce some of a strike on the house side.

The warrantee is mostly marketing hype.

[Marlene36]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The OP's TV is only 4 months old. It should be covered under warranty.

I had a Samsung TV with a screen defect, and they sent out a guy in a van who replaced the entire screen.

I had a screen issue too with my Samsung TV, and they sent out a guy to replace the screen. Great Service.