A couple years ago we had a lightning hit

Took out:
Router/WiFi
Net work ports on two wired PCs
Receiver
HDMI on one tv
One squeezebox (but not the other one in the house)
One WD video player


If you have a hit be sure to check everything. The router and pc’s were obvious. But I did not check receiver. Did not put an insurance claim. Should have put in a claim.

I didn’t exactly get hit by lightning, but I’ve been buzzed by it. I was up in a cherry picker working on a surveillance camera on a golf course. Electrical storm was rolling in and I was trying to finish up and beat the storm. There was a strike nearby and I could feel the cherry picker, the pole, and my body all electrify from the ground surge as it rushed towards the site of the strike. Mild buzzing in my ears, nerves tingling, and heard some crackling from little arcs between me and the pole. I got down after that...immediately.

Interestingly, this is not the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, but probably makes the top 3. Lightning is scary stuff. Takes a whole lot of power to turn a thousand feet of good insulator (air) into a conductor.

- Bret

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
Oz...when I read your post, it was almost an EXACT description of the lightning hit my house took earlier in the year. It took out...
Router
Backup Power Supply
Fried the Ethernet port on my PC and TV (thought that was strange...the ports only)
Garage door opener
Bose sound system hooked to my TV (that was the big one)

Hope you got everything repaired! My repairs cost me the $1,200 "stimulus" check, as it happened the weekend after that money hit my bank account. FYI...I went ahead and replaced the entire garage opener rather than try to troubleshoot the board and then other stuff go out later. I got a Chamberlain 1/2hp belt drive. Absolutely LOVE IT!!

The opener is all that is left that I know of. I will completely replace it. I was surprised to find so few were actually stocked locally and none like what I needed. Looks like I’ll have to order one.

The Chamberlain I bought is Model B750, just in case that helps with your decision. Good luck!!