House Just Got Struck By Lightning- What Should I look For?

[alexjb12]

Hey guys, unfortunately my house just got struck by lightning. All my DirecTV equipment seems to work normally but I just want to do tests to make sure nothing was affected.

What tests should I run and what results should I look for.


Thanks
Alex

[Ken S]

Hey guys, unfortunately my house just got struck by lightning. All my DirecTV equipment seems to work normally but I just want to do tests to make sure nothing was affected.

What tests should I run and what results should I look for.


Thanks
Alex

Your house was actually struck? Did you have a fire? Did any of your electrical equipment get damaged? I'd try everything to see if it is operating properly and the first thing I'd look for is my homeowners insurance policy and agent's phone number.

[curt8403]

Hey guys, unfortunately my house just got struck by lightning. All my DirecTV equipment seems to work normally but I just want to do tests to make sure nothing was affected.

What tests should I run and what results should I look for.


Thanks
Alex

physically, look for melted plastic or burn marks everywhere. run full system tests on the rcvrs. Call Directv and ask them to request a call back from all your rcvrs to be sure the phone line still works .

[Tom Robertson]

I'd first look for all the family (which includes pets to see if everyone is ok). :)

Presuming you've really already done that and that I can not be so jocular for a moment... (That last one is really hard...)

I would try to look at all the electrical wiring in the house I possibly could and all the outlets for any signs of blackening, charing, smoking, etc. Then I'd call an inspector/electrician etc. to do a thorough inspection.

As for the DIRECTV equipment, from one receiver,I'd check the signal strength readings on all the CONUS satellites (101, 110, 119, 99(c) and 103(c)) to see if they are suitable (above 80ish) on most of the transponders. That would verify the switch and dish infrastructure for the most part.

Then from all the receivers, try a number of the channels you regularly watch and perhaps a few others. If any receiver looks at all suspicious, re-run the satellite strength tests on that receiver. Then call DIRECTV.

Good luck, I do hope all is well,
Tom

[Ken S]

Also...use your nose...does anything smell burnt? Make sure and check where it hit for damage and potentially a smoldering fire. A direct lightning hit on a home that didn't cause damage would be unusual.

[bones boy]

A direct lightning hit on a home that didn't cause damage would be unusual.

I would concur. What usually happens is that lightning hits a power line or telephone line in the area and the increased voltage rides the lines to your (and others) home ... this can result anywhere from power surges to actually seeing smoke and/or sparks come out your electrical outlets.

Not doubting you were actually hit, but the results of a direct hit are normally a bit obvious and devastating to your electronics - good luck.

[mgtr]

Many years ago I had a very minor lightning strike. I had an electric eye on the side of the house, and a little sleuthing showed that is where it hit (it no longer worked). The lightning travelled on the wiring to the closest outlet in the house (nearest ground, I guess). There was black powder on the plastic outlet cover. I pulled out the outlet and it seemed Ok, but I replaced for safety -- wiring was fine.
Very minor issues -- I replaced the electric eye and the plastic cover and that was that. Pretty darn lucky.

[alexjb12]

I would concur. What usually happens is that lightning hits a power line or telephone line in the area and the increased voltage rides the lines to your (and others) home ... this can result anywhere from power surges to actually seeing smoke and/or sparks come out your electrical outlets.

Not doubting you were actually hit, but the results of a direct hit are normally a bit obvious and devastating to your electronics - good luck.

Hey guys, first of all I want to say THANK YOU!.... its been a very stressful day and you guys made it way better.. Bones Boy I concur with you, after inspecting my house I don't believe that it was a direct hit. During the storm I was in the house and heard a very loud bang and all my lights flickered so I can only guess on what happened. After inspecting all my electronics a couple of things blew out, my VOIP Cable Modem, all of the phone lines in my house and my Printer (those were the only things not on my surge protector):rolleyes: ..

So heres a lesson

Those Surge Protectors work VERY well!

I can't stress this enough
THANK YOU GUYS!

[alexjb12]

now after thinking it over the surge of power came probably came through the phone lines hit my modem and the All-in-One Printer.......

[curt8403]

now after thinking it over the surge of power came probably came through the phone lines hit my modem and the All-in-One Printer.......

I think you better check your rcvrs phone lines (Call Directv and ask them to send a callback to all rcvrs)

[armophob]

Don't forget to check your alarm system for modem damage if you have one.

[curt8403]

Don't forget to check your alarm system for modem damage if you have one.

each and every phone device and each and every phone jack

[alexjb12]

Don't forget to check your alarm system for modem damage if you have one.

Thank you for reminding me I'll give them a call later

[alexjb12]

I think you better check your rcvrs phone lines (Call Directv and ask them to send a callback to all rcvrs)

Luckily, all my DIRECTV receivers are connected to the internet wirelessly instead of a phone line

[Tom Robertson]

alexjb12, we are very happy to help. (That's why I like this site so much.) :)

I'm very happy to hear that things sound like they are going to be ok.

We'll be here if we can help. :)

Cheers,
Tom

[curt8403]

alexjb12, we are very happy to help. (That's why I like this site so much.) :)

I'm very happy to hear that things sound like they are going to be ok.

We'll be here if we can help. :)

Cheers,
Tom
+1

[techrep]

This may sound funny but, check your garage door openers.

[Tom Robertson]

This may sound funny but, check your garage door openers.

Goodpoint. And it does sound funny--until you get stuck outside and can't get in. :eek2:

(Or your family can't open the door to leave.)

Cheers,
Tom

[alexjb12]

Alright heres my signal strength

101
1-8 92 95 94 97 92 100 94 98
9-16 92 92 95 98 92 100 94 100
17-24 94 100 94 95 95 100 96 99
25-32 96 98 95 49 98 100 96 100

110
1-8 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 97
9-16 N/A 95 N/A 97 N/A N/A N/A N/A
17-24 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
25-32 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

119
1-8 ALL N/A
9-16 All N/a
17-24 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 96 43 95
25-32 88 95 95 96 96 96 0 97

99(C)
1-8 95 95 86 91 92 92 85 93
9-16 85 86 85 94 95 94 n/A
17-24 ALL N/A
25-32 ALL N/A

103(C)
1-8 97 92 95 86 95 90 94 88
9-16 94 86 94 91 93 92 N/A N/A
17-24 93 N/A N/A N/A N/A 96 N/A N/A
25-32 ALL N/A


Is it just me, or is there to many not available


Thanks
Alex

[curt8403]

Alright heres my signal strength

101
1-8 92 95 94 97 92 100 94 98
9-16 92 92 95 98 92 100 94 100
17-24 94 100 94 95 95 100 96 99
25-32 96 98 95 49 98 100 96 100

110
1-8 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 97
9-16 N/A 95 N/A 97 N/A N/A N/A N/A
17-24 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
25-32 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

119
1-8 ALL N/A
9-16 All N/a
17-24 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 96 43 95
25-32 88 95 95 96 96 96 0 97

99(C)
1-8 95 95 86 91 92 92 85 93
9-16 85 86 85 94 95 94 n/A
17-24 ALL N/A
25-32 ALL N/A

103(C)
1-8 97 92 95 86 95 90 94 88
9-16 94 86 94 91 93 92 N/A N/A
17-24 93 N/A N/A N/A N/A 96 N/A N/A
25-32 ALL N/A


Is it just me, or is there to many not available


Thanks
Alex

those NAs seem to be normal. You are OK

[alexjb12]

those NAs seem to be normal. You are OK

thanks curt!

[Tom Robertson]

alexjb12,
those numbers look awesome! I wish mine looked so good. :)

Cheers,
Tom

[purtman]

alexjb12, if those are your numbers, please send that storm to KC. I could use better ratings.

And, yes, that storm is the Yankees just getting ready to kick some butt and run past Tampa Bay and the Boston crybabies.

[smiddy]

alexjb12,

I'd check your router real good too. I had a similar issue in the not to distant past and while my DSL modem fried, it did appear to make my router do funny things where I had to replace it.

BTW, your signal strengths look awesome...don't change a thing!

[curt8403]

alexjb12, if those are your numbers, please send that storm to KC. I could use better ratings.

And, yes, that storm is the Yankees just getting ready to kick some butt and run past Tampa Bay and the Boston crybabies.

careful, the Curse of the Bambino is looking for a new home.

[houskamp]

I had the power lines taken down by a tree a month ago.. Ended up going thru the house room by room, checking each and every device plugged in.. lost a few powercubes couple appliances...
Even lost a few things on surge strips.. ALL my TV's were safe.. UPSs all went to battery and saved them :)

[kroche22]

If it came in through the phone lines, Where the lines enter the house are they grounded? Do they need to be? I thought mine had a ground wire going to the rod in the ground. Just a thought, good luck!

[irish316]

Hey guys, unfortunately my house just got struck by lightning. All my DirecTV equipment seems to work normally but I just want to do tests to make sure nothing was affected.

What tests should I run and what results should I look for.


Thanks
Alex

I also had a lightning strike yesterday on my house. It caused a gas leak in the basement. Luckily, my wife went and checked out the house and got the kids out. So far, I have had one HD receiver and one DVR fried, Onkyo stereo receiver, PC, and DSL modem also are ruined. Everything was on a surge protector but to no avail. My satellite dish is also doing strange things. It appears that sats 110 and 119 no longer get a signal, but 101 is fine. Plus the 99 and 103 are also showing solid signals. Any suggestions? Also, I know my insurance policy should cover it, but what kind of cost am I looking at to have Directv come out and check the dish and the wiring or to replace the dish if it is damaged?

[DarinC]

Goodpoint. And it does sound funny--until you get stuck outside and can't get in. :eek2:

(Or your family can't open the door to leave.)

LOL, I had a friend get "trapped" in his house when his opener broke (or an extended outage, or something). He didn't seem to realize you just had to pull the handle to disconnect the door from the rail. :icon_stup Reminded me of Jane Curtain driving through her garage door in "How to beat the high cost of living". :D

[msmith]

I had a nearby strike last summer.

It took out the AV receiver, one DirecTV HD receiver, and caused the air conditioning to dump all freon into the basement (necessitating a new coil - we replaced the whole furnace). The next day it was 99 degrees. My wife is a trooper to hang around for the A/C replacement.

All of the electronics were behind surge suppressors. I think the AV receiver got zapped by induction in speaker wires, and the DirecTV receiver upstairs by induction in the satellite cables.

[dennisj00]

I'd check all the network connections (on everything) and keep an eye peeled for failures in the coming months. Last summer, I had a very close strike on a tree outside and over the next 3 months created a pile of router, switches (both dead and one with just a dead port), individual network connectors (recrimping didn't help), AV receiver, and an IP x-10 box.

Everything was plugged into surge protectors (or ups) but close strikes cause any piece of wire to rise in potential and then find the weak spot or disapate the energy with no damage.

[JLucPicard]

I'm sorry. Whenever I see that thread title pop up I get a mental picture of a lightly-bearded Hugh Laurie with his head smoking. :lol:

[curt8403]

I'm sorry. Whenever I see that thread title pop up I get a mental picture of a lightly-bearded Hugh Laurie with his head smoking. :lol:


like this perchance?

http://ts4.images.live.com/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=2216385579971&id=b1dd2332fb27057ddf8407e4f7c8276e

[tuff bob]

If it came in through the phone lines, Where the lines enter the house are they grounded?

they're usually grounded at the NID, or in older wiring, there is a ground at the surge arrestor

[celticpride]

irish316 if you have the directv protection plan it shouldnt cost you a thing to replace your equipment. If you dont have the protection plan i believe they charge $79.00 to come out and check everything,but you may want to have your homeowners insurance cover the damage,unless directv decides to be nice and give tou a good deal,good luck to youglad to see nobody got hurt.

[irish316]

irish316 if you have the directv protection plan it shouldnt cost you a thing to replace your equipment. If you dont have the protection plan i believe they charge $79.00 to come out and check everything,but you may want to have your homeowners insurance cover the damage,unless directv decides to be nice and give tou a good deal,good luck to youglad to see nobody got hurt.

I called D* tonight and I will have to say not only did I talk football for about 10 minutes to the CSR but he gave me a pretty good deal. He said if I signed up for the protection plan for 12 months at $5.99/mo, then D* would not charge anything for the tech to come out. They would test everything and replace anything that was malfunctioning. Plus, he discounted the first 3 months to $.99. So, I pay basically, $57 to have the protection plan and everything is fixed. I cannot complain about that.

While I had him on the phone, I tried to get a deal on a HD DVR, but he said none were available but if I waited later in the year, something would probably be available on my account.

Lastly, I had him check on my NFL SF charges. I called in July to cancel my ST unless the SF would be credited. Now, let me say that I rarely call D* and I am not the type of person who asks for credits all the time. Anyway, a CSR in July said the SF would be free. No credits were issued, so I was a little concerned. The CSR checked on my account and noted where I called in July but said he could not credit the SF. However, he said he would credit my HD access for 12 months. So, I am actually coming out ahead a little less than $21. I must say that this was the most pleasant experience I have ever had with D* and it confirms my commitment to stay a sub.

On a side note, we chatted about the SF and he said there was a lot of discussion and controversy at D* about the SF and they have discussed giving HD access to all ST subs w/o the need of SF. Take it for what it's worth. I was just pleasantly surprised at how professional and nice the CSR was. With all the horror stories people have discussed on this site, I definitely think there are quite a few CSRs at D* who do like their jobs and are good at it.