Korean Job Discussion Forums

Katchafire · Last edited by Katchafire on Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:39 pm; edited 1 time in total

Lastnight a fairly impressive thunder and lightning storm started. I left my PC on to finish the last few minutes of a rather lengthy download .. when suddenly an extremely loud crash of thunder at the same time as a flash of lightning made my power go off and back on.
After a few minutes I tried to turn my computer back on .... which did nothing other than let out 3 loud sparking bangs from the back of it - followed by a puff of smoke.
Needless to say, my computer was fried.

My question is - especially to anyone that this has happened to before .... is this kind of thing fixable? Will the 'guts' of my PC most likely have to be entirely replaced ... or 'who knows until someone looks into it'?? Have I lost everything that was on it?

Any information would be great. Smile

Thanks.

G

OneWayTraffic · Joined: 14 Mar 2005

If you're lucky it's just the power supply. Otherwise it could be any or all of the components. Take it to a shop and have the check it or swap in a new psu.

maddog · Joined: 08 Dec 2005 Location: Daegu

PSUs have some degree of built-in protection. It's not like the lightning came through the socket in into your PC. Your PC was the victim of a power surge, nothing more. It's VERY likely that only the PSU was damaged. You've got nothing to lose by replacing it as the PSU would be the fisrt thing to take a hit.

MD

ulmaeri · Joined: 26 Sep 2007

I'll third the PSU replacement fix. I've fixed a few smoking PSUs before. As long as the bolt didn't come through the window and strike the computer, you should be fine.
A side note, if you are using a surge protector, you should replace it as well. The surge protectors that I have used all say that they lose their ability to protect from bad surges after the first time they go.

Don't know if the power supplies here are designed for this, but in the states they have surge protectors that warranty against lightning damage. Haven't seen anything like it here.

laserprinter · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

i'm guessing the power supply and you're an idiot. was your download worth it? the first crack i heard was right above my building at 430am. i immediately jumped out of bed and flicked off my power bar.

ChinaBoy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

yeah, I never turn mine off either - they are supposed to have breakers inside, which is the point.

and the poster above is correct, if a power surge does make it thru your surge protector it is essentially jumping the breaker and the damage entailed necessitates a new one.

this is true for all breakers; once flipped by a power surge they lose their ability to stop surges and are essentially worthless against future surges so if yours has been dealt a strike replace it, don't take chances.

were you all in Haebonchon btw who heard the thunderclap? it woke me up sounded definitely like lightening struck nearby.

laserprinter · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

i remember hearing way back that the breaker is tripped but when the power flicks back on it kills your stuff, in technical terms

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

I too have always thought that lightning storms would not affect the electronics in a home with modern trip switches. The surge gets only as far as the fuse in your electrics box. Power goes out, you replace the fuse, all is well.

I never turn off my PC's. Never. 24/7, 365. They're very busy machines.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

komtengi · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Location: Slummin it up in Haebangchon

Katchafire · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:45 pm Post subject:

I really need to buy a surge protector (specifically for PC's?). A GOOD one. My PC has been fried a second time now (thankfully only $100 to fix each time).

Ive tried asking my local PC retail store/fixit guy ... and the nearby Emart ... but no one seems to understand what I'm talking about. I've seen some multi-box plugs - which look like they do have some sort of surge protectors on them ... but what kind of maximum voltage would I be wanting? ANY ideas at all?

Secondly ... if I buy two or three of these multi box surge boxes .. plugging them all into each other - and then my PC into the final multi box ... will it be twice/three times as protected as it would be if it were just plugged into the first?

And please don't just respond with 'unplug the PC' .. because where Im living, here in the hills, lightning/thunder strikes can just launch themselves from out of nowhere.

Cheers, and thanks in advance for ANYTHING helpful!!

G

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Katchafire · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:55 am Post subject:

Cheers Tom ... what is a UPS?

Ive seen lightning before, know about the surges it can cause ..but these electrical storms (?) here, are all new to me.
Last Thursday, there was such a loud BOOM from the lightning and thunder (at the same time) .. it lasted about 15 seconds, and had all the windows in the classroom rattling, it took out the phones in the school.
How does one protect against THAT???? It also fried my internet connection. I had to get the internet chaps back to replace the wiring.

I live in the school house, so I dont have the safety of being in an apartment building. I imagine that it's worse where I am because the house is so old .. as is the wiring.