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LewisM
11-08-2016, 10:48 PM
Just had a storm pass through the Sunshine Coast. Little rain, some wind, but lightning was the issue.

I was setting the alarm on my mobile phone when dazzle and frazzle...kids screaming....shock going through my body, hair standing on end...

One so close as to pass a charge between the phone in my hand and my hand (yet phone is fine)- quite a zap actually. Kids felt a tingle in the bath. Worst of all was the electrical mayhem...

TV is fried. Will pull it apart tomorrow and hopefully just change the fuse as wife said it just popped (flat screen). Too old for warranty, but insurance MAY cover it yet (should have fusion on the policy...which I currently can't locate). 1 year old wireless modem/Router power supply was fried, so I changed it for another. Works, but now it won't connect to the WWW so likely internally cooked somewhere. Pulled out the OLD DLink WIFI (hence how I am writing this :) ).

My laptop was on at the time...no workum - another job for Bob tomorrow with his jeweller's screwdriver. Worst of the lot was my Atik 314L that I am selling was plugged in as I was checking it over before selling... now I can't tell if it is cooked too or not, but I don't like the looks of it. :( :( :( :( :( Fingers crossed insurance :(

Main thing is NO ONE was injured beyond a good scare, but the technology on the other hand....(and ALL of it is connected to surge boards that did not even damned well pop!!! I tried resetting the TV and my laptop powerboards thinking/hoping that would be all it was but narp - red light still on ....Chinese carp!)

Oh, at least I got the Census done on the phone in the meantime :rofl:

jjjnettie
11-08-2016, 11:42 PM
You were so lucky. Relatively speaking.
They were cracker storms for winter.

Kunama
12-08-2016, 12:23 PM
Ain't karma a beach !! That's the universe getting back at you for selling the Tak Fluorite......

multiweb
12-08-2016, 12:29 PM
Aren't you next on the naughty list Matt with all the TAK gear that ended up your way? Looks like a growing lightning rod to me. :lol:

Kunama
12-08-2016, 12:36 PM
I have actually culled the heard somewhat, now down to 4 scopes only.
I hope the lightning bolts stay away this afternoon, I am loaning my TOA130 and my 18" to jjjnettie's favourite science communicator astrophysicist for some southern sky observing tonight...

We'll see how the young Englishman climbs a ladder in the dark...

multiweb
12-08-2016, 12:38 PM
Make sure he doesn't slip off the ladder or Nettie will put a contract on you. :P

jjjnettie
12-08-2016, 12:44 PM
Take care of Bwian for me. :)

LewisM
12-08-2016, 01:09 PM
Update:

Laptop - $90 power jack mini-board

Atik - shiny red fishing lure at this point

Modem/Router - paperweight, replaced under warranty already

TV - $0.30 glass fuse.

Insurance excess is $300 on non-listed items, and the TV was $400, so hardly worth paying the excess, especially since it took me 5 minutes to disassemble, diagnose problem, then a 10 minute trip to Jaycar.

My Atik is thankfully specific listed, and for $3000, so shiny new CCD soon (might go back to SX Sony chip cam)

LewisM
12-08-2016, 01:10 PM
Ah grasshopper, but it has been replaced by another Takahashi Fluorite Siren... :)

Just a lot shorter and lighter.

Just got to figure out how to remove the stench of Brian Nordstrom's lutefisk and kiwi breath off it... :)

Clancy Lane
12-08-2016, 02:37 PM
Bad luck about the camera Lewis! :P

Glad all are ok......loved meeting Miss Victoria yesterday.

Luckily, the storm went around us at Blackbutt so I managed to do some work on the FS.

Here's a pic:

casstony
12-08-2016, 04:14 PM
Matt, how'd you manage to meet up with Brian?
I see he's going to be on Q&A again next week.
I even managed to get the kids to watch and enjoy a documentary with his latest show on TV (Forces of Nature) - very engaging photography and animations.

Kunama
12-08-2016, 09:11 PM
You can relax Jeanette, both Professor Cox and Professor McClure-Griffiths are safe and well. Neither had any concerns about climbing the ladder to the eyepiece of "Guinevere"

No Astrophysicists Were Harmed During the Filming .........
It was a great pleasure to meet Brian and Naomi and to be able to chat with them.

FlashDrive
12-08-2016, 09:24 PM
It great to have friends .... hey Brian :rofl:

FlashDrive
12-08-2016, 09:46 PM
Pic's please