Brisbane Lightning Storm

[Tandum (Robin)]

RACQ have the claim now, about $10K worth by the looks, and an assessor will ring this week to arrange a visit. They told me to replace essential items now so I'll go get some telephones and a garage door lifter I think. The neighbours lost computers in the strike so it's not just us.

It's still the power of three's pete. Hot Water, Dishwasher and now this

I got the media center sort of going and found a working input to one TV so we can watch Fringe later today

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by Baddad

What you are looking for is if any of the small electrolytic capacitors have expanded. The end swells from heating of the electrolyte, causing expansion. Its very slight but will later become worse and eventually leads to failure of the board.

I had it happen to me. After a lightning strike. The computer motherboard had most of the capacitors slightly swollen. It still ran for a year, then failed.

Good advice about delayed failure.

For electrolytic capacitors, that capacitor swelling often happens with age as well, so not necessarily due to a surge/lightning strike. Swelling doesn't seem to affect performance - at least I've not yet seen it - but they can then burst or leak at which point the capacitor fails. There may be little evidence of leakage (you might have to look hard for it) but a burst capacitor can go with a pop and some smoke - quite spectacular if you see it ... well spectacular as far as solid-state electronics goes! One of my old motherboards (Compaq) even has two burst electrolytic capacitors but still works alright. I just have to put up with a slight burning smell whenever I power it up.

[RobF (Rob)]

Sorry to hear Robin.
Certainly a wake up call for the rest of us. I pulled the computer right out last night, but must get in the habit of going further around the house!

[Tandum (Robin)]

Sounds like a plan Rob, but if your not home your stuffed. Even the battery wall clocks froze after the strike here

All this gear was connected through various brands of surge protector type power boards. All those boards got blown as well

But, I found I can get these Upsonic Power Surge Boards for about $30 from my wholesaler which is a pretty good price. If anyone in Brisbane wants one while I'm ordering, PM me. I'll get them next week after the loss assesment people have been here. You'll have to pick up from Carindale if you want one.

Oh, and even this one working household computer isn't right. It can't get a connection through a secure RDP gateway to go but a virtual machine running within it can. So even though they appear to be working, there are still problems on the inside.

[LewisM]

On the SUnny Coast it was not too bad. Beautiful display of lightning.

Sunday was the corker though - 4 in a row! The third missed us JUST (was about 1 km away). Managed to get some photos of wave clouds, lenticulars, troughs and towering CB's in the setting sunlight. Was a beautiful, humbling sight.

Sorry for your issues. Know them al too well, having been hit by a VERY freak mini-tornado about 15 years ago. Our back shed ended up about 2 KM away (it was dynabolted down!), and lost a LOT of hobby items, and my VERY oldrefractor given to me by my grandfather (my first scope). A dog landed in the neighbours pool - VERY much alive and well - and his tag showed he had whistled through the air for a good 500 metres or so!