Lightning strike

[JDNSW]

Today at about lunchtime, I had a lightning strike very close. This has apparently fried both my power inverters, so I have no power, both my battery chargers, and one charge controller, plus two telephones, most of the house telephone wiring, my UHF radio, and possibly other things. It tripped the earth fault circuitbreaker, possibly saving other gear.

Computers and satellite internet are still working, as are both my desktop and laptop and the TV.

Currently surviving on my standby generator.

[weeds]

Geez.....hope insurance gets it sorted sooner rather than later.

[Bytemrk]

Ouch.. that's nasty.

I heard the storms over your way were pretty ugly. As weeds said... I hope it gets sorted quickly...

[JDNSW]

They'll cover it, but the only electrician I have found who will come here says he knows nothing about inverters. The insurer doesn't have any electricians on their books. He's coming out in the morning to have a look, hopefully he can confirm that it was lightning.

[superquag]

. . . You mean one like this ?

Yesterday, standing in my carport and taking a (phone) video of the Nice Grey Flashing Clouds, then...!
- Gave us both a fright... note the bird...

120473120474120475120476

[VladTepes]

Bugger

[bee utey]

Ow, that's a worry. The last time I had a strike that close to our house was so long ago it only took out a dial up modem and a phone. It does make you jump though.

[V8Ian]

Glad you're ok John, everything else is replaceable.

[Phil B]

Ditto
All the best John

[Pickles2]

Today at about lunchtime, I had a lightning strike very close. This has apparently fried both my power inverters, so I have no power, both my battery chargers, and one charge controller, plus two telephones, most of the house telephone wiring, my UHF radio, and possibly other things. It tripped the earth fault circuitbreaker, possibly saving other gear.

Computers and satellite internet are still working, as are both my desktop and laptop and the TV.

Currently surviving on my standby generator.
Not good, glad you're ok & still have some power.
No other damage, large hail etc?
I'm no weather expert, but I reckon that instances of "radical" storms, some short but violent, are increasing?
Pickles.

[JDNSW]

What is up with our insurance industry?

They told me when I lodged the claim that they would pay it.

They agreed to the major quote involved after I chased them up on the 5/4, three weeks after the claim was lodged.

A fortnight later (19/4) we agreed verbally to the exact amount and they said the release form would be sent by their assessor.

Another week later (27/4) received the release for 10% less than agreed

Yesterday received the corrected release and signed scanned and sent it back - but when I rang the assessor to confirm this procedure was OK, was told yes, but I'd be lucky if they sent the form to the insurer by the end of the week.

So today I rang the Insurer again. After 10 minutes on hold, I got the wrong department - motor vehicles. They offered to transfer me to the right department, but after five minutes came back with the news that everyone was in a meeting and no idea when they would be finished.. They have a call back option, but I know from experience that these never happen. Same with emails - they don't reply. I called their complaints number, spent 35 minutes on hold, then gave up. A little late tried again, answered after five minutes. Transferred me to a manager. Another 25 minutes on hold, actually got to talk to a manager! Same one who told me they would pay the claim on the 19th. He told me to email the release and bank details to him.

I have done that - we will see what happens.

Assuming I get the money, the supplier who has quoted says they will need about two weeks minimum to assemble equipment and people. They have quoted to replace the entire system, on the not unreasonable grounds that they don't know the extent of the damage that would show up if they replaced bits.

So hopefully I will be getting power back soon. I have been limping along, having got a small inverter from Jaycar, and got part of the system working. But power is very limited, with my having, for example, to start the generator to run my compressor or even to iron a pair of trousers.

[V8Ian]

What is up with our insurance industry?

They told me when I lodged the claim that they would pay it.

They agreed to the major quote involved after I chased them up on the 5/4, three weeks after the claim was lodged.

A fortnight later (19/4) we agreed verbally to the exact amount and they said the release form would be sent by their assessor.

Another week later (27/4) received the release for 10% less than agreed

Yesterday received the corrected release and signed scanned and sent it back - but when I rang the assessor to confirm this procedure was OK, was told yes, but I'd be lucky if they sent the form to the insurer by the end of the week.

So today I rang the Insurer again. After 10 minutes on hold, I got the wrong department - motor vehicles. They offered to transfer me to the right department, but after five minutes came back with the news that everyone was in a meeting and no idea when they would be finished.. They have a call back option, but I know from experience that these never happen. Same with emails - they don't reply. I called their complaints number, spent 35 minutes on hold, then gave up. A little late tried again, answered after five minutes. Transferred me to a manager. Another 25 minutes on hold, actually got to talk to a manager! Same one who told me they would pay the claim on the 19th. He told me to email the release and bank details to him.

I have done that - we will see what happens.

Assuming I get the money, the supplier who has quoted says they will need about two weeks minimum to assemble equipment and people. They have quoted to replace the entire system, on the not unreasonable grounds that they don't know the extent of the damage that would show up if they replaced bits.

So hopefully I will be getting power back soon. I have been limping along, having got a small inverter from Jaycar, and got part of the system working. But power is very limited, with my having, for example, to start the generator to run my compressor or even to iron a pair of trousers.
What language is this ,John? [biggrin]

[JDNSW]

The money appeared in my bank account yesterday, so I made a special trip into town to pay the deposit on the new installation. Should get a call later today from the supplier detailing plans and dates. At the time of the quote, they said it was about two day's work on site, and would take about a fortnight to assemble equipment and fit into their work schedule.

[cripesamighty]

Glad it is finally getting sorted for you. That's a bugger of a wait though.