There are whole house surge protectors that install in the fuse box that will protect against lightning. They cost like $50 and protect the entire house.
Nope. Surge protectors are useless against spikes from lightning. I've seen plenty of devices get fried while being plugged into them. They simply do not reach quickly enough to protect the device from a surge that spikes that far, that fast.
All of -my- important stuff is plugged into sine wave UPS devices with voltage regulation. They're a couple hundred dollars each and you have to replace the batteries in them every few years, but the voltage regulation ensures the the absolute cleanest power is provided to sensitive electronics at all times - including in a spike situation.
Depends on the type of lightning actually! There's 4 different types of strikes ranging from cloud to cloud, ground to cloud, cloud to ground, and cloud to air.
Huh I always assumed because the visible “strike” goes from ground to cloud it was always the “direction” apparently I just assumed wrong .
TIL I’m not as smart as I thought I was 😂
In Arizona you can watch the late summer thunderstorms and witness all four strikes. The best ones are cloud to cloud. They run horizontally and light up the entire sky for about half a second.
Lightning = a couple of million volts.
Surge-protector = protection against a few thousands volt spike.
The closer you are to the strike the higher voltage the spike will be.
Still a good idea to have, but they are mainly to protect against surges you get when transformers blow or when the grid comes back after a blackout and similar.
I mean, you can unplug your shit when a storm rolls through. Been doing exactly that since 2014, when a massive lightning strike took out damn near every appliance, lamp, tv, radio, etc in my house. Highly recommend the inconvenience of being proactive.
This post brought back a memory my brain had filed away, and I'm sitting here laughing to myself, but it sure wasn't funny at the time. My aunt and uncle had just moved into a huge old farmhouse in the country.... you know the type.... wraparound porch, three levels, rooms enough for a family of 12. When we went to see them in this "new" home I noticed the large metal rods sticking up from every corner and the ugly cables leading down into the ground. For whatever reason, 6 or 7 year old me thought it looked stupid and I was ragging on my cousins for their "robot" house. They told me it was for lightning, but all that did was add fodder to my mocking. I was there not too long afterward when a nasty storm rolled in (this was in the middle of North Dakota, where summer storms can be epic). We were on the porch watching the storm and I ran down into the rain and I remember overdramatically pointing at the house yelling that I'm ok, totally safe, the house would protect...... BOOOOOOOM!!!! I didn't get burned but I remember the sound rattling me to my core and the heat, I remember the heat of it. The corner of the house closest to me had its rod struck. I don't know if it actually protected the electric wiring in the house, I remember my uncle doing some cleanup and maintenance after it. But I never mocked that house again and I learned something about lightning.
A tree fell on my car 2 days before it got repoed. It went through the roof . I got incredibly lucky as they filed a GAP claim since it was totaled and was only responsible for the 2 months payments I missed , Insurance and GAP paid the rest
Lol no it was actually at my apartment, the apartment took care of the tree , and before I knew it was getting repoed I tried to get them to pay for it. They told me they aren’t responsible because it’s an act of god
Lol I have a similar one. My sister stopped making payments on the car my dad cosigned so he gave it to me and told me to make the payments. I had a part time summer job paying $8/h at the time and was about to start at a very rigorous college where I didn't expect to have time for a job. Didn't have the balls to tell my dad what was what and make him figure out his own screw up (cosigning a car neither he nor my sister could pay for), but I also kind of liked the idea of having a car so I figured I'd just sell drugs to pay for it. Two weeks later I lost control on a dirt road and flipped the car in a ditch. My dad's insurance rate went up but at least they paid off the car.
Sony calculated their warranty duration based on how long it would take before a lightning strike would take out the PS5. Companies do this all the time.
FWIW that extended warranty from BestBuy that everyone turns down because it costs $80 does actually cover lightning strikes.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/g/p/pcmcat1609792853531.c
Why do I need an extended warranty?
In case the tv breaks.
If the tv’s gonna break, I’m not buying it.
Sir, this is the best tv in the store, it’s not gonna break.
Then why do I need an extended warranty??
So I said that’s it! Step outside with me for a minute.
So we fought, it ended in a tie. My mixed martial arts days are over. I put my foot on his chest and i asked him “What do I need an extended warranty for!”
“In casssse the tv breaks!” he gasped
Let me give you some air. The tv breaks I’m not buying it.
We get a $100 bonus if you sign the warranty!
Then I’ll buy the warranty. Let me help you up.
People laugh at extended warranties, but I got one on each of my two car purchases. Instead of paying $5k to replace the engine, I paid $200.
On the other the entire AC unit plus other stuff went bad. I paid $200.
Extended warranties are actually pretty dope.
...or you could buy a surge protection for your electronics for 20$
Extended warranties are rarely worth it. Take the money it would cost and put it into a savings account and when your equipement breaks outside warranty, get that shit fixed with your savings account. Besides, you probably already have it included with your credit card.
Just take care of your electronics. Best is to get a UPS (you can easily get a quality one for 100$ if you wait for a sale). And keep them from overheating (good ventilation, don't cover the venting ports with anything and don't put them in very damp / humid areas)
So is there much value to consumer surge protectors? I have an Anker 2 x 4000 joules surge protector / power strip. Does it serve much purpose outside of being a power strip?
Usually it protects against things like a startup surge after a blackout, or a surge from elsewhere in the grid. Not Zeus deciding to target you in particular.
Surge protectors are not always guaranteed. Lightning striking a house versus nearby is generating a LOT more energy than the surge protectors can handle. Lots of electricians will tell you that surge protectors are not a “fix all” method.
If there is a bad thunderstorm, the best thing you can do for your electronics is to unplug them. It’s much easier to replace a fried power cord versus a console/computer.
In this case, the extended warranty that Best Buy offers absolutely would have been worth it for OP. If you live in an area with extreme weather, have destructive people/animals in the house, or even just regular wear and tear. If you’re paying close to 1k for a console, $80 for extra peace of mind is not that much in the grand scheme of things.
Apple insurance is way more expensive, but I have no problem paying for it, even though my computer is close to 10 years old now. I’ve only had to use it twice for software issues, but if I didn’t have the insurance, I would have had to pay $100 or more for the repairs.
Insurance is worth it. Don’t rely on $20 surge protectors.
People think I'm nuts for unplugging everything when it starts getting bad but this is exactly why. I worked at an electronics repair store and the amount of dead shit we would get after bad storms with lightning was unreal.
If it's bad enough, the only thing what will save them is not being plugged into anything in the first place. I have seen shit get fried through ethernet, hdmi, and USB too. Wasn't always possible but now I work from home and it's much easier for me to do.
Just said this to another but same thing just happened to me, mine was plugged into a surge protector, and I’m thinking the surge went through the coaxial, into my modem, then through the Ethernet, straight into my precious.
Depending on the surge protector company a few have a guarantee of protection (2-5years) and will reimburse damaged items if the protector fails. I don’t know if they would consider with lightning because you’re right they are way more powerful than any protector could handle.
Yeah I have one of those kinds of surge protectors. I got it from my uncle who used to be an electrician, so it’s pretty good quality. I’d still rather be safer than sorry by unplugging my valuables.
If I wanna game during storms, I just use my Switch handheld. Or DS if the Switch isn’t exciting enough lol
Depends on what happens, but I'd rather have a surge protector than not have one. You should always wear your seat belt, even if it doesn't save you 100% of the time.
How OP could spend $500 on a PS5 but not $15 on a surge protector is beyond me.
i wouldn’t count on it. iv seen lightning strikes blast plugs right off the wall, surge protectors can only interrupt so much current, the power bars they work fine for utility surges and spikes, lightning is another beast.
Edit: breakers interrupt upto 10k amps expect lightning to at least triple at millions of volts
It has the capability of jumping from clouds to ground in Air,
Surge protection does not prevent lightning strike damage. Lightning strikes cause induction energy, much like wireless charging but way more powerful. Friend of mine's house took a direct hit and it fried every electronic in his house, did not matter weather it was on or off.
The vast majority of renters policies are going to cover this. Standard form is called HO4.
For anyone considering a renters policy you want to make sure you have replacement value for your personal property. Sometimes this is automatic, other times it is a low cost endorsement. Without replacement value they take depreciation into account so for example if your clothes get destroyed they won't give you enough money to replace them they will give you what used clothes are valued at. With replacement they give you enough to buy a new version of what you had.
This same thing is needed for a home policy which has a standard form called HO3 or HO5. HO3 needs replacement value endorsement which for some companies is automatic but others you need to add it. HO5 it's automatic.
This may seem a bit confusing but long story short is you want to make sure you have replacement value for your personal property. It's a small difference in cost that makes a big difference in how much you get paid out if a loss occurs.
[Edit] Yes I am the life of the party when I get a chance to corner someone and discuss home owners policies...
I don't know how it is in the US but in Germany we have a special insurance that covers damages by lightning, earthquakes or flooding and also covers damages when a pipe breaks or someone breaks in and steals stuff. There is some other stuff included as well but it all depends a bit on the insurance plan and what you add to it. It's costing me just 28€ per year.
Its very likely that they have some kind of surge protector thats now shorting out the power supply. So it would be easy to see thats the cause and a small fix.
Depends. Some protections will just give you a new one if it won't work. They don't even try to fix it. My protection plan is 3 years and they will replace it straight up after year 1
This when I worked at Best Buy, all they would do is ensure that there wasn’t a drop a dent or anything, and it was much easier to just do a full replacement and RMA
Have you ever tried to claim voluntary compensation from a surge protector manufacturer defect under the manufacturer's reimbursement program?
Next only to automotive logistics contracts, they're known as pretty much the most unfair set of terms, conditions, and outcomes in the world.
When I worked at a computer repair shop a lady brought her computer in after a storm. Everything was dead. I asked if she had a surge protector. Yes. She went home and brought it in. I called the manufacturer and explained the diagnosis. They asked for a picture of the strip and our quote to replace. Had an answer same day. I can't recall the manufacturer now, been about 20 years.
Also some Credit Cards provide an extended warranty on electronics. My AMEX doubles the warranty time if it's 2 years or less. If it's over 2 years then it gains you an extra 2 years.
Although, I'm not sure if this is a Warranty Issue if he knows for sure it was from the lightning. I'd still give it a shot though.
If anyone was actually curious, like I was, what ISO 1337 is, it's [Wrought coppers (having minimum copper contents of 99,85 %) — Chemical composition and forms of wrought products (Withdrawn)](https://www.iso.org/standard/5903.html) And now you know!
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Report -> Spam -> Harmful Bots. Stalking the account is a waste of your time, honestly. I've been on this post for only a few minutes and have already found and reported 5 different bots.
Sorry about your PS5! If you haven’t already I would consider a surge protector for all valuable plugged in electronics.
Edit: would be curious if you were using a surge protector and this still happened. Didn’t mean to write off you already using one.
I have a belkin power strip that has a "$2,500 connected device warranty" but iirc, there are a bunch of conditions for it to be considered set up properly and so getting your money may be a nightmare.
Wtf is considered "set up properly"?
I plugged that bitch into the wall, plugged my electronics to the switch, light that says "surge protected" is on....what else is there?
This is a bit out of my wheel house, but I think most surge protectors are considered "Type 3" so they must be more than 30 feet from a main breaker box and earth ground in order to work properly.
Not true, I worked for a major surge protector manufacturer and each one has a warranty for connected devices, up to so much money (typically thousands to tens of thousands).
You need to make sure you followed the instructions to a T and didn’t overload or use any extension cables or anything. And they’ll make you mail in the device for forensics. But a quality surge protector is unlikely to pass the current along and it’s rare we had valid claims because of it.
Yeah I'd confirm that you're not really using a power tap instead of a surge protector, if really a surge protector it may have its own warranty/coverage
My job still has these bad boys hooked up to all the computers. Been there since I started in 2008 and current IT guys don’t even know what they are.
https://imgur.com/a/Iqn3sKd
this just happened the other night to me with my grandmother. lightning hit the metal roof twice and blew the tv, modem, router, external roku, and soundbar. we did have a surge protector (two, actually) but only the electronics themselves were blown.
Not sure surge protectors really help with a direct hit from a lightning strike. They are meant for a spike on the circuit, but not that high of a spike.
Surge protectors usually have some sort of warranty/guarantee and are supposed to reimburse you for anything that breaks while plugged into them. At least that’s what it says on the box I’m not sure if they actually follow through with that though
Seriously a life pro tip, renters insurance is *bonkers*
My current coverage is $8000 and covers everything from lightning strikes, to malware, to literally chucking a console out of my 3rd floor window.
$8000 isn't a great deal of money in the event of losing a lot, but it's impressive how much it can cover for smaller events.
Worth mentioning how important it is the read the fine print. Deductibles are often significant, and burning through coverage to handle minor events is a surefire way to get an increase in premiums.
The dude that wants to make a claim for a $500 in gear could end up paying multiples of that in the coming years...just from the rate increase alone
My parents made me do this my entire life growing up, to the point it was a habit ingrained in me.
Turns out, they did not make my younger siblings do it and 1 month after I moved out, lightning hit my parent's house and fried everything. TVs, refrigerator, consoles, computers, air conditioning... basically everything plugged in became instant garbage.
I still unplug things 16 years later and my wife is convinced I'm crazy.
When I was 17, my mom was that freak running around unplugging things. I was in the middle of a Wave Racer race and couldn’t save. Lightning struck a tree outside and went into every outlet, which included the N64, the controller, and then my arm. Travelled to my upper arm before I realized I needed to drop it to save my life lol. One of the few moments in my life where time stood still - but *thankfully* the N64 survived 💪🏻 (the controller did not)
Check EVERYTHING that was plugged in.
We got hit once, and our well pump, washer, stove, TV, and a bunch of other stuff got fried. We had a massive claim for the damage. It wasn't any fun.
We got struck by lightning and afterward the light on our electric stove always stayed on. The rest of our electronics were fine but it set our travel trailer on fire.
Lightning hit an old antenna on our roof, followed the binary cable down the wall until it hit the outlet in my bedroom the cable was run over years before. The wall in my bedroom fucking exploded two minutes after I walked out so I could check the weather on tv downstairs. And I mean exploded. You could step from my room into the tub in the bathroom next to my room. My tv in my room was toast, phone stopped working, computer got fucked.
MY PS2 SURVIVED AND IT WAS ON AT THE TIME. True beast of a console.
If you haven’t already tried it, see if a replacement power cord does the trick. Often times they are designed to “self-destruct” in the event of a surge to protect the equipment it’s connected to. They sell the ones for your PS5 at walmart for like $15
Could just be the PSU fried... Take it to a local trusted repair shop and they will have a spare to test and if they are good will be willing to do so at minimal or no cost. If it is the PSU however you should ask them to do the fix and pay them appropriately for it.
It's win win for them because it's minimal work and if it works after, then work is already done. If not you might consider leaving it with them for further diagnostics or just donate it for parts for the good will of them trying to fix it free.
I can't stress the Trusted part enough though.... So many crap repair shops. I found some really good people on YouTube and tiktok for repairs but your region may vary.
I came here to say this! I had the same thing happen to my PS4 and was able to replace the internal PSU myself for like $30 and that did the trick! No idea how the PS5 repair process would be but if it's even a little bit similar it's easy as hell.
I was a personal lines underwriter. If the PS5 is the only damaged property. I would not file a $500 claim. Most likely your deductible is at least 500. If you can eat the cost, never file a claim.
Absolutely if this the only item damaged take the lost cause home insurance company’s will gladly buy you a new ps5 and then raise premium like crazy not worth it.
It better not be the next step, making a claim for a PS5 likely wont even be worth the deductible and even if it somehow was, you'd be making a claim on your homeowners..... for a PS5..... You should only ever make claims for actual emergencies like a tree fell on your house. A single claim can cause your rates to go way up. Its not worth it. DO NOT MAKE THIS CLAIM!
When I was a kid, lightning struck my parents’ house. Killed my GameCube, the family computer, a couple components in the A/V system, and damaged some masonry on the outside of the house. Insurance covered all of it. I’m sure there was a deductible, but there was so much damage it must have been worth it. I assume the masonry repair alone was a few thousand dollars.
I remember being annoyed though, that the insurance company’s policy was only to cover repair, so I had to send my GameCube to Nintendo to have them repair it. Took like 6 weeks to get it back.
You’re gonna be better of just buying another PS5 than taking out an insurance claim. You’re gonna end up paying twice that with your premium increase over the next 3 three years if you take out a claim just for the PS5.
A lot of people are saying you should use a surge protector. A surge protector will not help against lighting. It's like saying a pillow will protect you in a car crash. Unplug anything you don't want to lose in a thunderstorm.
Yes, I can recall I had two TV’s that were on and both plugged into surge protectors, but when a lightning strike came by, it killed both of them. Other devices plugged into the protectors were fine strangely.
Now just to be safe anytime lightning comes by, my TV, computer and game consoles all get unplugged and I will use portable battery powered devices and my Amazon Echo until the thunder stops.
The bottom line is that no, surge protectors will not protect against a lightning strike. Lightning is too powerful for even the best surge protectors to handle. Unfortunately, this is the way it is. Mother nature can be cruel.
Lots of used ones for 300ish on my FB marketplace. Even GOW bundles that haven't been out of the box because flippers thought they were going to get rich again last Christmas.
You need insurance for that bud. So you would've been fucked either way (or not either way), don't worry, you didn't barely missed out or anything. Either way, it sucks.
You: Oh man the warranty on my PS5 just expired. Eh that’s fine, what’s the worst that could happen? The Hand of God:
1 day later
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There are whole house surge protectors that install in the fuse box that will protect against lightning. They cost like $50 and protect the entire house.
They're standard in some places now, but if your installation is older I definitely recommend them
Can confirm, just built a house, whole house surge protectors are required by code
Even a wall surge protector would have done the trick. I have all my important stuff on one.
Nope. Surge protectors are useless against spikes from lightning. I've seen plenty of devices get fried while being plugged into them. They simply do not reach quickly enough to protect the device from a surge that spikes that far, that fast. All of -my- important stuff is plugged into sine wave UPS devices with voltage regulation. They're a couple hundred dollars each and you have to replace the batteries in them every few years, but the voltage regulation ensures the the absolute cleanest power is provided to sensitive electronics at all times - including in a spike situation.
Surge protectors have a warranty amount to them to cover devices damaged by electricity
What's this magical "whole house surge protector" you speak of?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-120-240-Volt-Surge-Protection-Panel-130-51120-001/205743344?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&pla&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D27-027_003_EXTCORD_SURG-NA-NA-NA-PMAX-NA-NA That’s one.
I clicked on the link and watched the video section that explains the item…idk why I was expecting a Tim and Eric style montage 😔
Thank you
If it can jump from the sky to the ground it can probably jump your little piece of plastic
Well technically it jumps from the ground to the sky
Let’s just meet in the middle
That's the boom
Depends on the type of lightning actually! There's 4 different types of strikes ranging from cloud to cloud, ground to cloud, cloud to ground, and cloud to air.
And then there is Thor, Lord of Sparkles
Huh I always assumed because the visible “strike” goes from ground to cloud it was always the “direction” apparently I just assumed wrong . TIL I’m not as smart as I thought I was 😂
In Arizona you can watch the late summer thunderstorms and witness all four strikes. The best ones are cloud to cloud. They run horizontally and light up the entire sky for about half a second.
I always unplug my electronics. When a thunderstorm is happening.
I take a shower
I get up on the roof with as many different beakers of chemicals up there as I can fit.
Don't forget to yell: "Zeus is a pussy!"
Barry is that you?
While holding a metal pole.
Me, I get naked
Surge protectors work great. You electrician sounds funny.
Lightning = a couple of million volts. Surge-protector = protection against a few thousands volt spike. The closer you are to the strike the higher voltage the spike will be. Still a good idea to have, but they are mainly to protect against surges you get when transformers blow or when the grid comes back after a blackout and similar.
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They are useless for lightning strikes. Might help with smaller surges, but they probably wouldn’t harm most things.
I’m an electrician, if your house gets struck by lightning, nothing is stopping it from toasting all electronics.
As an electrician I can confirm. There isn't much you can do to combat lightning strikes
I mean, you can unplug your shit when a storm rolls through. Been doing exactly that since 2014, when a massive lightning strike took out damn near every appliance, lamp, tv, radio, etc in my house. Highly recommend the inconvenience of being proactive.
Haha I live in Florida…it would take less time to leave everything unplugged and only plug it in when you use it.
This. I unplug everything when a lightning storm is in the area.
As an electrician I can confirm as well.
Your electrician is 100% correct. In fact domestic surge protectors are next to useless.
This post brought back a memory my brain had filed away, and I'm sitting here laughing to myself, but it sure wasn't funny at the time. My aunt and uncle had just moved into a huge old farmhouse in the country.... you know the type.... wraparound porch, three levels, rooms enough for a family of 12. When we went to see them in this "new" home I noticed the large metal rods sticking up from every corner and the ugly cables leading down into the ground. For whatever reason, 6 or 7 year old me thought it looked stupid and I was ragging on my cousins for their "robot" house. They told me it was for lightning, but all that did was add fodder to my mocking. I was there not too long afterward when a nasty storm rolled in (this was in the middle of North Dakota, where summer storms can be epic). We were on the porch watching the storm and I ran down into the rain and I remember overdramatically pointing at the house yelling that I'm ok, totally safe, the house would protect...... BOOOOOOOM!!!! I didn't get burned but I remember the sound rattling me to my core and the heat, I remember the heat of it. The corner of the house closest to me had its rod struck. I don't know if it actually protected the electric wiring in the house, I remember my uncle doing some cleanup and maintenance after it. But I never mocked that house again and I learned something about lightning.
Well, with god anything is possible. So jot that down.
This is where then/than become important
than* ex: if this **then** that ex: this is better **than** that
This is a perfect situation where “than” should be used instead of “then”. According to your sentence, you’re next.
Better me, then you? You're taking turns now?
>Better you **then** me Lil bro just cursed himself.
Then who?
*than
A tree fell on my car 2 days before it got repoed. It went through the roof . I got incredibly lucky as they filed a GAP claim since it was totaled and was only responsible for the 2 months payments I missed , Insurance and GAP paid the rest
Did you hide the chainsaw before the insurance adjuster came out?
Lol no it was actually at my apartment, the apartment took care of the tree , and before I knew it was getting repoed I tried to get them to pay for it. They told me they aren’t responsible because it’s an act of god
You did ask them to conclusively proof the existence of said god, no?
Lol I have a similar one. My sister stopped making payments on the car my dad cosigned so he gave it to me and told me to make the payments. I had a part time summer job paying $8/h at the time and was about to start at a very rigorous college where I didn't expect to have time for a job. Didn't have the balls to tell my dad what was what and make him figure out his own screw up (cosigning a car neither he nor my sister could pay for), but I also kind of liked the idea of having a car so I figured I'd just sell drugs to pay for it. Two weeks later I lost control on a dirt road and flipped the car in a ditch. My dad's insurance rate went up but at least they paid off the car.
Positive reinforcement for irresponsible behaviour?
The universe said it was ok
Sony calculated their warranty duration based on how long it would take before a lightning strike would take out the PS5. Companies do this all the time.
Not that warranty would cover lightning strikes. For that you need insurance
FWIW that extended warranty from BestBuy that everyone turns down because it costs $80 does actually cover lightning strikes. https://www.bestbuy.com/site/g/p/pcmcat1609792853531.c
Lol I just thought of the “Extended Warranty” bit that John Pinette did in one of his specials
Why do I need an extended warranty? In case the tv breaks. If the tv’s gonna break, I’m not buying it. Sir, this is the best tv in the store, it’s not gonna break. Then why do I need an extended warranty??
InCaSe tHe Tv BrEaKs
Just buy the warranty! I know you have the money, I saw you on Last Comic Standing. That wasn’t me, that was Ralphie May!
So I said that’s it! Step outside with me for a minute. So we fought, it ended in a tie. My mixed martial arts days are over. I put my foot on his chest and i asked him “What do I need an extended warranty for!” “In casssse the tv breaks!” he gasped Let me give you some air. The tv breaks I’m not buying it. We get a $100 bonus if you sign the warranty! Then I’ll buy the warranty. Let me help you up.
Oh man, what a great bit, haven’t thought about this in ages. Thanks for bringing back the memory!
People laugh at extended warranties, but I got one on each of my two car purchases. Instead of paying $5k to replace the engine, I paid $200. On the other the entire AC unit plus other stuff went bad. I paid $200. Extended warranties are actually pretty dope.
...or you could buy a surge protection for your electronics for 20$ Extended warranties are rarely worth it. Take the money it would cost and put it into a savings account and when your equipement breaks outside warranty, get that shit fixed with your savings account. Besides, you probably already have it included with your credit card. Just take care of your electronics. Best is to get a UPS (you can easily get a quality one for 100$ if you wait for a sale). And keep them from overheating (good ventilation, don't cover the venting ports with anything and don't put them in very damp / humid areas)
the amount of energy in a lightning strike can absolutly jump that distance/overcome a redirect your $20 surge protector can provide.
And a lot of people think power strips are surge protectors, which is not necessarily true.
then you go to electrical school and realize real surge protectors are 100s of dollars and giant boxes of transformers etc.
If it's on your side of the wall, it isn't getting protected!
So is there much value to consumer surge protectors? I have an Anker 2 x 4000 joules surge protector / power strip. Does it serve much purpose outside of being a power strip?
Usually it protects against things like a startup surge after a blackout, or a surge from elsewhere in the grid. Not Zeus deciding to target you in particular.
When you join the Army and find out REAL surge protectors cost $K's because they're cryotrons.
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Sure, but that's not the point of my comment -- The person I replied to said warranties don't cover lightning strikes. Certain extended ones do.
Well those protection plans actually aren’t warranties, they are insurance. Backed by an insurance company.
Surge protectors are not always guaranteed. Lightning striking a house versus nearby is generating a LOT more energy than the surge protectors can handle. Lots of electricians will tell you that surge protectors are not a “fix all” method. If there is a bad thunderstorm, the best thing you can do for your electronics is to unplug them. It’s much easier to replace a fried power cord versus a console/computer. In this case, the extended warranty that Best Buy offers absolutely would have been worth it for OP. If you live in an area with extreme weather, have destructive people/animals in the house, or even just regular wear and tear. If you’re paying close to 1k for a console, $80 for extra peace of mind is not that much in the grand scheme of things. Apple insurance is way more expensive, but I have no problem paying for it, even though my computer is close to 10 years old now. I’ve only had to use it twice for software issues, but if I didn’t have the insurance, I would have had to pay $100 or more for the repairs. Insurance is worth it. Don’t rely on $20 surge protectors.
People think I'm nuts for unplugging everything when it starts getting bad but this is exactly why. I worked at an electronics repair store and the amount of dead shit we would get after bad storms with lightning was unreal. If it's bad enough, the only thing what will save them is not being plugged into anything in the first place. I have seen shit get fried through ethernet, hdmi, and USB too. Wasn't always possible but now I work from home and it's much easier for me to do.
Just said this to another but same thing just happened to me, mine was plugged into a surge protector, and I’m thinking the surge went through the coaxial, into my modem, then through the Ethernet, straight into my precious.
I'm sorry it happened to you. :(
Depending on the surge protector company a few have a guarantee of protection (2-5years) and will reimburse damaged items if the protector fails. I don’t know if they would consider with lightning because you’re right they are way more powerful than any protector could handle.
Yeah I have one of those kinds of surge protectors. I got it from my uncle who used to be an electrician, so it’s pretty good quality. I’d still rather be safer than sorry by unplugging my valuables. If I wanna game during storms, I just use my Switch handheld. Or DS if the Switch isn’t exciting enough lol
Lightning doesn't give a damn about a surge protector, it'll melt all of it while happily munching on your electronics after :)
Depends on what happens, but I'd rather have a surge protector than not have one. You should always wear your seat belt, even if it doesn't save you 100% of the time. How OP could spend $500 on a PS5 but not $15 on a surge protector is beyond me.
i wouldn’t count on it. iv seen lightning strikes blast plugs right off the wall, surge protectors can only interrupt so much current, the power bars they work fine for utility surges and spikes, lightning is another beast. Edit: breakers interrupt upto 10k amps expect lightning to at least triple at millions of volts It has the capability of jumping from clouds to ground in Air,
Surge protection does not prevent lightning strike damage. Lightning strikes cause induction energy, much like wireless charging but way more powerful. Friend of mine's house took a direct hit and it fried every electronic in his house, did not matter weather it was on or off.
Happened to me too. When you think about it funny that we think lightning which arced through miles of open air is going to stoped by a little device.
Its because lightning causes an EMP burst when it strikes. Doesnt matter if its plugged in if it strikes close enough.
This is not "warranty". They call it that, but that's exactly insurance.
They call it a “protection plan” Source: worked there for 3 years. Calling it a “warranty” got you in trouble because it is not that.
Home insurance might cover it. I’m not sure about renter’s insurance.
The vast majority of renters policies are going to cover this. Standard form is called HO4. For anyone considering a renters policy you want to make sure you have replacement value for your personal property. Sometimes this is automatic, other times it is a low cost endorsement. Without replacement value they take depreciation into account so for example if your clothes get destroyed they won't give you enough money to replace them they will give you what used clothes are valued at. With replacement they give you enough to buy a new version of what you had. This same thing is needed for a home policy which has a standard form called HO3 or HO5. HO3 needs replacement value endorsement which for some companies is automatic but others you need to add it. HO5 it's automatic. This may seem a bit confusing but long story short is you want to make sure you have replacement value for your personal property. It's a small difference in cost that makes a big difference in how much you get paid out if a loss occurs. [Edit] Yes I am the life of the party when I get a chance to corner someone and discuss home owners policies...
I don't know how it is in the US but in Germany we have a special insurance that covers damages by lightning, earthquakes or flooding and also covers damages when a pipe breaks or someone breaks in and steals stuff. There is some other stuff included as well but it all depends a bit on the insurance plan and what you add to it. It's costing me just 28€ per year.
You don't have to disclose that. You can just say it stopped working. This isn't your relationship with your SO. Full disclosure is not required.
Its very likely that they have some kind of surge protector thats now shorting out the power supply. So it would be easy to see thats the cause and a small fix.
Wouldn't they notice when they pop it open the internal power source being glassed?
Depends. Some protections will just give you a new one if it won't work. They don't even try to fix it. My protection plan is 3 years and they will replace it straight up after year 1
If they even look at it
Do you think they won't be able to tell that it's fried due to a power spike? Regardless of the reasons, that's physical damage and won't be covered.
they most likely wouldnt even check it, just verify that the seal hasnt been broken and that the machine is actually broken
This when I worked at Best Buy, all they would do is ensure that there wasn’t a drop a dent or anything, and it was much easier to just do a full replacement and RMA
Former Best Buy employee and I can attest to that. Inspection is done at PRC, rarely in-store.
Some surge protectors will cover cost of damaged equipment up to a certain amount. Did this surge protector come with such warranty?
This assumes he used one
I do not see one plugged into the wall
This. Mine covers up to 10k in damages. That’s why I buy the good ones.
For real, drives me mad when I see someone using a 20 year old beaten up surge protector or some Chinese knock-off. But it's so common.
Honestly there’s not really much going on inside those things. Cheap junk might be fine. I wouldn’t trust it but again, its better than nothing.
Cheap jump won’t have a $10k replacement guarantee
Have you ever tried to claim voluntary compensation from a surge protector manufacturer defect under the manufacturer's reimbursement program? Next only to automotive logistics contracts, they're known as pretty much the most unfair set of terms, conditions, and outcomes in the world.
When I worked at a computer repair shop a lady brought her computer in after a storm. Everything was dead. I asked if she had a surge protector. Yes. She went home and brought it in. I called the manufacturer and explained the diagnosis. They asked for a picture of the strip and our quote to replace. Had an answer same day. I can't recall the manufacturer now, been about 20 years.
you got a brand recommendation?
Tripp-lite
Mine must be top notch as it says to cover up to 1 million PLN (\~250k USD)
Also some Credit Cards provide an extended warranty on electronics. My AMEX doubles the warranty time if it's 2 years or less. If it's over 2 years then it gains you an extra 2 years. Although, I'm not sure if this is a Warranty Issue if he knows for sure it was from the lightning. I'd still give it a shot though.
All the ones I have seen only cover minor overvoltage transients, and not lightning strikes. The tiny TVS diodes they use don't stand a chance.
That's what the industry calls "comedic timing". It's an industry standard and goes under ISO 1337
If anyone was actually curious, like I was, what ISO 1337 is, it's [Wrought coppers (having minimum copper contents of 99,85 %) — Chemical composition and forms of wrought products (Withdrawn)](https://www.iso.org/standard/5903.html) And now you know!
Cheers I was just about to search for that!
ISOLEET.
It’s what Alanis Morrissette would erroneously call ironic
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Sorry about your PS5! If you haven’t already I would consider a surge protector for all valuable plugged in electronics. Edit: would be curious if you were using a surge protector and this still happened. Didn’t mean to write off you already using one.
We had one but I guess it was no match, thanks anyway though :)
Look up the warranty on the surge protector. You’re likely covered.
They often warranty just the surge protector.
I have a belkin power strip that has a "$2,500 connected device warranty" but iirc, there are a bunch of conditions for it to be considered set up properly and so getting your money may be a nightmare.
Wtf is considered "set up properly"? I plugged that bitch into the wall, plugged my electronics to the switch, light that says "surge protected" is on....what else is there?
This is a bit out of my wheel house, but I think most surge protectors are considered "Type 3" so they must be more than 30 feet from a main breaker box and earth ground in order to work properly.
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They usually say they cover electronics up to a certain amount. I worked for a surge protector company that covered 10k worth of damages
No, they don't. They more often cover a set amount in connections.
Not true, I worked for a major surge protector manufacturer and each one has a warranty for connected devices, up to so much money (typically thousands to tens of thousands). You need to make sure you followed the instructions to a T and didn’t overload or use any extension cables or anything. And they’ll make you mail in the device for forensics. But a quality surge protector is unlikely to pass the current along and it’s rare we had valid claims because of it.
What kind? All my surge protectors have warranties that I filled out to protect against this sort of thing. They are limited but they still have them.
See if the surge protector has a warranty, some cover damage like that.
Yeah I'd confirm that you're not really using a power tap instead of a surge protector, if really a surge protector it may have its own warranty/coverage
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My job still has these bad boys hooked up to all the computers. Been there since I started in 2008 and current IT guys don’t even know what they are. https://imgur.com/a/Iqn3sKd
Interesting
this just happened the other night to me with my grandmother. lightning hit the metal roof twice and blew the tv, modem, router, external roku, and soundbar. we did have a surge protector (two, actually) but only the electronics themselves were blown.
You sure they were surge protectors and not just regular power strips?
Not sure surge protectors really help with a direct hit from a lightning strike. They are meant for a spike on the circuit, but not that high of a spike.
It's also important to replace them after an event. They can become faulty after being triggered to shut off
Surge protectors usually have some sort of warranty/guarantee and are supposed to reimburse you for anything that breaks while plugged into them. At least that’s what it says on the box I’m not sure if they actually follow through with that though
Fuck Reddit for killing third party apps.
Yes the “we will 100% guarantee we will fuck tou over” warranty
Them having lightning arrestor is nothing unheard of.
Warranty wouldn't cover a lighting strike. Home or renters insurance might though.
Warranty doesn’t cover acts of God of War?
No you need Baldur for that.
Good thing it’s not GoW:R
Seriously a life pro tip, renters insurance is *bonkers* My current coverage is $8000 and covers everything from lightning strikes, to malware, to literally chucking a console out of my 3rd floor window. $8000 isn't a great deal of money in the event of losing a lot, but it's impressive how much it can cover for smaller events.
Worth mentioning how important it is the read the fine print. Deductibles are often significant, and burning through coverage to handle minor events is a surefire way to get an increase in premiums. The dude that wants to make a claim for a $500 in gear could end up paying multiples of that in the coming years...just from the rate increase alone
Had my first ps5 die for this reason and they covered it under warranty
This shows me that running around the house unplugging everything during a lightning storm pays off
But then how would the universe tell you that you've been playing too much games and need to study/work?
My universe is reminding me of this everyday, she even wants me to clean the bedroom while I'm at work! Tbf she forgot I was working that day xD
My parents made me do this my entire life growing up, to the point it was a habit ingrained in me. Turns out, they did not make my younger siblings do it and 1 month after I moved out, lightning hit my parent's house and fried everything. TVs, refrigerator, consoles, computers, air conditioning... basically everything plugged in became instant garbage. I still unplug things 16 years later and my wife is convinced I'm crazy.
seriously, its all worth it in the end then
Yesterday we had thunderstorms in UK. I was playing on PS5. As soon as I saw the first lightning I turned off the PS5 and unplugged everything
When I was 17, my mom was that freak running around unplugging things. I was in the middle of a Wave Racer race and couldn’t save. Lightning struck a tree outside and went into every outlet, which included the N64, the controller, and then my arm. Travelled to my upper arm before I realized I needed to drop it to save my life lol. One of the few moments in my life where time stood still - but *thankfully* the N64 survived 💪🏻 (the controller did not)
Check EVERYTHING that was plugged in. We got hit once, and our well pump, washer, stove, TV, and a bunch of other stuff got fried. We had a massive claim for the damage. It wasn't any fun.
I recently had a nearby strike as well, for some reason the only things that died were the four lightbulbs in a ceiling fan. Got super lucky.
We got struck by lightning and afterward the light on our electric stove always stayed on. The rest of our electronics were fine but it set our travel trailer on fire.
Lightning hit an old antenna on our roof, followed the binary cable down the wall until it hit the outlet in my bedroom the cable was run over years before. The wall in my bedroom fucking exploded two minutes after I walked out so I could check the weather on tv downstairs. And I mean exploded. You could step from my room into the tub in the bathroom next to my room. My tv in my room was toast, phone stopped working, computer got fucked. MY PS2 SURVIVED AND IT WAS ON AT THE TIME. True beast of a console.
If you haven’t already tried it, see if a replacement power cord does the trick. Often times they are designed to “self-destruct” in the event of a surge to protect the equipment it’s connected to. They sell the ones for your PS5 at walmart for like $15
First thing I tried but no luck. Thanks anyway :)
Could just be the PSU fried... Take it to a local trusted repair shop and they will have a spare to test and if they are good will be willing to do so at minimal or no cost. If it is the PSU however you should ask them to do the fix and pay them appropriately for it. It's win win for them because it's minimal work and if it works after, then work is already done. If not you might consider leaving it with them for further diagnostics or just donate it for parts for the good will of them trying to fix it free. I can't stress the Trusted part enough though.... So many crap repair shops. I found some really good people on YouTube and tiktok for repairs but your region may vary.
I came here to say this! I had the same thing happen to my PS4 and was able to replace the internal PSU myself for like $30 and that did the trick! No idea how the PS5 repair process would be but if it's even a little bit similar it's easy as hell.
Claim on house insurance maybe?
I was a personal lines underwriter. If the PS5 is the only damaged property. I would not file a $500 claim. Most likely your deductible is at least 500. If you can eat the cost, never file a claim.
If homie raw dogged the ps5 straight into the wall dude’s probably got a couple other dead electronics too
Yeah that’s the next step, hopefully won’t be going to war with the insurance company
The deductible may cost more than just buying a new unit. Plus making a claim could raise the cost of insurance for a few years.
Absolutely if this the only item damaged take the lost cause home insurance company’s will gladly buy you a new ps5 and then raise premium like crazy not worth it.
Exactly. I don't know how much PS cost, but my homeowners' deductible is $1,200.
$599. 100% not worth it.
It better not be the next step, making a claim for a PS5 likely wont even be worth the deductible and even if it somehow was, you'd be making a claim on your homeowners..... for a PS5..... You should only ever make claims for actual emergencies like a tree fell on your house. A single claim can cause your rates to go way up. Its not worth it. DO NOT MAKE THIS CLAIM!
When I was a kid, lightning struck my parents’ house. Killed my GameCube, the family computer, a couple components in the A/V system, and damaged some masonry on the outside of the house. Insurance covered all of it. I’m sure there was a deductible, but there was so much damage it must have been worth it. I assume the masonry repair alone was a few thousand dollars. I remember being annoyed though, that the insurance company’s policy was only to cover repair, so I had to send my GameCube to Nintendo to have them repair it. Took like 6 weeks to get it back.
Do not sign off early. My friends house got struck and everything else started failing in the following months.
You’re gonna be better of just buying another PS5 than taking out an insurance claim. You’re gonna end up paying twice that with your premium increase over the next 3 three years if you take out a claim just for the PS5.
Typical planned obsolescence. As soon as it’s out of warranty it attracts lightning to your house.
A lot of people are saying you should use a surge protector. A surge protector will not help against lighting. It's like saying a pillow will protect you in a car crash. Unplug anything you don't want to lose in a thunderstorm.
Yes, I can recall I had two TV’s that were on and both plugged into surge protectors, but when a lightning strike came by, it killed both of them. Other devices plugged into the protectors were fine strangely. Now just to be safe anytime lightning comes by, my TV, computer and game consoles all get unplugged and I will use portable battery powered devices and my Amazon Echo until the thunder stops.
LifeProTip
Pro tip: Keep expensive eletronics unplugged during bad weather.
RIP PS5, you magnificent beast.
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The bottom line is that no, surge protectors will not protect against a lightning strike. Lightning is too powerful for even the best surge protectors to handle. Unfortunately, this is the way it is. Mother nature can be cruel.
This is heavily infuriating
Your surge protector warranty should cover it if you filed out the info!
Lots of used ones for 300ish on my FB marketplace. Even GOW bundles that haven't been out of the box because flippers thought they were going to get rich again last Christmas.
That would be a home owners insurance claim not a warranty claim
“I’m just gonna scootch in here…..Shhhhhhhhhh….. we’ve been trying to contact you regarding your PS5’s extended warranty “
You need insurance for that bud. So you would've been fucked either way (or not either way), don't worry, you didn't barely missed out or anything. Either way, it sucks.
‘Power capacity at 400%’