Cyprus - Surge Arrester Didn’t Protect Digibox

[OldShep]

After some spectacular thunderstorms in Cyprus today, I am now the proud owner of a “fragged” Invacom Quad LNB and Pace 2600 )(-red. The LNB is something that goes with the territory (that will be first job tomorrow), but I’m quite surprised about the box as it was protected with a top spec’ Belkin surge protector in both the mains line and the coax. Fortunately everything else connected to the same surge protector is still working, so perhaps I have been lucky?

I don’t know if this is an endorsement for these products or a warning – perhaps a little of both! I suspect the lightning must have been a ground strike somewhere in the vicinity; a direct hit would have most likely left me with a few piles of molten plastic (or worse).

Has anyone else had a similar experience ?

 

[Topper]

Has anyone else had a similar experience ?

I am glad to report no.......however your surge protector would have not stood a chance against lightening, it is there to protect against overvoltage in the mains not any other cable path such as the sat cable. If I were you I would be philosphical about it and thank your lucky stars it was only the stb and lnb, it could have been you!
Without being over dramatic I do think you have been lucky

 

[PaulR]

My friends in France, for whom I installed their dish a $ly digibox, had a lightning strike a few weeks ago.

Left them without power so they couldn't wash (electric water pump) or even get out in the car (electric gates). They also lost a digibox, an old analogue box, a TV, their computer, the LCD monitor, the "does everything" ADSL modem/router/VOIP/WiFi box and their cordless phone. They still haven't got a proper landline phone system yet and are using their mobile phone.

They were lucky I think. It could have been so much worse.

 

[Jumile]

I learned a saying when I was an apprentice (in an electronics-related field) many years ago:

"A $1000 piece of equipment will do it's best to protect a $0.10 fuse."
​

It seems true, at least some of the time.

 

[Robbiewright]

I know how you feel, here in Egypt I live in the land of surges, not by lightning but just bad power supply, every thing is protected by surge protectors but sometimes even that is not enough. I have a pile of old surge protectors in my back room that were taken out by surges.

 

[bignick]

Hard Luck fella ... Same thing happened to me a few years back ... still, look on the positive side - There is someone really nearby who can sort it for you!!

Did it pop the surge protector too? I thought Belkin gave warranties against these situations!

Chat soon

Nick

 

[OldShep]

Cheers Nick

The “someone really nearby” sorted it all out. In total there was a new Invacom Quad, two co-ax line amps, 2 Pace 2600’s, 1 Pace DS450 and a Pace Sky plus box wiped out between me and the neighbours!

The surge protector is a Belkin F9G726uk3M-GRY, which is the top spec’ model (“Protection Level Extreme”). The warrantee is for unlimited cost of protected equipment. This could amount to quite a lot as it’s got 7 mains sockets, co-ax (F connector), RJ-45 and telephone (inc’ ADSL). Obviously the co-ax protection didn’t work too well for me. I’ll let you know what response I get from Belkin – as they market this arrestor specifically for home cinema (including digital satellite).

 

[Topper]

I am not so sure that their claims are saying what you would appear to think they are saying if they do, then yes you have a claim against them but I actually think you are a victim of misrepresentation. If you read their advert very carefully it does not claim to protect your equipment against lightening it says

Power surges and lightning strikes are not the only things that can damage your home electronic equipment. Simply switching appliances on and off can create electrical imbalances that cause cumulative, permanent damage to your computers, peripherals and electronic equipment.

It does not appear to be claiming to protect against lightening strikes and I doubt such a small piece of equipment could. Apart from a lightening conductor made out of 1/2 inch solid copper cable buried 5mtrs into the ground I know of nothing else that can re-direct a lightening strike on a building but there is some stuff documented like here and here about protecting your dish and lnb but in all honesty is it money well spent?

 

[Zorba]

But if the dish got a hit then the surge came from the lnb into the house.
The surge protector only protects from the wall socket to the equipment ,from an overload from the mains?

 

[Topper]

But if the dish got a hit then the surge came from the lnb into the house.
The surge protector only protects from the wall socket to the equipment ,from an overload from the mains?

Correct zorba, I agree that piddling little thing could not possibly protect the equipment from what actually happened as it is designed for mains overloads

 

[OldShep]

Hi Zorba/Topper

I agree that if the dish got hit then a £50 bit of plastic and copper would most likely end up a £50 puddle of molten plastic and copper, however, I don’t believe the dish actually got hit…

From my experience at work (top of the hill at Epi’ for those who are local) when a lightning strike occurs, the current is (eventually) dissipated outwards along the ground. Because the earth (ground/mud/rocks etc.) is moderately high resistance, any conductor which aids the dissipation (eg. a fence, a telephone cable, a satellite coax) will have a very large current educed in it, but no where near as large as that caused by a direct hit. This usually results in terminal equipment damage (usually blown diodes in bridge rectifier ccts), but minimal damage to the fabric of the installation. This ground strike (as we refer to them at work) is what I believe happened to me last Monday - there were no scorch marks, burning etc anywhere; the dish itself, the feed assembly (including LN, co-ax, line amp, or STB all appear OK. Inside the set top box there is no sign of lightning damage.

The other point worth mentioning is that this particular surge arrestor contains a co-axial surge arrester marketed specifically for satellite TV systems, not just in the mains lines, and that it specifically mentions lightning strikes in the warranty. The wording of their warranty is quote:

“Belkin will pay for the repair or replacement (at Belkin’ option) of any equipment owned by the original Consumer or Consumer end-user (“Connected
Equipment”) which is damaged by a transient voltage surge/spike or lightning strike (an "Occurrence”), while properly connected through a Belkin Surge
Suppressor to a properly wired power line with protective ground (the “Belkin Connected Equipment Warranty”). This Belkin Connected Equipment Warranty
is subject to the limitations and exclusions set out below. Nothing in this warranty reduces the Consumer’s statutory rights relating to faulty goods.”

I’ll let you know if they are willing to repair or replace the 2600 box – they’re getting harder to find these days ;).

Shep

 

[simonskyman]

I’ll let you know if they are willing to repair or replace the 2600 box – they’re getting harder to find these days ;).

Shep

You'll be lucky.They will probably give you an Amstrad.

 

[Topper]

I’ll let you know if they are willing to repair or replace the 2600 box – they’re getting harder to find these days ;).

Shep

I can only wish you the best of luck Shep