lightning hit PC now dead

[digge]

Re: lightning hit PC now dead

Ive repaired a few computers after lightning. Sometimes it was kinda obvious everything was fried though so rather scrap it and recommend buying new. But sometimes it was as easy as yanking out an internal modem and it would start right up, think its also been internal usb hubs with same symptoms.

I would suggest take it apart to bare minimum of parts and see if itll start, maybe with another PSU. If that doesnt work you decide weather or not to invest more time in repair or not.

[Bishop]

Re: lightning hit PC now dead

Tell me more about the things you think are bad, I like a challenge

[Toasty]

Re: lightning hit PC now dead

>>The power supply still puts out the correct voltage.<<
So, the power supply runs? Connected to system or not?

Is the Standby Power LED on, on mobo?
Any fans move when you try power button?
Could it have popped the MOV or thermistor in the PSU and still provide 5VSTBY?

[severach]

Re: lightning hit PC now dead

Most of the power supplies I have seen in PC's are not fast enough to catch surges caused by lightning strikes.

That would be all power supplies because...

I never see it go to the other devices though - HD, DVD drive, etc...

for there to be a surge the current must go through for a complete circuit. The path is already carrying current before anything can react. The motherboard connects to enough alternate ground paths that one of them will let the surge through to ground. Those other devices have so much more impedance to ground that very little of the surge goes there.

PC power supplies cannot safely shunt away surges from lightning. That can only be done in your breaker box with a Lightning Arrestor.

[Dgtech]

Re: lightning hit PC now dead

I've worked on a few with the same symptom as well as cause. Most of the power supplies I have seen in PC's are not fast enough to catch surges caused by lightning strikes. Therefore the voltage goes straight to the motherboard and kills it. I never see it go to the other devices though - HD, DVD drive, etc...

[Bishop]

A co-worker brought me in a dell PC and said it refused to come on after a storm came through and the power failed three times, and he had left the PC ON during the storm.
When the storm was over the PC would not come on. The power supply still puts out the correct voltage.

Has anyone brought back to life a PC that died during power outages? If not it's headed for the dumpster after the cannibalization.