⌛ Noreco Surge Damage

Our barangay was hit with a huge surge with loud explosions coming from all the transformers and lines. I lost two big tv's, two home theaters, two satellite boxes, wifi modem, range, washing machine, fan, and damage to my computer. Fortunately, I have a backup SmartBro modem. Estimated loss 250,000p. Does anyone know if any of the appliances that got zapped can be repaired or are they fubar?

 

Hi Pato.
What a total nightmare. I thought I had read in one of your earlier posts that you had purchased a Voltage regulator to protect you from drops. Not sure if you can get a Voltage regulator with built in surge protection, Or some kind of surge protection built into your main fuse board. As said a total nightmare, surely a lesson for others. I hope you can get some things back on line not so sure with them having a high electricity boost. Others will know better than I. If just the safety fuse blown OK. If a chance of faulty or melted internal wiring then its not worth the fire risk maybe down the line. In my job I have to sometimes say it could have been worse. Hope you and NORECO can get this sorted. Take care.

 

Sorry for your loss Pat. When did this happen? My wife just moved back to Bacong yesterday. I haven't received a phone call about any smoking appliances.....yet!

Your home theaters, range, washing machine, and computer should all be repairable. Your other items possibly repairable too, but likely not worth it as either no parts will be available or they will not be cost effective to repair because it will be less expensive to replace rather than repair.

To all reading this thread, use AVR's and surge protectors on all your equipment!

 

Thanks, the Noreco power line was cut and I am the last house and transformer on the line. Al hell broke loose, everything plugged in to the main panel was zapped. Replacement cost for same would now be about 300,000p, my voltage regular was for the microwave and both were unplugged. Aircons have separate breakers and were spared. I need a VR for the whole house. I will now battle for some reimbursement.

 

You know my in-laws always go around unplugging the unused appliances which I took as some kind of silly superstition since it was explained to me as having to do with saving electricity but maybe its not such a bad idea?

 

I lost a fan and half the function of my voltage regulator/invert. One side wont invert and gives loud humming to my appliances and burning smell...I assumed the voltage peaked so high even the regulator fried and then a 16 hr brown out followed in mountain town outside bacolod...I rented new place in don salvador an hour up hill from bacolod and will take pats lesson to heart every day..They unplugged all unused appliance at my old bacong rental and was told fire protection...Glad houses didnt catch fire in bacong...Or did any and no word is out yet???

 

Sounds like a sudden field collapse across your transformer caused the big spike. Kind of worked like the old style automotive breaker points, but the coil was your transformer and your appliances were the spark plugs. I hope you find some luck when you go for repairs. Sometimes just a power source will go and spare the other electronics.

 

Actually you can save a surprising amount of electricity by unplugging all the items that have a "standby mode" . Especially if you have a lot of stuff controlled by remotes.

 

Greg, it happened around 2:30pm Wed. Just a small area. I think it started on the mayor's street then followed the new line up around the corner to my house. Maybe where they extended the new line, haven't heard exactly where. An american friend of mine of knows Noreco management went and talked for me and I rec'd a call to send them a detail listing of what happened and the damage and they will send someone to assure the appliances are not working and will replace the broken ones. It will be a miracle if that happens and I will never (?) talk bad about them again, if that happens. Damage well over 250k replacement for new appliances. I will get AVR's for all appliances, they are about 800p for 1000w. Leaving everything unplugged or on an AVR is the lesson learned for everyone, me the hard way.

 

Pat,
Since the area of the mayor is also involved, i would advice you to contact the mayor himself.(at home or in the municipal hall)
His daughter is one of the directors of Noreco.
Perhaps you can contact some other victims, just to make one (big)claim.
A group of victims is more important than just one.
Be well prepared with a lot of documentation,(bills, invoices,pictures etc)