⌛ Noreco Surge Damage

Rabbit Ears TV antenna anybody?
With both TV's and satellite modems blown out, my wife suggested we buy a small tv with an antenna so she could watch her series tonight. She said most people here can't afford cable and get the local channels with rabbit ears. We did it and I had to laugh, I told her, honey, this is what I had for tv reception when I was growing up, no big deal. We added a Baron big antenna and will transfer the tv to her parents in the mountains who will get tv in their home for the first time, using a generator. Having all this crap happening to me and at least seeing a positive result at the end of it makes it okay.

Further update, many of the appliances I lost are still on warranty (and we kept the receipt - another lesson learned) and I am having the appropriate service centers take action instead of waiting for noreco to take 2 months to repair or replace. I have one big item not on warranty and will get it fixed and keep receipts and go for reimbursement. Noreco may get off the hook for a much larger amount if the power supply replacements fix the appliances. What I am afraid of, though, is you fix one problem and then you run and find another problem, like a computer program. Still, the warranty will cover, if the aggravation doesn't kill me.
So important take aways so far are, automatic voltage regulators, warranties, receipts, service centers. I would not purchase any major appliance here if there is no service center just in case. for example, made in China products.....

 

Good question, and I will attempt to answer it. ANY appliance, with very few exceptions, with an internal circuit board has electricity going through it at all times. The same goes for anything that has a remote control. The power switch is AFTER the internal power supply and the circuit board. The internal power supply (think of it as a small transformer) can't handle large power surges and neither can the circuit board.

 

Very wise words Pat! In addition to that I would ad surge protectors. I don't know how big of a surge an AVR can handle.

 

Simran VR

I have (5) Simran AR-1000 Heavy Duty 1000 Watt Automatic Step Up & Step Down Voltage Transformer with Built-in Voltage Regulator / Stabilizer - 110V - 220V/240V for Worldwide Use. I brought them in from the states and over the past 7 years they have proteced me from all power related issues including surges. Only once has the fuse blown on one which I easily replaced and other than that it has served its purpose to perfection. I have my computer, television, refrigerator, microwave, air cons all plugged into them and so far so good.

 

what a bummer! hope things work out for you in the end. it's nice that this topic came up. my brain short circuits if the topic of anything electrical comes up so i have very little understanding of it. a few months ago i was working on my pc trying to catch a deadline while a thunderstorm was going on. had to replace the motherboard. lesson learned. :(

 

Update from Noreco on Damage Repair
I went to Noreco today to ask what the 'heck' they are going to do about my damage. The engineer told me the plan is for me to get everything repaired and bring the receipts and damaged parts to them for reimbursement. I will do that but it looks like they are putting the problem back on me to do all the work and up front money. Okay, if that is what it takes to once again get me back to normal. Meanwhile I had to buy a fridge and tv to keep a minimum standard of living while I get the 250k in damages repaired.

 

Any chance of getting that agreement in writing?

 

Payment?
Later,later. ,later. ....
I know that kind of story.

 

Monday will be 2 months since I had a full house damage from the Noreco power line being cut and not been reimbursed for damage. Retail damage of my appliances would have been in the p250,000 range; however, fortunate for them, most of my appliances were still on warranty and thus no charge to Noreco. Nevertheless, I turned in my list of damage repair costs including the receipts I had. There were a couple of receipts missing for small items, a fan, and my laptop power adapter that got fried and lost the replacement receipt (note: no Lenovo power adapter available, had to go with international power adapter which later my laptop battery died), so Noreco said no receipt no reimbursement. I told them just pay me what you want to pay, I'm not going back there any more.
What I don't know is if my appliances, like my laptop, will have future problems due to the 2000 volts surge. Power supplies, capacitors, etc, were replaced by the items on warranty but I have no idea if there is a possibility of hidden damage. My house had no internal wiring problems.
Since this happened, I bought numerous AVR's (automatic voltage regulators). I already have a 25kb transformer but that was merely a pass through for the surge.
Not sure how the Noreco line was cut but I would say the take away from this crapola is protect yourself, just in case....

 

ilovedum: I did a search for your simran transformer and the only thing that showed up was one for sale on amazon for 50 USD. Is it made in China? Do you have a website or phone number for them? I would like to buy a few myself...