Lightning Strikes!

Post by **Lightning** » Thu. Apr. 11, 2013 8:28 am

A bolt of lightning hit this pole that stands about 30 feet from my house. At the same moment there was a flash of blue light and a snap like a firecracker behind my 55 inch LCD TV. The TV longer works and along with that, my modem, computer and Dish Network box was fried.

The interesting part is that the light you see on the pole hasn't been lit for over 15 years and has somehow been resurrected by the bolt of lightning! I don't even have a switch or any way to turn it off! How crazy is that!

Post by **Lightning** » Thu. Apr. 11, 2013 10:10 am

I also find it intriguing that my nickname and signature phrase from The Spirit of Radio by Rush all have relative connotation with the lightning incident hahaha.

Cap · Post by **Cap** » Thu. Apr. 11, 2013 8:19 pm

The bulb was loose...

Post by **Lightning** » Fri. Apr. 12, 2013 6:47 am

Cap wrote:The bulb was loose...

Yes probably. Wherever the bad connection was, the lightning welded it back together lol.

Everyone has been pretty good to me. Verizon is sending a new modem, dish network is sending a new DVR box and the insurance is currently writing up an estimate for replacement value on the TV and computer

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Fri. Apr. 12, 2013 6:55 am

Let us know what all that does to your insurance premium

Post by **dcrane** » Fri. Apr. 12, 2013 7:04 am

Do not make a homeowners insurance claim before first calling the power company and complaining

Im not sure its worth making a claim for 1 TV if your deductable is $500 and the depreciation on the TV is over 2-3 years. (You save homeowners insurance for the Whoppers that you can call in the troups for IE: mold, roof experts, damaged foundation, etc.etc.etc.)

on another note... Rush was the bomb in Concert (one of the best bands Ive ever seen live and I've seen a lot!)

also... make sure your being charged to run that light now

sometimes a streetlight follows the deed on a property when its at your driveway (in which case it might be time to pull the kids BB gun)

chester · Post by **chester** » Fri. Apr. 12, 2013 11:32 am

dont let dish try to scam you by paying any fees for services or shipping and handling.its there equipment and you are renting it ,so any damages are their responsibilty

Post by **Lightning** » Sat. Apr. 13, 2013 7:34 am

chester wrote:dont let dish try to scam you by paying any fees for services or shipping and handling.its there equipment and you are renting it ,so any damages are their responsibilty

According to the rep I talked to everything is covered by them. Even return shipping on the damaged unit

My homeowners ins is sending a check for full value minus deductible and depreciation. I will also get a check for the withheld depreciation if I prove that I replaced the items. I thought it was interesting that nobody came to see the damaged items and they didn't ask for any proof of my purchase cost for the items. They just took my word on everything. Isn't that strange? Had I been the dishonest type I could have told them anything. Whose to say lightning even struck?

Post by **Lightning** » Sat. Apr. 13, 2013 2:00 pm

Hey Doug, I've seen Rush just least 8 times once from second row! Geddy Lee is my hero. Him and Steve Harris from Iron Maiden were my sole inspiration and mentored me into the bass player I am today

Post by **Lightning** » Sun. Apr. 28, 2013 7:43 pm

So after depreciation and deductible I got a check for a little over a thousand from my home owners ins. I got lucky and found a 65 inch LED LCD TV - it was a display model for around that same amount. (The old TV was a 55).. I had to buy a new wall mount for it since the other could only support a 55 inch TV. Then, I managed to fix the computer by replacing the video card. YAY!! SO basically I got an upgraded TV for about $200 overall

Now I have a 55 inch sitting on the floor. My buddy had fixed one in the past by replacing the motherboard in it for under a $100.. Hopefully I can do the same with this one. Anyone have any experience fixing a fried LCD TV? Any advise?

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sun. Apr. 28, 2013 8:07 pm

I'm just glad the lightning wasn't 30 feet closer!

I'm On Fire · Post by **I'm On Fire** » Mon. Apr. 29, 2013 11:14 am

When I was having the septic replaced in 2011 there was a massive lightening storm a few days before Irene rolled through. The clowns doing the work left their Kobota tractor about 15 feet from my front windows and a lightening bolt struck it. The light was so intense that it lit up the entire living room. You could also feel the static in the air afterwards. All of my front room windows were open too. It was actually pretty scary. I was hoping it cooked their tractor but the following day they came to get the machine for another job (instead of finishing up mine) and it started right up.

Lightning Strikes!

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