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Electronics lost in a storm or surge device dark.

A licensed electrician should work on panel surge devices, bonding and service grounds.

Customers put it like this

  • the storm fried my TV
  • lightning took out the modem
  • the surge protector light is out
  • everything died after the storm
Prepare this job in ForeBotFind another guide

Stop first if

  • Equipment is smoking.Leave the area and call emergency services.
  • Outside wires are down or damaged.Stay clear and call the utility.
  • Lights run bright or several devices quit at once.Keep sensitive gear off if that can be done without risk, and call the utility.
01

Ask on the call

6

Homeowner? These are the questions a good technician will ask you. Having the answers ready makes the first visit count.

  1. What stopped working, and when?
  2. Did it happen during a storm or a utility event?
  3. Do you have surge strips or a surge device at the panel, and how old are they?
  4. Is a status light on or dark?
  5. Do phone or cable lines connect to the damaged gear?
  6. Has anyone done roof work lately near a lightning protection system?
02

Bring

4
  • Rated multimeter
  • Plug-in receptacle tester
  • Flashlight
  • Phone for photos
03

Check on site

6
  1. Check each strip's indicator, age and storm history. Most strips keep feeding power after protection is spent.
  2. For a dark panel device, work in order: its breaker, connections, line voltage, then replace the unit.
  3. If the status light is on and gear is damaged anyway, look at the phone or cable path.
  4. Check common bonding of power, phone and cable grounds.
  5. Confirm a good ground. A surge device does not belong on an ungrounded circuit.
  6. Separate sags and brief outages from surges. A battery backup addresses those instead.
04

Keep on the record

4
  • List of damaged equipment and how each connects
  • Surge device indicator, age and lead length
  • Bonding photos at the service
  • Storm date and time

General guidance for a qualified person, not a finding about any home. The person on site decides.