1 hour ago, PsyCLown said:

I stand to be corrected, however a common SPD such as the CBI dual pole SPD (https://www.liteglo.co.za/shop/cbi-qfln-2-2-pole-surge-protector/) only does something if the voltage is 275v or higher.

 

I have one of these installed: https://electromannsa.co.za/shop-the-latest-affordable-gadgets-online/din-rail-over-voltage-current-and-under-voltage-protector-relay/

 

So it will disconnect the mains if the voltage is above or below the set points I have set. It also has a function to set over current limit but I feel that isn't as useful for me.

I feel one of these would be more useful if you are worried about high or low voltage which can happen in some areas around loadshedding time.

One evening I noticed the voltage went above 240v and that shut off the power to my inverter, once voltage was within range it waited the set 30 seconds and then restored power to my inverter. This happened twice that evening, which I noticed - however voltage issues in my area are not common I do feel safer with such a device.

Well because I'm going through this SSEG registration process, somebody who actually knows stuff has had a look at my system. He says that there are DC SPDs (Citel) on the lines from the panels, and then two AC SPDs (Dehn). One on the input side of the inverter, protecting the inverter, and one on the output (backed up) side to protect anything on those circuits.

On 2024/01/16 at 9:05 PM, Bobster. said:

Big electrical storm in Jhb this afternoon. I remember one very loud discharge, and there are now reports that it hit somewhere near where I live. 

And now dozens of reports, several in my street, from people who lost all power, have lost circuits in their homes, and/or have suffered damage - notably wifi routers. 

OK... Some of this needs to be verified. The largest Fibre operator in the area seems to be having major issues. I assisted one neighbor whose EL has been tripped, and who was caught out by the breaker lever only falling a little rather than going all the way down. 

But in my street an intercom, a computer screen, a screen connected to security cameras, an actual computer, some external down lights (on a patio), several 5V power supplies. 

Jikkel! Can it really cause such chaos? Is this lightning itself or lightning hitting power lines? 

Bobster I was hit directly during this storm in JHB south on the 16th. It hit me on a old LTE antenna I still had on the roof and I suffered substantial damage. My inverter and two batteries were dead, house alarm, gate PC board, tv HDMI, TV Box, I have two routers one was plugged into two red surge protections (gone) the other one made it but was plugged into a UPS which did not make it. I also had a trickle charger plugged into my car battery, luckily the current never made it through to the car but my charger is caput. I also lost 3 day night switches and all the apple chargers that was plugged in (laptop and phone chargers). My electric fence energizer exploded and was almost ripped out of the wall.

I had to replace my BMS on both my batteries and the manufacturer mentioned there was not much that can prevent this from happening with a ligning strike.

It's crazy what lightning can do.

 

 

43 minutes ago, JacoG said:

Bobster I was hit directly during this storm in JHB south on the 16th. It hit me on a old LTE antenna I still had on the roof and I suffered substantial damage. My inverter and two batteries were dead, house alarm, gate PC board, tv HDMI, TV Box, I have two routers one was plugged into two red surge protections (gone) the other one made it but was plugged into a UPS which did not make it. I also had a trickle charger plugged into my car battery, luckily the current never made it through to the car but my charger is caput. I also lost 3 day night switches and all the apple chargers that was plugged in (laptop and phone chargers). My electric fence energizer exploded and was almost ripped out of the wall.

I had to replace my BMS on both my batteries and the manufacturer mentioned there was not much that can prevent this from happening with a ligning strike.

It's crazy what lightning can do.

 

 

For interest sake, did you have any SPD's on the DC and/or AC side?

 

Have you spoken to insurance yet and will they just pay out for all the damaged equipment?

I've heard stories of lightning frying routers and even causing power surges that mess up appliances.

I wanted to claim for my garage door motor from insurance. I suppose I might do the same if I were them, but they are laying down a lot more rules.

I would have to submit the claim BEFORE replacement, and it would have to be a quote for repair. There would have to be a report from the installer or repair person to justify the repair. If I claim for an entire new motor then there has to be a more detailed report explaining why replacement is the only option. They also want photos of the damage. Like I can crack the thing open and show a burned out track on a PC board and how the numbers on the display aren't right (which I didn't notice. The installer spotted it when he went to collect the motor after the first repair).

I'm toast in this case. Faced with repeated explanations of how the suppliers (not my installer) are out of stock of some piece or another, I bit the bullet and paid about R1600 extra for a whole new install, including the shaft that takes the drive from the motor to the door. Insurance will now say that I elected to have a replacement (which is true) when a repair would have sufficed (probably, if the parts ever arrive).

Difficult. Apparently Digidoor are under huge pressure at the moment with a large number of motors damaged by lightning.

I can argue for the insurer here. They would have paid for the repair, but I went ahead and got a whole new motor (on the basis that it will be good for years to come as long as there is no more lightning damage).
 

Edited February 16, 20242 yr by Bobster.

22 hours ago, PsyCLown said:

For interest sake, did you have any SPD's on the DC and/or AC side?

I have a surge protector on each string of panels.

I also a pair of Dehnguard SPDs on either side of the inverter. So the order is

Grid -> SPD -> Input to inverter   Output from inverter -> SPD -> backed up circuits.

The garage door is on the backed up circuits.

22 hours ago, PsyCLown said:

 

Have you spoken to insurance yet and will they just pay out for all the damaged equipment?

I detailed this in another post. Sorry for not responding to you first. They will pay for a REPAIR if I provide photographic evidence (of what?), a quote, a report from whoever is doing the repair, and I have to supply that in advance. In the event of a replacement there must be a credible report explaining why a repair was not appropriate.

2 minutes ago, Bobster. said:

I have a surge protector on each string of panels.

I also a pair of Dehnguard SPDs on either side of the inverter. So the order is

Grid -> SPD -> Input to inverter   Output from inverter -> SPD -> backed up circuits.

The garage door is on the backed up circuits.

I detailed this in another post. Sorry for not responding to you first. They will pay for a REPAIR if I provide photographic evidence (of what?), a quote, a report from whoever is doing the repair, and I have to supply that in advance. In the event of a replacement there must be a credible report explaining why a repair was not appropriate.

Eish. I just spotted that @psyclown was not actually asking those questions of me.

54 minutes ago, Bobster. said:

Eish. I just spotted that @psyclown was not actually asking those questions of me.

Haha, all good man.

 

Thinking back to when I had to put a claim in around 2018 I think due to a power surge from Eskom which blew some of my equipment I also had to take the equipment in for assessment and both assessments stated that it cannot be repaired and then insurance paid out.

 

So I guess in theory it is as simple as getting someone in to assess, give a report and I feel that if repair is possible but parts are not available then the fact that parts are not available should be stated. A garage door motor is part of security for ones house and if there is a break in due to this then insurance have another claim to fulfil and I'd push back to get a new unit based on this.

Unfortunately it would likely be a bit of a fight but sometimes one needs to fight to get what is expected.