Follow up on Re: Strange problem? My computer and some peripherals shutdown. I can't figure out what happened…

[GeneL]

I called SDG&E and found out that they had experienced a power outage in the next town (Laguna Niguel) and that it had affected a number of circuits in Dana Point. The engineer that I spoke to was candid about what happened, but a guy from SDG&E came out last night and was giving me a line about "there could be a number of reasons why my hard drive died" seemingly to establish a lack of responsibility on their part.

If anyone has knowledge about situations like this I'd like to hear about it. I'm wondering about what actually happened that could bypass my surge protectors and UPS?

Also, since my Maxtor drive was "killed," do you think that my system has sustained damage that won't show up immediately and if so, how should I approach the electric company for compensation?

[BigGuynRusty]

Jeezo.

BGnR

[cbelt3]

Oh, and you need to find your surge supressor and UPS documentation and call THEM about a claim. That hardware is supposed to protect against surges and spikes. Getting a piece of paper from the electric company would help too.

[hal]

compensation? are you nuts?

[GeneL]

cbelt3 wrote:
Oh, and you need to find your surge supressor and UPS documentation and call THEM about a claim. That hardware is supposed to protect against surges and spikes. Getting a piece of paper from the electric company would help too.

I don't know how I'd get the documentation you mentioned. Can you describe how I can get anything from the surge suppressor? There's no data connection to the computer. It just has some peripherals plugged into it.

As far as the Belkin UPS, I don't have the USB connection set up. I just use it with the computer, monitor and printer plugged into the power backed up outlets and several other peripherals are plugged into the remaining surge protected only outlets.

I don't know of any way to get a history log based on this setup.

My choice for not using the USB connection was based on experience with my prior Belkin unit. There were times when the alarm went off all the time, whenever there was a slight fluctuation in power.

As far as I knew, this unit should work properly, doing the basic functions it is designed for without that data connection.

Suggestions?

[Dick Moore]

As far as you know the UPS iss working properly, but have you actually tested it by pulling its plug out of the wall? Nine times out of ten when you do that, you'll find that the battery is essentially dead and that the UPS did not maintain power thru a drop-out. If the drive was writing at the time for any reason, then you've got probs.

[GeneL]

Dick Moore wrote:
As far as you know the UPS is working properly, but have you actually tested it by pulling its plug out of the wall? Nine times out of ten when you do that, you'll find that the battery is essentially dead and that the UPS did not maintain power thru a drop-out. If the drive was writing at the time for any reason, then you've got probs.

No I haven't tested it, Dick, but that's a good idea. If it's not working will it hurt anything as long as I'm not running any programs?

As far as the drive that died, it wasn't in use, so if that's the only likely cause for its failure, then I figure it just had to be due to the momentary outage.

[OWC Jamie]

Test your UPS' battery with a drop light or fan.
------------
If you test often enough, then you would know from the length of time from any battery level beep indicators how healthy your system is.
(no one ever does this)
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Your surge protector does not protect you from sags or brown-outs.
If your UPS does not have AVR it did not protect you from voltage fluctuations.


I do know people who have submitted losses to the power company, but they were thousands of dollars of burnt out appliances and equipment.

[JoeH]

Only time I have heard of the power companies paying out was when the damage was due to their negligence. A "normal" power outage does not count. Last time I heard of one paying out, it was because they re-energized a dead line without first verify it was connected and grounded properly. Whole street of houses had plugged in equipment blow when they got 230+ V on their 120 outlets due to a missing Neutral connection.