Power fluctuations killed a PSU.

[TheSmJ]

My second fastest folding rig, a 1.5Ghz machine, is now down thanks to some f'ed up power fluctuations that occurred around 6AM last night. All other computers are ok, including mine (which is the only one on a UPS).

The PSU that was killed was an Antec Smart Power 400W. These go for around $80... and I'm gona try to get DTE to give me money for a new one. Anyone ever attempt such thing from a power company?

Till then, I'll be folding at a much lower rate than usual. :bawling:

[muddocktor]

Antec warrantees their products for 3 years, why not rma the sucker? I doubt that it is 3 years old, huh?

[SimGuy]

DTE won't give you a cent.

Want to know why? Simply, DTE (or any other power company) doesn't guaruntee 100% clean power delivery to your house. It leaves the plant at 60 Hz AC, but once its transmitted to the transmission & distribution network, line-loss or any other external element can affect how clean the power is once it hits your house.

If the line-loss was sufficiently low, your breaker panel should have flipped, protecting all of your electrical equipment. Anytime that the incoming voltage on my house wiring is below 58 Hz AC or higher than 62 Hz AC, the breakers kick out, protecting all of the electrical equipment.

During the blackout of 2003, the flickering power and line-loss was even too much for my panel and took out 4 PSU's with it. The systems were fine, but 4 Antec PSU's bit the bullet. Antec's RMA process is great and now all 4 rig's are running again. :)

//Edit: Spelling :D

[primesuspect]

Usually your homeowner's insurance will cover it. Don't bother with DTE - they'll tell you to file a claim with your homeowner's.

DTE hates us.

[profdlp]

Sorry to hear that.

We had severe wind storms here in C'ville on Wednesday; the power was out all morning. When it finally came back, I found one of my comps dead. Power Supply was a goner... :banghead:

I guess it could have been worse. :rolleyes2

Could have been better, too... :werr:

[BDR]

Good luck getting the power company to pay.

The power pole that our power line into the house is on, rotted at the base because it's old and needed replaced years ago.
During a spring time storm, the wind blew the pole too far in one directon and snapped the neutral line that comes into our power meter. That caused high voltage in some rooms and low voltage in others, and blew out a tv, vcr, clock, Caller ID unit and the furnace control switch.
Power Co. replaced the pole but refused to pay for our losses, stating "act of god" as the reason for the pole falling.

[SimGuy]

BDR had this to say
Good luck getting the power company to pay.

The power pole that our power line into the house is on, rotted at the base because it's old and needed replaced years ago.
During a spring time storm, the wind blew the pole too far in one directon and snapped the neutral line that comes into our power meter. That caused high voltage in some rooms and low voltage in others, and blew out a tv, vcr, clock, Caller ID unit and the furnace control switch.
Power Co. replaced the pole but refused to pay for our losses, stating "act of god" as the reason for the pole falling.

Did you report the rotten pole to your local MEU?

//Edit: MEU = Municipal Electrical Utility.

[BDR]

We didn't know it was rotted until it fell.
The power co. worker that came out to fix it said it was rotted at the base, but also told us exactly what the power co. would say (act of god) and he was right.

MEU= Power Company?

[SimGuy]

Yep, MEU = Power Company.

Power companies aren't in the habit of replacing any equipment at all, as could you imagine the insurance headaches that DTE (or other companies) would have to put up with. People calling to get their $10.00 hair dryer replaced because the line undervolted, causing the hair dryer to overheat and burn the poor bastard's hair off. :) The monthly insurance premium would be in the millions.

Up here, we only inspect power poles once a year, usually in the summer. That leaves poles 364 days out of the year unchecked. It isn't written anywhere, but if you report that a pole is ready to fall down due to moisture rot, MEU's are pretty good to come out and replace the pole. After all, it's a hell of a lot easier to replace a new pole before an accident happens where an old pole collapses, taking down the distribution network and surrounding infrastructure, damaging both customer and MEU equipment.

[BDR]

I would think it's the Power Company's place to inspect the poles. It's not our pole and not even on our property.

That particular pole hadn't been replaced as long as I can remember, and we've lived here for 20 years.

They replaced a neighbors line that's on the same pole when a tree fell across it and broke it a few years back, and also hooked up a new line to it when a new neighbor moved into a previously vacant lot. One would think they would have inspected the pole during one of those calls.

Even the employee stated that they didn't maintain the pole like they should have.

It's not a really big deal though. It didn't cost over $100 to replace what we did, and fix the furnace module.

It's more that every year they ask for rate increases and yet they can't (or won't) maintain their own poles.
They will never have to maintain them if they can just claim "act of god" every time one falls over, and get out being responsible.

Thank goodness I had the computers on surge protectors, or they would have seen the "rath of god".

;D

enough ranting for now.... ;)

[TheSmJ]

Well I found the receipt for the PSU (case, actually. It came with the Antec case in my sig below) and I still have the dead PSU, so I guess I have everything I need for the RMA.

Antec's site is currently down now, but what does it take to get the RMA underway, and how long does it take to get a replacement?

[SimGuy]

rma@antec-inc.com
http://www.antec-inc.com/pdf/rma_form.pdf (for FAX)

http://www.antec-inc.com/support_AQ3Warranty.html

Their RMA was pretty good. Total turn around time was 10 days for me, but that involved cross-border shipping.

[TheSmJ]

Ok, I'll fax in the form, but how do I find out my RMA number and Customer Code?

Edit: Almost forgot. Thanks for the info!!