If you’ve ever been struck by lightning, you know that it’s a pretty intense experience. And while you may be glad to be alive, you may also be wondering what kind of damage the lightning strike did to your home. One of the most common items affected by a lightning strike is a TV.
If your TV was hit by lightning, don’t worry; there are ways to fix it! In this blog post, we’ll walk you through some of the most common solutions for how to fix a tv after lightning strike. Keep reading this full blog post to know more!
Summary: Lightning strikes can be devastating for electronic equipment, and televisions are no exception. Fortunately, fixing a TV after a lightning strike is possible by following these steps: ensuring power supply safety, checking all connections, testing the TV’s functionality with a known working device, and replacing any damaged parts. After these steps are completed, your TV should be back in action!
Six Ways to Tell If your TV was Struck By Lightning
1. Do a Soft Reset
Most likely, your TV was hit by a power surge. First, turn off the device, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on again. This should reset any flicker settings you might have accidentally turned on during a previous power outage.
2. Check the Ports
If your TV isn’t working, it might be because your HDMI cable, Ethernet cable, or cable box is damaged. You can check your ports by plugging in new devices; if they work, you know the problem is with your cable or box.
3. Look for Warped Cases
If the TV has any signs of heat damage, like if the cases are warped or it seems melted, then it may have experienced a power surge.
4. Check the Fuse
If your TV isn’t working, you should check the fuse at the back of the TV. A blown fuse means that when there was a power surge, it blew out the internal components to prevent damage to your home and possibly hurt someone. If this is not replaceable, you’ll have to buy a new TV.
5. Check the Cable Connection
Microwave ovens, refrigerators, and other electronic devices can cause a power surge. A power surge is when the electricity flowing to an appliance is too high and can damage the appliance. Ensure all your electronics are away from one another to prevent opposing power surges that could damage your TV.
If you have any of the previously mentioned devices next to your television, then you should move them as far apart as possible. Once you’ve determined your TV is toast, you’ll need to get a new one unless it’s under warranty which you should check if your TV is new or expensive.
6. Measure the Standby Voltage
If your TV was on during the lightning strike, you could measure the standby voltage to see if there is a current. This test will only work if the TV is still plugged in and draws power from the outlet. If it’s off, then this test won’t be possible. Connect one or two multimeters to measure DC millivolts. Anything above a few hundred millivolts means your device was damaged.
10 Ways on How to Fix a Tv After Lightning Strike
1. Set and Unplug the Tv
Naturally, the first thing to do is to set and unplug your television. Next, take the power cord out of the wall. This immediately stops any electrical flow through your television and prevents further damage. Next, locate your television’s power supply.
The power supply is located inside the TV and should be easy to find. Unplug the power cord from the power supply. This will also prevent any electrical flow through your television.
Now that you have disconnected all of the power sources to your television, it is time to remove the back panel. Most televisions have screws that hold the back panel in place. You will need a screwdriver to remove these screws.
2. Inspect the Tv
If the set’s exterior still looks fine, scrutinize all components to find out if they were already damaged before the lightning struck or if they appear to be in good working order. If there is visible damage (blown capacitors, broken power supply, etc.), your television is probably too damaged to be fixed, and you should replace it.
3. Remove Batteries or Use a Battery Backup
If your television is in a place where you have frequent power outages, it’s probably best to remove the batteries or use a battery backup. This will prevent any additional damage caused by sudden electrical surges during power outages. If there are no batteries in your remote control, turn the set on manually and shut it off immediately.
4. Inspect the Power Supply
Inspect the power supply if your television appears to be in working order. If you have a multimeter, check for any voltage on all mains and heater wires. If you find voltage, turn the power off and note the wires that have voltage. This will help you to determine if any parts need to be replaced or if there is a short circuit in the set.
5. Examine the Filaments
If there is no visible damage, look at all filaments in your television. You can do this by removing the back of your set. However, if each filament is glowing, your television may have melted components, and you will need to look closely at all components to determine if they are damaged.
6. Test the Transistors
It’s also possible that some parts inside your television have blown or short-circuited or that there is no electrical flow. If the transistors are intact (they aren’t short-circuited), you can check to see if the main transistor receives an electric signal by moving it in and out of position.
7. Look for Signs of Water Damage
Water damage may seem like an unlikely problem, but sometimes this happens in a lightning strike. If there is any sign of moisture in your set, carefully inspect all components and circuits for damage. If you detect moisture, there could be a short circuit in the power supply, or an excess of moisture can cause corrosion to metal components.
8. Inspect the Cables
If your television is working but has no picture or sound, check all cables leading into and out of your set. You should check the connector end that plugs into your television and also the cable ends that plug into other components (cable box, DVD player, etc.). They should be free of damage.
9. Look for Obvious Damage
If there is no visible internal damage to the set, look for visible damage outside of your television. Ensure that nothing nearby was struck by lightning (no smoking, staining, etc.). If there was damage to nearby objects like your antenna or satellite dish, you might need to replace them.
10. Call an Electrician
Call an electrician if you don’t know if anything inside your television is burning hot (it probably isn’t, but it’s better to be safe than sorry). It’s possible that your television was not damaged by lightning but still has a risk of causing electric shock as there could be faulty wiring inside the set which needs to be repaired.
Some Helpful Tips to Protect Your Tv From Lightning Damage
- Unplug your TV. This is the number one thing you want to do when lightning strikes because it can cause serious damage to your TV.
- Check out appliances before unplugging them for any signs of electrical damage; these include cracks or bulged parts, burnt smell, sparks coming from vents, etc. If there is any sign of electrical damage, do not unplug the device.
- Do Not touch any electronic devices or wires during a lightning storm. You can become part of the path for electricity to travel through, which means you may take full force.
- If your TV is plugged into the wall, unplug it. Call an electrician before using it again if you can’t get to it during or after a storm. It may be possible for electricity to travel through the cord and experience residual buildup on your TV components, which causes irreparable damage.
- Check the area where your TV was plugged in for any signs of water damage. This can happen if a heavy appliance falls into it and causes a short circuit that potentially shocks your TV with electricity, causing irreparable damage or fire.
- If you find that your TV is still functional after the storm has passed, make sure all components are in place. For example, the TV stand should be fully attached to support your product to ensure safety.
- If your TV was not plugged into an outlet at the time of the lightning strike, but there are signs that it has been exposed to water or electricity, call a professional before using it again. They will assess how much damage has occurred and make the best possible repairs for you.
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Can Lightning Strike Damage Your TV?
This surge will make your TV look like someone took a hole punch to the screen. Unfortunately, it’s doubtful that you’ll be able to fix it. Lightning can strike anywhere there is an electrical system, which means that your Tv set could have been struck by lightning if it was plugged into any outlet.
If you have a Tv that has been struck by lightning, then you need to replace it. However, in most cases, the television will somehow be damaged by the surge of electricity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens When a Tv Gets Struck by Lightning?
When a tv gets struck by lightning, it’s not just your TV that is damaged. Most TVs have electronic components and wiring that are susceptible to being fried or melted by the intense heat generated when a lightning bolt hits them. This can lead to problems with picture quality, sound reception, and even power cycling (turning on and off).
If you’re unlucky enough to experience this damage firsthand, be sure to call an electrician as soon as possible. They will be able to assess the damage and provide tips on how best repair or replace your television. Additionally, make sure that all other electronics in your home are grounded either through an AC adapter cord or directly into a grounding cable outlet for extra protection.
Can a Tv Be Fixed After Power Surge?
Yes, television can be fixed after a power surge. However, the best way to fix it depends on the type of TV and whether or not it has been damaged. If the TV is old or made with low-quality materials, then it may not be able to be repaired. In this case, you would either need to buy a new one or have it replaced by an authorized service center.
Does Insurance Cover Lightning Damage to Electronics?
Yes, insurance will typically cover lightning damage to electronics. Lightning is a powerful and dangerous force that can cause a wide variety of problems with electronic equipment, from loss of data to physical damage.
Most insurance policies will cover damage that occurs as a result of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or tornado. In addition, most policies will cover damage that results from an act of God. This means that lightning can be considered an act of God, and will thus be covered by most insurance policies.
Do You Check Wires After a Lightning Strike?
You definitely should! That’s because, after a lightning strike, electrical currents can run through wires and create dangerous situations. This is why it is important to check your home for arcing and downed power lines as soon as possible. If you find any of these conditions, immediately call an electrician to get the area cleaned up and protected from further damage.
In addition, don’t wait until there are serious problems before calling an electrician—a minor problem could become much more trouble if not corrected quickly.
Conclusion
If a lightning strike has damaged your TV, there are a few things you can do to try and fix it. First, unplug the TV and disconnect all cables. Next, use an air compressor or vacuum cleaner to remove any dust or debris inside the TV. Finally, use a hairdryer on low heat to dry out any moisture inside the TV.
If these steps don’t work, you may need to take the TV to a repair shop. However, by following the tips in this blog post on how to fix a tv after lightning strike, you can have your TV up and running again in no time. Have you ever had to fix a TV after a lightning strike? If so, we want to hear from you! Share your story in the comments below.
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