posted
While we were on vacation last week there was a storm in our little town. I returned to work Monday morning and tried to fire up the VersaCamm with no luck. I messed with it until after lunch with a techy from my supplier. I then decide to rout out some letters on our table for some channel letters but could not get that design station to boot up. I went home and picked up an old computer and brought it to the shop. At this point I just thought I was having a bad day. After I got the computer wired to the router table I went to turn on the table and it will not boot up either. Now I am getting pi$$ed. I start to realize that all three machines not running was more than a coincidence. I ask a neighbor about last weeks weather and find out Thursday night was a big boomer. I contacted my insurance agent first thing this morning and file a claim. My Roland tech is coming tomorrow to find out if the VersaCamm is repairable. If not a new Versy is on the way, courtesy of the big stash of cash my insurance company has been holding for me for the last 20 years. I have to send the controller to the router table to Cleveland to see what is up with it. The computer was looked at by an IT tech this evening and the HD is fried. My insurance agent it going to love me.
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
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posted
I had surge protectors installed right in my circuit breaker panel. I've had evidence of giant surges here, but so far no damage to equipment. (Knocking on wood)
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5396 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Sure hope things get up and running better than before for you Jerry.
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1694 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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Man Sorry to here that... We were lucky here. Our Main electrical panels have a dedicated ground just for the computer systems so if Lighting hits or power surges, it trips the sensor/breaker and goes right to the ground.. Kinda like a giant GFI for Equipment as long as everything is plugged into the orange outlets. The company that owned this building before me spent thouands putting all this stuff in.
posted
One word.....Si-Com It its a surge protector for the whole power panel....$25000 warranty, lifetime warranty. If it pops you get new one free (and it saves your butt in the meantime). Gotta love free...
Any of the local electric co's should sell them. If they don't, tell them to get them!
-------------------- Snow's Sign Works 865-908-0076 snowman@planetc.com www.snowsigns.com
I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message... Posts: 1640 | From: Sevierville, TN | Registered: Jul 2005
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A few years back, one lightning bolt struck the pond across the street and above my property at the same time. When it tried to arc back to itself, it did it underground in the water veins, frying my well pump and sending a surge into the house. Fried the motherboard on the system I had a lot of backups on. Fortunately, the system in the shop dodged that bullet.
If the motherboard is shot, but the HD is still intact, you can put it into another computer as a slave drive and get access to your files/data. Might be worth a few minutes to try it.
Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Been struck by lightening three times. Twice the shop got it.
The first time, I had all the breakers turned off...and lightening came in the phone line.
The second time, I had all surge protectors in place, phone line and all. Still the lightening got through. It was those $25,000 coverage protectors. If you read the fine print on the box, you have to box up and pay to ship your equipment to them. Then they will decide if it was their fault. I could see how that would end up.
It took three months the second time for the insurance company to come through. I pushed hard for new equipment, cause even if they fixed it, there could be other parts damaged and ready to quit.
Now...I watch the weather really close, and everything gets unplugged if there's even a hint of a storm.
-------------------- Ace Graphics & Printing Camdenton, MO. USA
3 months to get resolution is my biggest fear. I guess I could tell them since I am not making any money with the equipment down I will pay my premiums after I get up and running again. LOL
Bill
Our shop is set up with the same type of GFI setup with orange outlets. The Versacamm was plugged into a surge protector also.
The router table and computer were not plugged into one of the orange outlets, but was surge protected.
Ray
I being a photographer as well as graphic designer, I have 5 external harddrives on my desk for weddings, etc. I usually remove the harddrive from my older computers and put them in an external case for file transfer. Then save the harddrive in the closet.
I am waiting for the Roland guy to get here and tell me the verdict. Yesterday when powering up the Versacamm the display said "SP???" instead of "SP300" as usual. My computer popped up a screen saying "New Hardware Detected". I then had 3 different fault codes throughout the process on the machine. I think it is safe to say something is not right in Roland World.
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
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I was hit twice in the same year, not directly but near the shop which is in back of my home. Lightning hit ground and followed underground wiring to house and shop, frying two computers, logic board in my plotter, portable phones, recorder, fax machine, two overhead door operators, air compressor, several old radios and the smoke and fire alarms (hard wired) in house. Fire dept was here for over an hour checking out the house as the fire alarms would not shut off.
Insurance company was right on the ball, paid claim within two weeks. I had my electrician install lightning arresters on each electric panel to prevent this from happening again and since have not had an reoccurrence.
-------------------- Len Mort Signmaker1.com 11 Juniper Drive Millbury, MA 508-865-2382 "A Good Business Sign, is A Sign of Good Business"(1957) Posts: 811 | From: Millbury, Ma | Registered: Dec 2006
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They protect against surges, NOT direct lightning strikes.
Lightning hits some distance away and the lights surge/dim, no problems, the surge protectors will keep sensitive electronics safe.
Lightning strikes in the immediate area, you're good as toast. Lightning that's jumped a thousand feet isn't gonna care if there's a surge protector in place or not. It's either going to cook the protector or just jump around, circumventing it completely.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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These devices work by instantly burning out diodes. However the gaps in the sacrificial diodes are not big enuf to stop a close by lightning strike.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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I just got back from a short vacation and noticed that we must have had a storm because all my clocks were flashing and my computers were shut down. Found out through a friend on the fire department that a house across the street from me was hit by lightning. So far so good but I haven't turned on the plotter. Now I'm afraid to! Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Insurance adjuster told me to order a new VersaCamm yesterday. So I figured, I might as well add some of my own cash to the stash and upgrade to the 540VP. NEWER, FASTER, BIGGER, MEANER, SEXIER!!
Computer replacement is OK'd so I will be off to Best Buy today for that.
The router table is still waiting for the controller manufacturer to call me so my router jobs are piling up.
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
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New and better equipment will only help you get more inspired and produce greater results.
Hope all works out as well with the router.
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1694 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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