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My Determination Pays Off!
Over forty years ago, I began a procedure to safe guard my films and equipment. This was at a time when I hardly had any sound films. I had just began collecting super 8 sound, and had no idea where it would bring me as of today, July 28, 2021.
The simple thing I always did: When the booth was closed, EVERYTHING was unplugged from main power source. It was fairly easy to do. Use a power strip for multiple things – and just unplug the power strip.
Never before today have I been so proud to have stayed with this idea. Every single time. After every night time screening. Walk away from the booth, and have everything unplugged.
Earlier today (July 28th 2021 @ 4:18am Florida time zone) a lightning bolt hit my main power meter in the corner of my backyard. It damaged the meter, and the circuit breaker inside it which sends the power to the house. In addition to the power meter, a Verizon former landline junction box was destroyed. The internet router inside the house was caput. Some small parts inside the central air conditioner unit achieved meltdown. And for the next 7 hours there would be no power in my house.
At first I thought, OK a simple thunderstorm power outage. Should be fixed soon. Not long after that I heard the neighbor’s air conditioner turn on. So I thought well it should be checked. I quickly concluded I was the only one without power.
At 7am I was reporting the outage to the power company and soon they called back. Workers had been to the house, removed the meter and instructed me that I needed an electrician to replace the circuit breaker. After which, they could return and reconnect the power.
Total cost electrician: $865.00 USD.
Power is restored.
Then attempting to very carefully turn everything on via instructions from the electrician regarding the panel box inside the house. I find the thermostat for the air-conditioned is working OK but the outside unit does not start.
Air Conditioner repair charge: $240.00 USD.
By 5:00 in the afternoon, 13 hours after the power went out, I was back up and running. The cable people came and swapped out the router as they detected the problem was in my house. They were on top of it before I notified them.
This was a HUGE thunder clap.
Reviewing my back yard, as I lay in bed at the precise moment, I came to the conclusion that the power meter was about 75 feet from my bed. The Verizon Landline box was about 4 feet from my headboard outside of the house.
I’ve never been so scared in all my life. This was REALLY close.
But through it all, the best news yet:
My film collection, and equipment are all good. My house still stands. No other appliances within the house of any kind are damaged as far as I can tell.
And I am alive.
Folks I can’t stress this enough.
If you are NOT using power strips, or power centers, to manage your equipment.
If you are NOT unplugging your gear when you are NOT using it.
You ARE making a HUGE mistake.
Let me tell you I am so proud to have been so careful for more than 40 years of film collecting.
CG
Notes:
Power Centers were designed for desktop computers. A few switches in front, and outlets in back. Sit the monitor on top of it, and control your devices. These work very good for projectors and sound systems.
Over forty years ago, I began a procedure to safe guard my films and equipment. This was at a time when I hardly had any sound films. I had just began collecting super 8 sound, and had no idea where it would bring me as of today, July 28, 2021.
The simple thing I always did: When the booth was closed, EVERYTHING was unplugged from main power source. It was fairly easy to do. Use a power strip for multiple things – and just unplug the power strip.
Never before today have I been so proud to have stayed with this idea. Every single time. After every night time screening. Walk away from the booth, and have everything unplugged.
Earlier today (July 28th 2021 @ 4:18am Florida time zone) a lightning bolt hit my main power meter in the corner of my backyard. It damaged the meter, and the circuit breaker inside it which sends the power to the house. In addition to the power meter, a Verizon former landline junction box was destroyed. The internet router inside the house was caput. Some small parts inside the central air conditioner unit achieved meltdown. And for the next 7 hours there would be no power in my house.
At first I thought, OK a simple thunderstorm power outage. Should be fixed soon. Not long after that I heard the neighbor’s air conditioner turn on. So I thought well it should be checked. I quickly concluded I was the only one without power.
At 7am I was reporting the outage to the power company and soon they called back. Workers had been to the house, removed the meter and instructed me that I needed an electrician to replace the circuit breaker. After which, they could return and reconnect the power.
Total cost electrician: $865.00 USD.
Power is restored.
Then attempting to very carefully turn everything on via instructions from the electrician regarding the panel box inside the house. I find the thermostat for the air-conditioned is working OK but the outside unit does not start.
Air Conditioner repair charge: $240.00 USD.
By 5:00 in the afternoon, 13 hours after the power went out, I was back up and running. The cable people came and swapped out the router as they detected the problem was in my house. They were on top of it before I notified them.
This was a HUGE thunder clap.
Reviewing my back yard, as I lay in bed at the precise moment, I came to the conclusion that the power meter was about 75 feet from my bed. The Verizon Landline box was about 4 feet from my headboard outside of the house.
I’ve never been so scared in all my life. This was REALLY close.
But through it all, the best news yet:
My film collection, and equipment are all good. My house still stands. No other appliances within the house of any kind are damaged as far as I can tell.
And I am alive.
Folks I can’t stress this enough.
If you are NOT using power strips, or power centers, to manage your equipment.
If you are NOT unplugging your gear when you are NOT using it.
You ARE making a HUGE mistake.
Let me tell you I am so proud to have been so careful for more than 40 years of film collecting.
CG
Notes:
Power Centers were designed for desktop computers. A few switches in front, and outlets in back. Sit the monitor on top of it, and control your devices. These work very good for projectors and sound systems.
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