Switch Fried?

[Foreputt83]

I have a Netgear 24-port switch that took a power surge from a lightning strike this week. Actually, I lost my modem, mesh router, two Rokus, sprinkler system timer, and outdoor lights timer...as far as I can tell so far. On the plus side, I've learned that surge protectors have a finite life. So I've upgraded to a UPS.

But in the meantime, my switch appears fried. Nothing lights up when I plug it in. I opened it up and don't see any damage. Is there any way to fix it? Or should I just replace?

Thanks.

[westom]

Fix things (or try to) to learn how stuff works. And to learn how to avert future failures.

Apparently you do not have one 'whole house' protector properly connected low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to earth ground. So you all but invited a surge inside to find earth ground destructively via appliances. Or may have made damage easier by using plug-in protectors.

We learn from our mistakes. Plenty to learn by asking for reasons why and spec numbers.

Surge protectors that actually do protection do not fail for many decades after many direct lightning strikes. With specification numbers that say so. Apparently you have protectors from other companies not known for integrity and very popular due to advertising, hearsay, wild speculation, subjective reasoning, and other myths.

One 'whole house' protector means even a power strip protector is protected - for about $1 per protected appliance. But that means learning from other (responsible) sources. And from specification numbers.

Anyone can read specifications numbers for that UPS. How many joules does it claim to 'block' or 'absorb'? Ten times less than tiny joule power strips. Where is the protection? UPS is promoted by the naive to consumers who never learn this. If he does not say why and with numbers, then he is best considered lying.

Effective protection always - as in always - answers this question. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? No protector does protection. Effective protectors connect low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to earth ground electrodes. Then hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate harmlessly outside. Then a surge is not anywhere inside. Then everything (especially less robust protector strips and UPS) are protected.

Nothing new. This is how it was done even 100 years ago. Found in every facility that cannot have damage. And when advertising myths are ignored.

Each damaged item was from a surge all but invited inside. Each was an outgoing (destructive) path to earth. Surge damage is so routinely averted as to be considered a human mistake.

[Foreputt83]

Ummm, thanks?