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coolmacdude · 04:19 PM

Ok, here's the situation. I am using my Powerbook (800/DVI) today during a storm and lightning hits a nearby powerline. The power only goes off for a few seconds and then comes back on. I think nothing of it until a few hours later I notice that my computer is running out of battery power, even though it is plugged in. I look at the power cord and the green light is not on. I try another plug, and no go. I ran the normal troubleshooting steps with the power I had remaining but without success. So now the battery is dead and I cannot turn the computer back on.

This is very confusing. It was plugged into a surge proctector which was connected to a UPS power backup. I thought that would hopefully be enough to protect from surges. I also have an iMac plugged into the same strip that sustained no damage AFAIK (I'm typeing this on it). Between this and the fact that my powerbook continued to function on battery power leaves me hope that it was not totally fried.

As far as my warranty situation goes, this gets even weirder. I do not have Applecare but purchased the computer one year ago tomorrow at 7 pm. Therefore if I take it in for service tomorrow morning shouldn't I still be covered? On second thought, does the warranty even cover power surges? Secondly, could it be that just the power cord is toast and my computer is all right?

Please offer any advice you can. Thank you.

The Placid Casual · Jul 13, 2003, 04:14 PM

I would take it in to the store first thing in the morning, and not make any mention of the lightening AT ALL. Just say that it has 'stopped working' randomly...

Call me immoral, call me underhand, but all is fair in love and Powerbooks...

Mastrap · Jul 13, 2003, 04:15 PM

Looks like your power adaptor got damaged. I'd check it out at the store. Lightning damage is an act of god and not covered by warranty, unfortunately.

urrl5201 · Jul 13, 2003, 06:18 PM

This is why I don't take chances with surge protectors. I unplug at the first hint of lightning. I would suggest it is only your power adapter at fault however.

romeosc · Jul 13, 2003, 06:47 PM

Originally posted by urrl5201:
This is why I don't take chances with surge protectors. I unplug at the first hint of lightning. I would suggest it is only your power adapter at fault however.

Check your homeowners insurance..... I buy Safeware Computer insurance..... covers everything but act of war!

iWrite · Jul 13, 2003, 11:28 PM

AppleCare would cover it if you had it, yes.

I don't know if Apple will cover it or not.

I use an Airport Base Station and when there's a storm I simply unplug my Powerbook and work wirelessly on battery power. If lightning zaps the Airport Base Station that is also covered under my Powerbook extended AppleCare and they overnight a brand new one to me. I'm safe either way.

All I can say is bring it into an Apple Store and see if your system works with one of their adapters there at the store. If it does then you just need a new adapter. If not then you're at the store and they can try to help you. You might end up shelling out the money to buy AppleCare after all -- but it's a great insurance policy against future problems.

Good luck.

MacNStein · Jul 14, 2003, 09:19 AM

Take your `book in for repair, but DO NOT tell them it was lightning. Just DON'T say ANYTHING. It's not lying, just don't volunteer any info and say, "I noticed that for some reason it had stopped working".

Besides, you don't know FOR SURE that it was the lightning that did it, do you?

dialo · Jul 14, 2003, 09:39 AM

All that happened is that the power brick is dead. It's happened twice to me without any significant surges, so it is not unusual. Your warranty and all you will have to do is send in the brick. Don't send in your powerbook for this. Just tell them that the brick is dead and you need a new one

coolmacdude · 05:33 PM

I found out that I actually have 5 days left on my warranty. I called Apple and they are sending me a new power adapter. If that works then I'm all set, if not then I will take it in to the store to be serviced.

Crusoe · Jul 15, 2003, 03:03 AM

I destroyed my yoyo adapter by accident and had to buy the new crappy white square one. On occasions it quits working for no apparent reason. I'm using the plug with the ground spine on it for the extra length but it isn't plugged into a grounded socket. What I do when this happens is unplug it, remove the power cord from the adapter, then put it back on, and plug it into the wall. It immediately starts to repower my TiBook. Give it a try, works for me.

There is something quirky with them and power surges or flux.

Also you can take it to the store and make sure it's just the adapter and not something internal.

coolmacdude · Jul 16, 2003, 05:32 PM

Well the good news is the new power adapter worked so I can now use my computer again. The bad news is that the lightning also burned out my ethernet port. I guess I will have to use airport full time now.