And so I am relived.. As mentioned a few weeks ago my wife fried my laptop during our vacation... I expect a total loss when I send it to Dell for an estimate. Lo and behold, the...

Rongnongno Loc: FL

As mentioned a few weeks ago my wife fried my laptop during our vacation...

I expect a total loss when I send it to Dell for an estimate. Lo and behold, the estimate was $119.00, motherboard repair... So I lost only $160.00 ($39.00 diagnostics...) I expected to purchase a new one...

Now, if Nikon sends me my lens back with a low price, I will be ecstatic.

On the other hand, I have to replace the generator and a few items in the house as it was hit by lighting. There, I do not expect much from the insurance company, they are likely to prorate my 25KW Caterpillar generator (2001) and the replacement cost is just about $12,000 (Generac 26KW).

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Rongnongno wrote:

As mentioned a few weeks ago my wife fried my lapt... (show quote)

And the Generac probably will not last as long as the Cat unit!!

BebuLamar

Manglesphoto wrote:

And the Generac probably will not last as long as the Cat unit!!

And although his CAT is 22 year old how many hours did it run? He needs the generator that often?

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

BebuLamar wrote:

And although his CAT is 22 year old how many hours did it run? He needs the generator that often?

Sometimes its not a matter of need, It can be a matter of want , had it not been hit by lightening it could run for 22 more years!!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Rongnongno wrote:

As mentioned a few weeks ago my wife fried my lapt... (show quote)

That low price is surprising. It would probably be about the same with an Apple laptop, right? 🤣

Canisdirus

My wife doesn't need to travel to fry my laptop...she does it right on the couch.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Rongnongno wrote:

As mentioned a few weeks ago my wife fried my lapt... (show quote)

If you have replacement insurance and your insurance company depreciates the generator, won’t you recover the depreciation part when you replace it?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

In process with the insurance.

We had an 'expert' come in and check the claim. I am not holding my breath: that person was not even a technical person, unlike the first time... Her inspection? Using a Ohm meter to check in a power supply was shorted. The other guy (2018) opened the gizmo and looked for minute traces of damage, which he found. At the time, it cost us $6,000 to repair the generator and the insurance company an additional $4,000. Since USAA does not insure house in FL we are stuck with rising prices and diminishing coverage. Two years ago, they claimed our roof was too old and needed to be replaced to keep our insurance... That was snuffed out when we provided the proof the roof was younger, as we still had the bill. The same went for the water heater...

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

Rongnongno wrote:

As mentioned a few weeks ago my wife fried my lapt... (show quote)

Good news. Your generator is only $6200 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Generac-Systems-7290-Guardian-Generator/dp/B0BL5S4RD6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=4KMUMIRFY2HO&keywords=generac+26kw+generator&qid=1691344699&sprefix=generac+26kw+generator%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-4

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Rongnongno wrote:

In process with the insurance. br br We had an ... (show quote)

I grew up in Tampa. Most people do not understand how intense lightning can be.
I worked with Lightning survival testing for over 20 years.
It is important to have several 'Antenna' rods in the air around your perimeter, the more the better.
More importantly is a copper clad steel rod for each in the ground with very heavy wire connecting them together.

I would highly suggest covered 'Spark Gaps' across the lines just in front of the Cat in an attempt to protect it.

I hope not too much was lost.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

edrobinsonjr wrote:

Good news. Your generator is only $6200 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Generac-Systems-7290-Guardian-Generator/dp/B0BL5S4RD6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=4KMUMIRFY2HO&keywords=generac+26kw+generator&qid=1691344699&sprefix=generac+26kw+generator%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-4

Riiiight. Install it. You need a master plumber (natural gas line) Master electrician (only one authorized to work on the electrical part). Add removal disposal of the existing unit and the building permits ($275x2)

It is naive to think it is a Lego situation and that one can just do whatever.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

BBurns wrote:

.../...I hope not too much was lost.

Wall control board... Fried
Ford engine... Fried
Internal board... Fried.

A total loss.

Our usual tech who did the last maintenance basically said:
- 'RIP', I will not waste my time and your $$$ repairing this, it would more expensive than purchasing a new one. The same, water cooled, 27KW is about 19K plus install/disposal. In 2018, we had the same issue, albeit less severe. To get the parts was a big issue due to the unit age. 8 weeks wait!

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

If your insurance policy has replacement cost, and most do, they will buy you a new one.

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

Rongnongno wrote:

Riiiight. Install it. You need a master plumber (natural gas line) Master electrician (only one authorized to work on the electrical part). Add removal disposal of the existing unit and the building permits ($275x2)

It is naive to think it is a Lego situation and that one can just do whatever.

Oops! Sorry, I thought anyone could install it. NOT!

Ed

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

BBurns wrote:

I grew up in Tampa. Most people do not understand ... (show quote)

Absolutely correct!