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mdf

mdf

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#193876 28-Mar-2016 14:09
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My mother (hence your truly gets to fix it - she is responsible for more posts on geekzone than me...) has had two set top boxes and a router die for no obvious reason. And they are dead. No power lights when plugged in.

 

The only common factor is that they were all (via a multibox) connected to the same powerpoint when they died - though not at the same time, this was over the course of a couple of weeks.

 

The mutibox has been replaced as I thought that may have been the problem, but another STB has just turned up its toes.

 

I suspect the powerpoint may be faulty, though am not sure. Both multiboxes have surge protectors that haven't tripped. And other devices in the same multibox (notably the TV) is absolutely fine.

 

Mr Electrician will be called as soon as the long weekend is over, but was just wondering how he will actually diagnose if there is a problem with the powerpoint. Clearly I will not be poking multimeter prongs into a 240V powerpoint personally.


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kenkeniff
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  #1520750 28-Mar-2016 14:18
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Check earth / polarity: http://www.jaycar.co.nz/Test-%26-Measurement/Electrical-Testers/Contact/Power-Point-and-Leakage-Tester/p/QP2000

Check voltage / frequency: http://www.jaycar.co.nz/Power-Products-Electrical/Power-Monitoring/Power-Meters/Mains-Power-Meter/p/MS6115



richms
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  #1520766 28-Mar-2016 15:23
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Can happen if there is no earth or it is transposed with the neutral. But only if the gear uses the earth.





Richard rich.ms

JimmyH
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  #1520774 28-Mar-2016 15:34
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Get a proper sparky in to test it if you suspect it's faulty.

 

Unless you know what you are doing, it isn't worth taking chances on amateur diagnosis/repair of mains power. It can be very dangerous unless it's done right.




frankv
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  #1521967 29-Mar-2016 06:48
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Just replace it... power points are cheap, and easy to replace.

 

 


andrew027
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  #1522026 29-Mar-2016 09:12
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Just a thought... have you quizzed your mother to make sure she's not doing something weird, you know - watering a pot plant that she sits on top of the STB, plugging some other dodgy appliance from the As Seen On TV store into the same multisocket box... ? 


mdf

mdf

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  #1522086 29-Mar-2016 09:51
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andrew027:

 

Just a thought... have you quizzed your mother to make sure she's not doing something weird, you know - watering a pot plant that she sits on top of the STB, plugging some other dodgy appliance from the As Seen On TV store into the same multisocket box... ? 

 

 

Oooh, don't get me started. Yes, the obvious issues have been dealt with previously.

 

Mum seems to have this entropic field thing going on that renders any technology inoperable about 30 minutes after I have driven home. I have yet to conclusively determine whether this entropic field is personal to mum, or is more a Bermuda triangle geographic thing. The entropic field is certainly an equal opportunity technology destroyer - software, hardware, wiring and plumbing have all been deactivated at some stage. And random stuff too. Factory resets of routers and underground cables breaking for no obvious reason. Cables (allegedly) self propelling out of sockets seems to be common.

 

Mr Entropic Field's goal seems to be either:

 

(a) revert mum's technology to a level with which she is comfortable. My current estimate is approximately a Bronze Age level - she seems happy enough with pointy and/or sharp things, but probably pre-Iron Age (rusting has been an issue previously); or 

 

(b) force me to crawl up the a$$ end of an attic, under stairs, basement, or some other space not big enough for me, not less than once per week.

 

When Dad was still with us, things still broke, but he at least would try cutting edge technologies like checking things were still plugged in or turning them off and on again. Mum's default position seems to be "that Windows 10 upgrade I insisted you install has broken the garage door opener. There's no other explanation. It's certainly nothing _I've_ done."

 

In fairness, she does have other stuff going on. And I would rather she asks me than pay whichever cowboy she finds in the phone book to break it further. If she was paying retail prices to fix this stuff it soon wouldn't be a problem as she would be living in a cardboard box under a bridge in short order. And even _she_ couldn't break that...


MadEngineer
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  #1522097 29-Mar-2016 10:24
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Bahaha and I'm guessing your presence is often enough for problems to disappear?




You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

 
 
 
 

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SepticSceptic
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  #1522290 29-Mar-2016 15:38
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Your mum has the Sadim touch ... The exact opposite of the Midas touch .. If you are cursed with the Sadim touch, everything you touch turns to sh!te ...

 

 

 

 

 

 


Rikkitic
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  #1522330 29-Mar-2016 16:18
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Actually I used to know someone like that. I'm not sure of the science, but apparently there actually are people who scramble anything electronic just by being in the vicinity. 

 

 





Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

 


 


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