Lightning Hit Nearby Tree, Dishwasher and Other Things Died

[lolaetype]

Yesterday a nasty storm swept through. Lightning hit a tree about 75 feet from the house. It killed:

One of the three garage door openers, the one closest to the strike.
An Optimum cable box.
Two Blu-Ray players.
The 85" Samsung TV.
The land-line Phone system.
The doorbell, it now has a mind of its own and randomly chimes.
And the GE dishwasher, model GDT 630PYM6FS.

This question is about the dishwasher. I've diagnosed everything else. Everything gets power; they just remain DOA despite the usual unplug - wait - plug back in routine.

It gets power and everything lights up. The led display shows FuS and when I push down on the cycle and power button simultaneously for 5 seconds it shows FuS and IT. It also beeps twice about every 5 seconds. I'm guessing FuS says something regarding a fuse. I've no idea what IT means. From what I can find on the internet this model might have a 4 amp, surge protection fuse. If so it's possible replacing the fuse might restore the dish washer to health. Does anyone out there have any more information or ideas.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I suggest contacting the manufacturer (GE) and explaining the issue to them.

 

[manwithtools]

I think those are actually codes Fu5 and IH. The "IH" (or "1h") code on a GE dishwasher means the unit is programmed for a 1-hour Delay Start and will not run immediately.

The FU5 code on GE dishwashers indicates a blown circulation pump fuse or a motor circuit failure. From what I can tell the fuse is on the main circuit board located behind the toe panel cover.

Suggestion on line include turning power off for 5 minute's or so to reset the controller. I'll bet in your case it's the fuse or the control board itself.

 

[mm08822]

Check inside the door (take front panel off) and the underside of unit for paperwork. Usually located in a plastic bag. This info is for repairman for troubleshooting.

 

[larry4406]

In parallel, I would be checking to see what your insurance might cover.

Also add surge protection if none present, check grounding, and grounding of your internet provider.

Our first electrical storm here, fried my desktop and the USB ports on the TV. Discovered the Comcast service had its own ground rod, separate from house ground.

 

[mm08822]

In parallel, I would be checking to see what your insurance might cover.

Also add surge protection if none present, check grounding, and grounding of your internet provider.

Our first electrical storm here, fried my desktop and the USB ports on the TV. Discovered the Comcast service had its own ground rod, separate from house ground.

And should have been bonded to the service at time of install.

 

[larry4406]

And should have been bonded to the service at time of install.

Agreed.

Used house of horrors here. Almost fully eradicated.

 

[mike93lx]

Curious, did you have surge suppression?

Unless that TV was a really high end one I wouldn't be filing a homeowners claim for that list of stuff.

 

[mm08822]

How get into diagnostic mode and tech sheet location:

Fuse:

 

[lolaetype]

Thanks all. No, I won't be filing for insurance. IIRC, the deductible is probably pretty much equal to my costs.

Good tips on the dishwasher. I'll do more checking into what was suggested. It looks like the fuse is fairly easy to get to, not involving pulling the machine out of its spot in the kitchen. It's on a dedicated breaker so that makes it a bit easier.

TV's are so cheap now they are considered disposable. Besides the house surge protection it was plugged into a surge protected power strip.

My electrician checked everything about 3 years ago when he ran a new circuit for the cook-top. Everything was OK then. And besides everything else I've got a fairly decent size tree to have removed. I don't feel like messing with it; I'll have the tree guy I use make it disappear.

The whole house and cable/phone inputs are surge protected. It's a mystery to me why a LEMP, Lightning Electro Magnetic Pulse gets some devices and not others. Weaker, older? Luck of the draw? Maybe it's payback for my thinking, "finally, nothing needs repaired or replaced".

 

[wssix99]

This sounds a lot like my lightening strike, which included an Electromagnetic Pulse. (EMP) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/effects-lightning-emp-electronics-electrical-wiring-ms6le/

The radiation in my case was so bad that it not only induced voltage in wires/circuits, but sparks shot out of my drywall and arced between pieces of unconnected corner bead. ... Surge surpression may not have helped in your case, depending on where the voltages were induced.

I have concrete walls, which protected many of my appliances, but any TV or electronic device that "saw" the sky (through a window or oriented through the roof) in the direction the bolt came from - got fried.

Most of my major appliances (wrapped in metal) were protected. If your dishwasher's circuit board is not protected by outside sheet metal (is behind a piece of plastic on the front, etc) that may be how it got a surge.

You might take a look at the board. Some of my boards/wires had singing but others didn't. You might get lucky and find a replaceable fuse on the board.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Discovered the Comcast service had its own ground rod, separate from house ground.

This is dangerous and should be fixed.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

cable/phone inputs are surge protected.

check the bonding @ the DEMARC

how many ground rods do you have?

 

[lolaetype]

check the bonding @ the DEMARC

how many ground rods do you have?

Probably just one ground rod, but I honestly don't know, never had a reason to investigate it. The phone wiring is undamaged, I verified this by plugging in an older phone system T has one base in the attached garage with a slave in the detached garage. It functions in all of the phone jacks.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

doesnt matter if its undamaged. no is a good time to check all bonding and grounding

 

[djbmw]

All of the electronics you mentioned have internal fuses that need to be checked and replaced as needed

 

[larry4406]

This is dangerous and should be fixed.

I fixed it after I discovered it.

 

[BurtEggley]

This guy fixes TV's and other things. Might want to watch one of the videos just to see if you are comfortable with him. we've seen Bobcat, tractor, tv, refridgerator and other things he repairs at the component level.

 

[mechcsu]

I would recommend getting an extra start capacitor for your AC while you're at it. Over the years I've had two go out several days after nearby lighting strikes. The first I thought was a coincidence but after the second not so much.

 

[lolaetype]

I've replaced the TV. The Cable box has been replaced. I cracked open the Blu-Ray players and checked the fuses. Both were good so something else fried. The dishwasher just needed a new fuse; a $15 fuse - still cheaper than a new appliance. The new phones arrive Friday.

No fuses in the Liftmaster opener. Apparently lightning is not kind to these things. Unfortunately, not many manufacturers make lifts for 9' doors. Seven feet is the norm and you can buy an extension set for an eight foot door. I found a used circuit board on e-bay. Guaranteed good and all that. If that doesn't fix the opener, I'll remove the whole thing and install a direct drive opener.

And we discovered the icemaker in the freezer of the French door Whirlpool fridge is no longer making ice.