Lightning + PS3 = no hdmi?!?

[ecnelis]

So. Short version of the story,

Lightning strike:
broke TV, PS3.

TV got replaced (new board),
PS3 will not work through HDMI.

I've tested cables, port on TV, and held the power button for 5 seconds to restore PS3.

The lights indicate that it comes on properly, and the audio works when plugged into optical, but no video through the HDMI.

I had a similar problem on my directv box. It works fine now through composite/component but will not give video through HDMI.

Help?!?

Is this a send back to sony problem?

[Rike255]

After you reset the video settings, did you set it back to HDMI again? If so, I have no idea what else could be wrong other then

My new PS3, when I set the video to HDMI and select "automatic", it will pick 1080p which my TV supports. As a result there is no picture, so I have to set it to 1080i or 720p manually and leave 1080p unchecked whenever I reset the picture. (My old 60GB PS3 never had this problem, same TV too...weird).

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by ecnelis

So. Short version of the story,

Lightning strike:
broke TV, PS3.

TV got replaced (new board),
PS3 will not work through HDMI.

I've tested cables, port on TV, and held the power button for 5 seconds to restore PS3.

The lights indicate that it comes on properly, and the audio works when plugged into optical, but no video through the HDMI.

I had a similar problem on my directv box. It works fine now through composite/component but will not give video through HDMI.

Help?!?

Is this a send back to sony problem?

Sorry to hear about the trouble. Were you using a surge protector, & if so what kind?

[SDon1969]

A co-worker tells me that lightning has destroyed the HDMI ports on his Sony receiver twice.

[dereksworl]

Originally Posted by SDon1969

A co-worker tells me that lightning has destroyed the HDMI ports on his Sony receiver twice.

Thats crazy. Even while they were on a surge protector?

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by dereksworl

Thats crazy. Even while they were on a surge protector?

Yeah, he had a surge protector, too - crazy! I think he got a free replacement twice because of his surge protector guarantee, although I'd have to check with him again to be sure. The first replacement might have been from regular warranty.

[Rike255]

I always unplug my surge protector from the wall when there's a lightning storm (which are pretty frequent around here and often cause power outages). Don't want to take the chance of anything breaking. Since everything is plugged into that protector, I only need pull 1 plug from the wall outlet and all my components are safe.

[dk3dknight]

Have you tried a new hdmi cable?

[ecnelis]

yeah I had a monster cable surge protector (from when I used to work at best buy). It's about 5 years old though. I usually pull the protector from the wall when its storming outside, but I was asleep when the storm rolled in and killed everything at 4am.

I don't have the AV adapter for the PS3 to even get to any screen. It's just really weird that the HDMI ports got blown on both the PS3 and the Directv box, but that was the only damage... (not including the TV blowing out).

I've tried 3 different hdmi cables. one brand new, and one that was tested on another component and worked (on that component that wasn't plugged in at the time). All give the same result

[dk3dknight]

Check the warranty on the surge protector.. some offer lifetime warranties which offer some assistance in repair or replacement of products that were damaged that were plugged into the device..

I know someone who had a whole lot of computers replaced on the surge protectors compaines dollars...

So on that I recommend checking your policy and protection im not guaranteeing anything.

Originally Posted by ecnelis

yeah I had a monster cable surge protector (from when I used to work at best buy). It's about 5 years old though. I usually pull the protector from the wall when its storming outside, but I was asleep when the storm rolled in and killed everything at 4am.

I don't have the AV adapter for the PS3 to even get to any screen. It's just really weird that the HDMI ports got blown on both the PS3 and the Directv box, but that was the only damage... (not including the TV blowing out).

I've tried 3 different hdmi cables. one brand new, and one that was tested on another component and worked (on that component that wasn't plugged in at the time). All give the same result

[Rike255]

You don't have composite cables to hook it up temporarily? Ok press and hold the power button while the PS3 is off (it will turn on but keep holding the button until it beeps), this will reset the audio/video settings to the default (which is composite video output, nothing will show on your tv through HDMI). After this, if you have the HDMI plugged in, the ps3 will prompt you to change video output to HDMI (which you can't see since you have no composite cables), I believe all you need to do is press X and it will switch output to HDMI at 480p, if your port is working you should now have a picture on the TV.

Try that, I hope it works!


Also, if you have a PS2, the composite cables from that system will work on your PS3. It's much easier to do everything if you hook those up first so you can see the instructions on the screen.

If you're lucky, the lightning just caused the Ps3 to reset itself (ie: back to default settings), which is why you can't see anything on your TV.

[conover619]

is the ps3 connected to a reciever or to the tv. if its connected to a reciever try going straight to the tv. my onkyo reciever did this to me so i have to go through the tv till i can get it fixed

[ecnelis]

the PS3 is connected directly to the TV. My PS3 didn't come with the adapter to plug in composite/component cables. All I have to work with currently is the HDMI port... I'll try the pressing X idea, hopefully that resets it... If not, its back to sony I go I guess

[Rike255]

If you bought it new all PS3's come with the composite cables (one end is the yellow/red/white RCA cables, the other is a black plastic jack that goes into the PS3).

Definitely when you reset the PS3 to the default settings HDMI won't work off the get go though. When I get home tonight I'll do the same thing to confirm the exact steps you would need to take seeing as how you can't get a picture through composite cables. (Maybe someone else who has access to their system could do it earlier though since I won't be home for a long time still).

• PS3 in standby
• Press and hold power button PS3 will turn on but keep holding power button until it beeps
• Wait for a few seconds for the system to finish booting up.
• If you had composite cables, the screen would say "HDMI output detected, would you like to switch video/audio output to HDMI?"
• Press "X" to confirm yes
• Video output will switch to HDMI 480p
• Screen will say "Better video output settings detected, would you like to switch to optimal output?"
• Press "X" to confirm yes again
• Video resolution will change, if screen stays blank let is sit for 30 seconds and the changes will revert back to what they were

Video output should now be optimized to highest resolution through HDMI output!

Good luck!

[ecnelis]

thanks for your help!!!! I'll try once I get home today

[blarneyrubble]

Something like 80% of electrical surges that come from outside of your home actually come from your cable and telephone lines. You could have a POS surge protector or a panamax, monster, ect and if you have your coax cable running straight into your tv or cable box 80% of the time you have a surge you run the risk of damage. It could then travel through your HDMI.

Run your coax through your surge protector. Before I knew this I lost my xbox 360's ethernet input because of cable internet.

[solarrdadd]

True, quite a lot of surges from lightining strikes do enter from cable and phone lines but not by a large margin. The farther your device is from the original strike the less likely it is to be affected. the amount of energy released in lightining would have destroyed most of the conductor on impact due to high heat content from the high current and voltage. most of the time were just getting the "end trails" of a strike. a direct strike or within a couple of feet from the point of a direct strike would have almost completly destroyed the equipment. remember if lighting strikes your roof it will most certainly blow a really big hole in the roof and continue down at its trajectory until it dissapates and can cause no harm. if it has not found anything that is connected to the electrical system or anything that conducts your equipment will be fine. if it hits electrical lines then it will ride those lines back to the source if possible, towards your house or into ground. that is why we bond the grounded side of the cable before it enters your house and usually attach it to the ground rod for your service or to a hose bib from your garden hose because it's usually a copper pipe and your system is bonded to your conductive piping as well. I have several forms of protection for my equipment:

at my panel I have a whole house surge protecter.

I have a dedicated 20a circuit just for my HT stuff, that circuit goes to a 20a TVSS type outlet (Transient Voltage Surge Suppression).

I have a APC UPS for some of my equipment that has AVR features and surge suppression. the only thing plugged directly into that UPS is a APC Surge protection plug strip and that plug strip has inputs for coax cable and my ethernet too. all of my other components and devices (except for my amp) plug into this plug strip.

I also have a Tripplite Line Conditioner for my amp (it's a large load) and it offers surge protection and AVR too.

I make sure my cable tv is properly grounded and of course my outlets are properly grounded.

the purpose of the whole house surge protector, the TVSS receptacle, the UPS, the surge plug strip and the Line Conditioner is to be destroyed in the event of a large surge from the utility or a lightning strike all the while clamping down at each point as much as possible to thin out the amount of energy to either completely stop it or allow as little as possible to reach my equipment causing as little damage as possible.

people say that that is too much protection, I don't think so. i've got lots of things designed to protect or sacrifice themselves to try to prevent damage to the really expensive stuff i have.

do all you can to protec your stuff as much as you can. it's never funny when it gets damaged. lightning is powerfull and can destroy lots of stuff...if it can get to it. I'm not saying that if my house power system took a direct hit from lightning that i won't suffer some loss, what i am saying is my line up is going to make lightning work like a "mother" to get to my HT stuff!

protect your stuff people! from your friendly forum master electrician!

[ecnelis]

ended up going out last night and buying the component cable attachment for the PS3 that I threw away when I bought the ps3....

That works fine, so it's just my port... I tried switch to HDMI with both component and hdmi plugged in, but it didn't work. I got no video...

Well, guess I'm stuck to playing games / watching blu-rays in 1080i instead of 1080p. There are worse things in life... 480p *shudder* standard def! ugh!

[fredbalsodn]

OH wow that really sucks man.

[fredbalsodn]

Originally Posted by ecnelis

ended up going out last night and buying the component cable attachment for the PS3 that I threw away when I bought the ps3....

That works fine, so it's just my port... I tried switch to HDMI with both component and hdmi plugged in, but it didn't work. I got no video...

Well, guess I'm stuck to playing games / watching blu-rays in 1080i instead of 1080p. There are worse things in life... 480p *shudder* standard def! ugh!

Well said i am sorry for waht happen to you man.