Eight T7316E's keep flashing red: dead from thunder storm!?

[trafsta]

We had a huge thunder storm roll through the area over the weekend. 8 out of around 60 or so Nortel digital phones [T7316 & T7316E's] were fried (along with some other mechanical/electrical equipment throughout the plant) when lightning struck our property. All 8 of these phones, when plugged in, have the voice mail indicator light flashing quickly while the headset stays on steady and turns off for a split second every three seconds. When the headset light turns off the mute and the other volume-icon button next to it turn on for a split second.

Picture of what its doing:

http://99.245.204.155/T7316E.jpg

Video of what its doing:

http://99.245.204.155/T7316E.3gp

Plugging in known-working set to the same port works fine. Brining these 8 phones to another working phone system yields the same results. Anyone have any ideas on how to get them working again? I've already ordered replacements but it would be great to get these guys going as spares...

We have a BCM 400 v4 system

 

[hawks]

You can have them repaired at a reasonable price.

 

[trafsta]

So no way of repairing them on my own eh? Any idea where in Canada (Ontario) I can get them repaired for a good price? I'll check with my vendor as well but it would be good to hear suggestions as well.

 

[gm85]

Try getting a hold of Takson Technology (

http://www.taksontech.com).

They're in Richmond Hill and I know they do a lot with refurbishing nortel phones. Although I've never asked about repairing, I've purchased phones from them for good prices.

 

[acewarlock]

When it comes to lighting, I would just buy new phones as you will always have problems with them.




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[kwtaylor]

I would recommend looking into beefing up your surge suppression on you phones. Those APC power strips with the Teleco Jacks on them will help to redirect that lighting to ground instead of your phones.

 

[trafsta]

@ kwtaylor:

Yeah I should probably do that. We have SmartUPS's on all our networking gear and the phone system, but the phone lines themselves coming in from our telco don't have anything (I don't think). None of our UPS's detected a power surge or outage of any kind, neither did the BCM 400 (nothing in the logs/alarms, and it stayed running just fine). It was very strange... I'm not even positive that it was lightning, but it was during a huge thunderstorm when next to no one was here over last weekend. Oh well!

 

[acewarlock]

The phone Company usually has GAS Plugs on the Lines as the come in the building. seems strange it effected just phones. did you try the phones in a jack where another 7316E is working to see if the phone does work or not.




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[kwtaylor]

I think it may have hit the building and jump the inhouse cabling. I'm sure you may find some cabling damage if you looked hard. Your phones provided the least amount of resistance and "POOF" you have magic smoke.

I was eluding to replacing the power strips on the desktop end to implement the telco protection.

When you have a warehouse enviroment all kind of weird things are possible to happen.

 

[dmeche]

The gas protectors the phone company uses have too high a rating to protect Norstar equipment. By the time they open your system has taken damage. Try going to this web site.

http://www.itwlinx.com/products/subcategory.asp?category=41&subcategory=4

You would put these in line with your incoming teleco lines. I use the UP3P-235 model and have had good luck so far with them. Just be sure to ground them well.

Disclaimer. When dealing with lightning, nothing is fool proof. If it is close enough and strong enough there is nothing you can do. This only reduces your chances of damage, it can not eliminate it.

How did that old commercial go, "It's not nice to fool mother nature1"

 

[acewarlock]

If lighting came in though a trunk, you would think a trunk mod would be fried also and not just phones.




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.