Storm Damage Diagnosis
Lightning Damage Diagnosis
Electronic equipment in general is at risk of being damaged by power surges caused by lightning strikes in a given area. Telephone systems are at higher risk because they are connected to AC power, building wiring, and telephone company lines. Introduction of electrical surge through connected AC power or telephone lines can result in partial or complete system failure with all system phones being affected. Precautions like the installation of surge protectors on AC outlets and phone line connections can help reduce the likelihood of damage. Unfortunately, even with protection installed catastrophic failures can occur.
Follow these steps to determine if your phone system is damaged:
Verify AC Power Source
Step One: Verify that the system’s AC power source is in fact providing adequate power. This can be determined by simply unplugging the equipment and plugging in a known good device such as a lamp or radio. If the known good device does not operate you may be able to correct the problem by resetting the power outlet’s circuit breakers at the building’s AC power panel. Alternatively you can connect the equipment to an AC power outlet that is delivering normal power and then re-test the system for normal operation.
Step Two: After verifying that the AC power source is supplying required power the next step is to check the power indicator light on the phone system’s server unit. The power indicator varies depending the XBLUE system you have.
XBLUE X16 Systems
Normal server power indication for the X16 is a flashing blue light. When normal AC power is provided a solid blue or dark power indicator means the unit is permanently damaged and must be replaced. Although unlikely, resetting the power to the unit or re-initializing the server may change the indication and restore the system to normal operation.
XBLUE X25, X50 & QB Systems
When normal AC power is provided and when the X25, X50 or QB server is fully booted-up, a dark power indicator means that the unit is permanently damaged and must be replaced. Immediately after power up the server unit takes up to 60 seconds to reboot. Although it is very unlikely, resetting the AC power to the server may restore operation.
Test All Your Telephone Lines
- Test Outgoing Calls: Go to each of the system’s desktop telephones and use the line buttons on each phone to verify that when pressed you can hear dial tone and successfully make outgoing calls.
- Test Incoming Calls: Use your cell phone of some other working phone not connected to the system to make calls into the system and verify you can receive incoming phone calls on the system’s phones.
If neither condition can be verified at all phones and for all lines connected to the system it is likely that the communications server is damaged and must be replaced to correct the problem.
Line Testing When Some Lines Work & Other Don’t
If some lines work and some do not take a known good line and move it to a different CO Port on the server to test the port.Example:
- If line 3 is working on the phone and line 1 is not. Move the CO line from the port labeled 3 / 4 and connect it to 1 / 2.
- If line 1 now works on the phones the port is good. Report the defective line to you line provider.
- If line 1 doesn’t work the port is bad. Use an available good port on the system or replace the system.
Alternative Test Using a Standard Analog Telephone
Unplug the line from the CO port on the system and connect it to a Standard Analog Telephone. If the line works when connected to the phone but not when connected to the system the port is bad and the system needs to be replaced. If it doesn’t work in the analog phone report the defective line to your line provider.
Tip: Check Surge Protector Warranty. If you have surge protection installed you may be able to receive compensation from the surge protector manufacturer. Some protection manufactures offer partial or full reimbursement or replacement of damaged equipment.