DirectTV
Internet Internet
United States of America
|
|
DirectTV Burning HD DVR Internet, Internet
*Consumer Comment: Most consumer electronics has protection
1Author
1Consumer
0Employee/Owner
My DirectTV HD DVR stopped working yesterday while I was watching TV. After a call to the 800 number it was decided I needed a new one; a refurbished unit is on its way. Today, for some reason, the thing turned itself on, so I decided I’d turn on the tv to see if there was a message; It said "Self Check." I'm thinking "Great. It's decided to repair itself." I stepped into another room and a couple minutes later smelled the most noxious smell of burning electrical wiring. The DVR was smoking and the entire room was filled with smoke. I disconnected it and took it outside. OMG! I called DirectTV and they didn't offer a solution and seemed unconcerned. Could it have caused an electrical fire? Since this has happened to other customers do you think we should contact a consumer protection group and report this potential safety hazard?
Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on DirectTV
REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
1Author
1Consumer
0Employee/Owner
Updates & Rebuttals
#1 Consumer Comment
AUTHOR: Ken - Greeley (USA)
SUBMITTED: Saturday, August 27, 2011
POSTED: Saturday, August 27, 2011
against fire.
They use fuses, fusible resistors and transformers that internally open if damaged.
It's unlikely it presented any fire hazard, just the awful smell of electronic components meeting their demise. CFL's can also do this, they're designed to self destruct without damage to surrounding areas.
I'll agree, the smell is really obnoxious, but it's likely just bakelite, a hi-temp insulator overheating.
Even you microwave oven, under certain failure modes can smell the same and emit a fair amount of smoke, scary, but almost never dangerous.
I am a retired electronics technician and have experienced all these events in my career.
As long as items with fuses aren't over-fused, there's very little risk, if any.
If overfused, all bets are off.
