A businesswoman took to social media to express her distress after a thunder strike destroyed her solar inverter and other items in her shop. The incident occurred during a heavy rainstorm, and she recounted how she narrowly escaped injury.
Businesswoman's Ordeal
In a video posted on TikTok, the woman, identified as @goldenbjoel, explained that she had purchased the solar inverter months ago. However, a lightning strike during a recent storm caused significant damage. She said, "I lost my inverter. My inverter that is in my shop that I just did. I lost my inverter to the thunder. I didn't know thunder could do things like that."
She described the moment of the strike: "I was sitting here. Before it started raining, I turned off my inverter. I didn't know that thunder was going to strike. The thunder came from this wire, entered my inverter and blasted it. It even affected this iron door, and I was just standing in the middle."
Aftermath and Repair Attempts
The businesswoman stated that she had already visited a repair shop but was uncertain if the damage could be fixed. She added, "It was God that saved me yesterday. I've never experienced that kind of shock in my life. God helped me because I was not holding a phone." She urged others to install thunder arresters in their shops to prevent such incidents.
She lamented, "My inverter is damaged. I don't even know if they can repair it. Many of us don't know that a thunder arrester is needed in shops. I'm so pained. I just came back from the place where I wanted to get it fixed."
Social Media Reactions
The post garnered numerous comments from users who shared their experiences and advice. User Ivy commented, "Next time remove your sewing gum." Miranda Omiagbo said, "I off mine anytime it's raining and I don't on it overnight, though I did earthing but I still off it." Djcombat warned, "Connecting solar to nepa is disastrous."
Otaniyen shared a similar story: "Sorry mama. That was my case last month. They carry am to Lagos up till now I never get am. We had to get another one for now." Scott-tech advised, "Tell the installer to run a ground earthing for your inverter and a complete protection breakers madam. And always try to switch the DC and AC breakers off whenever it's lightning."
Other users like Queen noted, "Yesterday rain spoil our TV oo nor be only u oo chai so painful." Auntyclara remarked, "Thunder and inverter they are enemies." Gift Esegbuyota added, "The installer didn't put thunder surge for you to be put it off when it rains the guy supposed put thunder arrest."
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In a similar report, Legit.ng covered a man who bought a 5kWh lithium solar system on installments and shared his experience after 10 months. He said the system cost about N2.4 million and helped him go completely off the grid, with no power outages since installation.
Another story featured a Nigerian man who spent N4.5 million on a 16kVA solar inverter, batteries, and panels. He warned others about fake solar panels in the market, sparking reactions from social media users.
