If you have been using your electronic devices without a TV guard in your house, then you are taking a very big risk with your money. As you can see the capacitor exploded because it could not handle a power surge and the contents spewed out from the top. On top of that the fuse had blown, all the rectifying diodes and the main processor were damaged too. Below is what a power surge did to a 32 Inch TV. Dont worry because all these problems can be avoided simply by using a Voltage guard.
In this case the fuse too had blown and the capacitors exploded and liquid started oozing from the top (picture taken upside down). Here the power supply was damaged beyond repair and had to be replaced. Did I mention that in both instances the warranty does not apply. Also most vendors will never give you a warranty on power devices like adapters be they be laptop adapters, decoder adapters, electrical extensions, plugs and sometimes cables too.
What causes a power surge
More than half of household power surges are internal. These happen dozens of times of day, usually when devices with motors start up or shut off, diverting electricity to and from other appliances. Refrigerators and air conditioners are the biggest culprits, but smaller devices like hair dryers and power tools can also cause problems.
External power surges
An external power surge, stemming from outside your home, is most commonly caused by a tree limb touching a power line, lightning striking utility equipment or a small animal getting into a transformer.
Surges can also occur when the power comes back on after a blackout. So always switch off the socket after a power outage and switch it on a few minutes after being restored.
