Lightning and RV'ing

[Boozecamp]

Today, lightning hit a little too close for comfort. It made a direct hit on an 80' tall pine tree 30' feet from my rig. I think it took out my Winegard Pathway X2 which was sitting on a stand near the 5'er. Did not hit the 5'er, thank God!!!
Question: if I'm parked long term, should I consider putting in a ground rod and connecting it to the frame? What do others do to safeguard against lightning?

[ol_Bombero-JC]

bsinmich wrote:
If the lightning is able to jump through the air for a mile what is a little rubber going to do? The best thing for lightning protection is a good insurance policy. I have experienced 2 lightning strikes; one at our home and one on Pentecost Sunday at Church while I was playing the organ. (Hit a wrong note and God gets you.) Insurance saved us in both cases.

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Is your real name Joe Btfsplk (from Lil' Abner)?..:@

Church members should be really happy!.....
you are seated at the organ - - rather than next to them!..:W

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[CavemanCharlie]

bsinmich wrote:
If the lightning is able to jump through the air for a mile what is a little rubber going to do? The best thing for lightning protection is a good insurance policy. I have experienced 2 lightning strikes; one at our home and one on Pentecost Sunday at Church while I was playing the organ. (Hit a wrong note and God gets you.) Insurance saved us in both cases.

Thanks for the laugh

[tegu69]

bsinmich wrote:
If the lightning is able to jump through the air for a mile what is a little rubber going to do? The best thing for lightning protection is a good insurance policy. I have experienced 2 lightning strikes; one at our home and one on Pentecost Sunday at Church while I was playing the organ. (Hit a wrong note and God gets you.) Insurance saved us in both cases.

I don't want to be around you for the third. Seriously though, are you the one I heard about on the news?

[bsinmich]

If the lightning is able to jump through the air for a mile what is a little rubber going to do? The best thing for lightning protection is a good insurance policy. I have experienced 2 lightning strikes; one at our home and one on Pentecost Sunday at Church while I was playing the organ. (Hit a wrong note and God gets you.) Insurance saved us in both cases.

[Veebyes]

John S. wrote:
Think you sweat being in an RV during a storm. Try a sailboat on the water.

Or out on a boat listening to your antennas buzz.

[MrWizard]

There was a 20 yr old young man killed last week when lighting struck the water near a local beach, 14 people injured by that same strike

[colliehauler]

Rocky71 wrote:
My RV got hit with lighting I had my jacks down and it went up
my jacks and burn out a lot of things.$3,000 things.
so I put rubber on my jacks so it don't do it again I hope.
But I keep them up. Parked in My yard. Good Luck

That should keep you safe.:R I'm sure lightning after traveling miles is going to be stopped by a 1/4 inch of rubber.

[John_S_]

Think you sweat being in an RV during a storm. Try a sailboat on the water.

[wintersun]

People get hit by lighting in only one way, they are outside of a building or vehicle during a thunderstorm. Even then most people outside are not hit, fools luck I guess.

Of the people struck and killed so far in 2014 this is what they were doing:

standing in backyard by tree
closing car windows
fishing at edge of lake
riding motorcycle on the highway
doing roofing at car dealership
picking blueberries
in park under a tree
on roadway fixing windshield wiper
under a tree while walking home
hiking on exposed trail
horseback riding on family property
sightseeing at parking area of overlook

If you are inside a building or vehicle it is recommended that the windows are kept closed.

In the USA you are at far more risk of dying from food poisoning than from being struck by lightning.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

tegu69 wrote:

Rocky71 wrote:
My RV got hit with lighting I had my jacks down and it went up
my jacks and burn out a lot of things.$3,000 things.
so I put rubber on my jacks so it don't do it again I hope.
But I keep them up. Parked in My yard. Good Luck

Chances are it will not do it again, but it won't be because of rubber on the jacks or putting them up. Lightning is not going to stop someplace in your camper. Its getting to a ground somewhere. I've seen it blow 4 tires out on a car one time.

.

Correct - and (the rubber is a waste of time) - easily verifiable via any of the Lightning web sites.

A *steel* vehicle will protect occupants due to the Faraday cage, *not* because of rubber tires providing "insulation"...;)

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[tegu69]

Rocky71 wrote:
My RV got hit with lighting I had my jacks down and it went up
my jacks and burn out a lot of things.$3,000 things.
so I put rubber on my jacks so it don't do it again I hope.
But I keep them up. Parked in My yard. Good Luck

Chances are it will not do it again, but it won't be because of rubber on the jacks or putting them up. Lightning is not going to stop someplace in your camper. Its getting to a ground somewhere. I've seen it blow 4 tires out on a car one time.

[Rocky71]

My RV got hit with lighting I had my jacks down and it went up
my jacks and burn out a lot of things.$3,000 things.
so I put rubber on my jacks so it don't do it again I hope.
But I keep them up. Parked in My yard. Good Luck

[Boozecamp]

Well, the verdict is in! The massive lightning strike that hit a tall pine tree 30' from my rig last Saturday took out my string of lights on the side, got into the pourch light, both not working. and a SAT TV antenna. Very lucky otherwise.
In regards to the electrical outlet and pourch light.....any recommendations on trouble shooting these issues? I'm going to do that this afternoon after work. I do know, no breakers were tripped on the pannel, no visible signs of damage anywhere. I will check the fuse panel tonight. If I check the bulb and fuses and they are Ok, what should I look for next? Oh! I do have a volt meter should I need it. I proclaim to be a part time amature electrician, but that's as far as it goes.
And thanks for all the advice.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

dons2346 wrote:

ScottG wrote:
No, it will not help.
The best thing you could do is leave it unplugged.

Leaving the cord unplugged and laying on the ground won't save you. The EMP created by a lightening strike can induce a electrical pulse in a cord laying on the ground. Only safe thing to do is pull the cord in

Hooooo boy - here we go (again)..:R

OP: The ground rod = *NO*.....well - *maybe* if you pounded it 8' into the ground per code for a sticks & bricks...:W

Thread: "Do U unplug RV and retract antennae during storm?"

The "who-do" and the "who-don't"....pros and cons from right here on RV Net (2010). Entertaining!.:B

And the "pros" say.....

John DeArmond --- about 5 paragraphs down...

"One of the simplest and yet most effective means of diverting lightning energy is to put a loop or two in all leads entering a building.......
In RV terms, looping the power cord a couple of loops near the outlet box will do wonders".

About another paragraph down.....
"All that said, the easiest way to protect an RV is to simply unplug it when a storm approaches".

Add'l sources of good *reliable* info available (there *are* lots)....

here's another - see: *third* item of - The three times to turn off the breaker"....
"And if lightning is on it's way, it's a good precaution to turn off the breaker and then disconnect your RV from the campground electrical system" (etc.)...;)


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