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Thread ID: 69915	2006-06-16 07:57:00	Lightning strike	Greg (193)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
463619	2006-06-16 12:36:00	techie > which part of Auckland are you in?	stu161204 (123)
463620	2006-06-16 12:40:00	I've seen homes that have been hit by lightning. The worst was in Waihi Beach a few years ago, hole in roof, soffits all popped out, the TV aerial was just liquified, one area of a lower wall was blown off, phone sockets blown from the walls, all appliances black inside, there was an outline in black burnmarks of a cellphone carger on a desk, and amazingly no one hurt inside. I would say you weren't hit, especially if things still work! As for surge protectors, they will not stop lightning strikes or large power surges. I used to have a collection of black surgeguards at work till I realised my office was becoming a hoarder's haven.	Jester (13)
463621	2006-06-16 13:42:00	We were on holiday in England many years ago and my mum was taking a pic of the back garden out the second story window when lightening struck the house. She actually got a picture of it right outside of her window! It must have hit a few places around the house because it also blew out the power pole around the front...	jazsaxman (10563)
463622	2006-06-16 21:26:00	Is anyone still out there... or did you all get zapped? Maybe my surge protector works after all :D Lightning in Auckland area causes problems for Xtra's broadband customers: home.nzcity.co.nz Aunty Herald appears to have gone down as well :(	Shortcircuit (1666)
463623	2006-06-17 02:32:00	Hail was so heavy and thick on the North Shore of Auckland that the roads where I was near my home were a sheet of ice and people were sliding off down the camber on steep hills . They didn't know to slow down and use a lower gear . I had to crawl up one long steep hill at 10-15 km/h in second gear and it felt like driving over river pebbles . Idiots were cruising over the top of the hill to go down the slope at 50 km/h + and having a hell of a job to slow down without penetrating the roadside scenery . Point of interest about lightning, it doen't actually strike the ground, it strikes the cloud . The damage is done by the current drawn through the ground structures as it leaves . In simple terms, the strike is initiated by a feeler path that extends down from the cloud, then the discharge current goes back up that ionised route . It make very little difference of course if you are the target, so if your hair stands on end when out in a storm, it is time to lower your profile! Many people who are killed by lighning are victims of side-strike because they were standing next to the structure that took the hit, or under a tree . The current goes up from their feet and leaps from their upper-body to the building or tree to join the main current . Doesn't bear thinking about . :eek: Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
463624	2006-06-17 03:18:00	That stake hammered into the ground has nothing to do with lightning protection . It is the earth connection for electrical (230V) safety . (In fact, it might be a significant cause of damage to electrical fittings in a strike . But don't disconnect it . . . lightning strikes are rare, and that earth is a legal requirment . ) Old telephone intallations when all the lines were overhead had "lightning protectors" which contained a couple of carbon blocks separated by a piece of mica (with a small hole in it) for each wire . One side was connected to an "earth", with about a 24 swg wire to a waterpipe . This was to give a bit of protection to the instrument, not your house . The older "master" jacks had a sparkgap protector across the lines, but no direct earth connection . A proper "lightning protection" installation would have to be engineered . It is unrealistic to install (or afford) an earth wire from the elevated point big enough to handle the kiloamps of a direct strike . The protection works by bleeding off the high potential to earth, so it doesn't get high enough to cause a flash . You do that by having an earthed sharp pointed metal object as the highest point of the structure . The highest such point will "protect" everything under a 45 degree cone with that point at the apex . Strange things can happen in a strike . The magnetic field generated by the cuirrent surge can actually cause damage and sharp bends in the earth conductor can cause the current to bypass the conductor . It wants to take the shortest path . An article in Wireless World twenty or 30 years ago had some "interesting" photographs . (There are lot of churches in the UK, many with steeples . ;) The parishioners seem to have, like Greg, frequently offended their ruling deity . )	Graham L (2)
463625	2006-06-17 05:33:00	techie > which part of Auckland are you in? North Shore. Here (www.imagef1.net.nz) was my front lawn. (Note that the reason why next door neighbours don't appear to have much "snow" (aka hail to the rest of the country who has snow) is because their lawn is uncut.	techie (7177)
463626	2006-06-17 06:02:00	My friend's house got a lightning strike a year or two ago. They were home at the time, and said the whole house just lit up with this white flash. They lost their TV aerial, TV, stereo system, washing machine, microwave, computer and cordless phone. My friend was actually playing his electric guitar at the time and it flew out of his hands :eek: - his guitar was actually still OK after that ... and so was he. Insurance paid out for the damaged items.	Jen (38)
463627	2006-06-17 06:32:00	I've always believed it's risky taking a shower or bath during a electrical storm - would this be right? (If so I'm sure not going to the loo during a storm again!) :dogeye:	Greg (193)
463628	2006-06-17 06:34:00	They lost their TV aerial, TV, stereo system, washing machine, microwave, computer and cordless phone. Insurance paid out for the damaged items.Did they have to have the house wiring inspected?	Greg (193)
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