Lightening Strikes and Motorhomes

[Janine]

With the big storm threatening us tomorrow night, how safe is it to be sitting in a moho in the middle of a racecourse? ?

 

[ShaKen]

With the big storm threatening us tomorrow night, how safe is it to be sitting in a moho in the middle of a racecourse? ?

I’d expect sitting in a (mostly) plastic and foam box insulated from the ground by inches of rubber should be pretty safe

Of course the EHU and any Satellite / aerials you may have may change that slightly, but I wouldn’t be overly concerned.

 

[Janine]

That’s reassuring!

No ehu or aerials so all should be good. ?

 

[Carol]

Janine fingers crossed some of the forecast gives just showers so could miss the storm all together

 

[hilldweller]

With the big storm threatening us tomorrow night, how safe is it to be sitting in a moho in the middle of a racecourse? ?

I can't see storms on the normal weather sites.

The famous words "you'll be fine".

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[Janine]

Apparently the storm is forecast to hit the eastern part of the country but could shift further west if we are unlucky.

 

[Camping Gaza]

The front bit is all metal of course a strike there could mean your fuel tank explodes into a fire ball incinerating you instantly. Other than that you will be fine.

( Nothing to worry about, really!!! BUT best be in the open NOT under trees if there is a strike' Lots on google to explain why its not good under trees)

 

[tonyidle]

He was OK:

 

[Camping Gaza]

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Oh my word.... These new icons are a boost to this website!

 

[daveandsan]

With the big storm threatening us tomorrow night, how safe is it to be sitting in a moho in the middle of a racecourse? ?

Phil Taran_Las is the man to ask.

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[Minxy]

Sitting in the middle of a racecourse ... I'd be more worried about the horses jumping the railings in fear and trampling you're camper!

 

[icantremember]

Don't worry about it, it's like a bullet ...


..... If you hear the bang or thunder you are still alive!

 

[romany]

I was under the impression that being in a vehicle was the best place to be as the vehicle acted like a faraday cage protecting you from lightning strikes

 

[Pausim]

I’d expect sitting in a (mostly) plastic and foam box insulated from the ground by inches of rubber should be pretty safe

Of course the EHU and any Satellite / aerials you may have may change that slightly, but I wouldn’t be overly concerned.

I think you are technically safer in a metal box than a plastic one because it acts as a Faraday cage, causing the electricity to roll round the outside and go to ground.

 

[hilldweller]

Phil Taran_Las is the man to ask.

For those who do not know, he had an expensive encounter with lightning which fried some of the van's electronics.

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[hilldweller]

I think you are technically safer in a metal box than a plastic one

We've done this thread in the past. You are perfectly correct but for one thing, a MH probably isn't a Faraday cage but a few metal plates that may not be electrically connected to one another properly and the floor is wooden.

But, Janine, you'll be fine.

 

[Silver-Fox]

For those who do not know, he had an expensive encounter with lightning which fried some of the van's electronics.

Yikes

 

[hilldweller]

Yikes

He said something like that.

 

[tonyidle]

I’d expect sitting in a (mostly) plastic and foam box insulated from the ground by inches of rubber should be pretty safe

Of course the EHU and any Satellite / aerials you may have may change that slightly, but I wouldn’t be overly concerned.

A spark that has already travelled several hundred feet through the air would make short work of a 6" or so tyre gap . Tyres are conductive anyway to reduce static build-up.

As has been said the vehicle will act as a Faraday cage.

 

[TheBig1]

the older the van, the safer it is, as most likely to be metal skinned

as the vehicle is insulated by the tyres though it does not present a path to ground for the lightning discharge

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[Spriddler]

With the big storm threatening us tomorrow night, how safe is it to be sitting in a moho in the middle of a racecourse? ?

The odds are favourable but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Jim]

In Thunderstorms if you are parked under or near large trees then tree strikes are likely to pose considerably more danger than a direct strike.

 

[tonyidle]

the older the van, the safer it is, as most likely to be metal skinned

as the vehicle is insulated by the tyres though it does not present a path to ground for the lightning discharge

The huge air gap between the cloud and the earth doesn't present a path to ground either. But it finds it's way down .

 

[TheBig1]

if you watch high definition video of lightning in slow motion, you see fingers of static reaching up from the ground or a building and the lightning connecting with them

 

[Pausim]

We've done this thread in the past. You are perfectly correct but for one thing, a MH probably isn't a Faraday cage but a few metal plates that may not be electrically connected to one another properly and the floor is wooden.

But, Janine, you'll be fine.

Carthago claim lightning protection by including an aluminium layer in their construction. I would expect the the electronics to be fried whatever precautions are taken.

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[Richard n Ann]

if you watch high definition video of lightning in slow motion, you see fingers of static reaching up from the ground or a building and the lightning connecting with them

Think they're called leaders iirc ?

So if you feel your hair starting to stand up, get ready ?

 

[Lenny HB]

the older the van, the safer it is, as most likely to be metal skinned

Double skinned aluminum vans are reckoned to be safer and have the Faraday cage effect, i.e. Carthago, N&B, Concorde, Morelo, & the latest Hymers.

as the vehicle is insulated by the tyres though it does not present a path to ground for the lightning discharge

Modern tyres don't insulate very well they have a high carbon content to reduce static build up in vehicles so they will track out and probably go pop.

 

[Richard n Ann]

New composite planes have conductive threads in the skin to conduct lightning, so i think the German vans will have it too, but the British vans will just explode ?

 

[tacr2man]

Isnt someone going to suggest that in view of the danger inside your motorhome , you are better off standing outside it in the pouring rain ?

 

[Camping Gaza]

Double skinned aluminum vans are reckoned to be safer and have the Faraday cage effect, i.e. Carthago, N&B, Concorde, Morelo, & the latest Hymers.

I have the latest crap British design of camper with no foil lining, so I find it useful to wear some extra protection, and so do my visitors...

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