PM's and electrical storms

Have another Q: [aren't we newbies pests ?] Electrical storms. . . . hubs, who has 10 day old PM, is out on his riding lawnmower and I hear thunder . . . . Should PMers duck and cover at the slightest sign ? Sent this to Cabg Patch and TraceyE too [they were sooo cool to answer my last Q !] Linda N

4 Comments

What more can one say...

by donr - 2013-04-03 11:04:57

...than what Patch said.

If he's close enough to a lightning bolt for it to affect his PM, it will also affect the rest of his body. Like fry it. Tell him to get inside at the same time you'd tell him pre-PM.

Don

Even more to scare you

by ElectricFrank - 2013-04-04 01:04:49

A large metal object like a car or mower can pick up what is called an induced charge from a lightning bolt miles away. Years ago I had a lightning consultant for the power company talk to my electronics class. He told us that the induced charge can range from a mild shock to being knocked to the ground. His recommendation was to minimize standing on the ground and touching the object like when opening a car door.

According to him a direct strike on a person is almost 100% fatal. In fact they are cooked internally by the current. The reported survivals are from being hit by small leader bolts that spread out from the main one. That still doesn't make them fun to receive.

frank

Fried Brain

by ElectricFrank - 2013-04-06 02:04:52

I keep waiting for an optional USB port in the back of my head to back up my brain.

frank

Induced Current

by donr - 2013-04-07 09:04:18

Frank: If I told this one before, hit "DELETE"

I once witnessed a lightning strike a tree next to a house at a distance of about a 1/8 mile away from me. Tree was about ten ft from house. A few minutes later, a fire truck drove up - station was less than a mile from house.

Seems that the bolt induced enough current in a wire in house that it melted & started a small fire. No serious damage. House was about 50 yrs old - WW-II construction. No idea what yr electric code it was built /updated to.

FWIW, I once lived in a 100 YO+ house that was wired to 1930's code. It was totally re-wired during our occupancy. What a mess the wiring was - cracked & crumbling insulation, etc.

Don

You know you're wired when...

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