Lightning Strikes

[prommee_NE]

I am talking about lightning strikes from electrical storms...in case I excited a few people.

It is the rainy season again...Once more there are local reports in our region of familes being killed by lightning. Once again it seems to go unreported in the press and once again I see no attempt at educating people about the very real risks of these storms.

I have no news reports, in fact nothing at the moment to substantiate the following. If required, I am willing to investigate what I have been told and turn what is currently only heresay into facts. (You will have to wait until the end of July though)

Four people sheltering under a tree light/medium rain killed instantly when the tree was struck by lightning.

A family of three/four/five (conflicting reports of how many) killed while gathered around a mobile in their home when the aerial was struck by lightning.

Does anyone else know about incidences like these?

It is about time people were educated about the risks of house fires and personal injury/death that can be caused by electrical storms....and especially the (very long) aerials attached to their home mobiles.

Villagers used to have a giggle at me and the wife when I unplugged the TV and mobile as well as other appliances whenever there was a risk of an electrical storm. They laughed even more when my wife used to sit in the car if the storm was really close (the tree in our garden was hit one night and my wife, remembering my advice, sat in the car...even though I have copper earth posts on the aerials). They don't laugh anymore...they do the same now...it just took a few years to understand.

[sulasno]

it just took a few years to understand.

and plenty of lives were involved too

[pachangamac042]

Hy Prommee mate, long time no hear. Just a curiosity, what are; “the (very long) aerials attached to their home mobiles”? You got me lost here…

[sulasno]

he was referring to a lightning rod

[pachangamac042]

What are lightning rods for Sul? To fish lightnings? And what has the mobile to do with it? Is it used as bait? Maybe our fishing friend from Buriram can help us out here?

[prommee_NE]

Hy Prommee mate, long time no hear. Just a curiosity, what are; “the (very long) aerials attached to their home mobiles”? You got me lost here…

To get a decent signal (or any signal at all in some areas) people have put up very long aerials (say 3 times as high as the house) The mobile is attached to it whilst in the house. As Sulano says...they make very good lightning conductors. Not a good idea to use the mobile during an electric storm...as some have found out.

If there was PM, I would send a picture for you...Are we so isolated here, that no-one else has or needs them?

[Ian]

In England I have a 45m radio communication mast, I also am atop the highest hill in my county, so I frequently get hit by lightning. Although my mast is well grounded I have had several aerial arrays exploded, quite spectacular to watch. Also the local EMP pulse was sufficient to knock out the house phones and on one occasion an unplugged in switch mode power supply, this latter died with an impressive bang Now most electromic devices in my home are either buffered or have VDRs attached.

In Thailand there are no risks, the overhead electricity cables and posts are higher than the houses and one can sometimes see the corona discharges protecting us from a strike. Incidentally the ionized feeder for a lightning strike take a few seconds to establish a path, if your hair suddenly stand on end, throw yourself flat on the ground

[alex1]

In England I have a 45m radio communication mast, I also am atop the highest hill in my county, so I frequently get hit by lightning. Although my mast is well grounded I have had several aerial arrays exploded, quite spectacular to watch. Also the local EMP pulse was sufficient to knock out the house phones and on one occasion an unplugged in switch mode power supply, this latter died with an impressive bang Now most electromic devices in my home are either buffered or have VDRs attached.

In Thailand there are no risks, the overhead electricity cables and posts are higher than the houses and one can sometimes see the corona discharges protecting us from a strike. Incidentally the ionized feeder for a lightning strike take a few seconds to establish a path, if your hair suddenly stand on end, throw yourself flat on the ground

No Ian, there are riscs, 5 or 6 years ago an mast with overhead electrican cables was hit by an lightning stike an explode,
a car was passing by, and some like a fireball followed that car a few meters, hit it and all 4 people in the car died as
the car afflaimed. There was eyewhitness too. I did not believe that story when I watched TV, but, about 3 month ago
it happened I myself came into a situation at Pang Nga on the street mountains up, A mast was hit and exploded, I saw
a fireball just behind my car and I hit the kickdown to escape, passing the next mast the same happend, but my car was on highspeed already. I am not a physican so I cannot explain that.

[prommee_NE]

In England I have a 45m radio communication mast, I also am atop the highest hill in my county, so I frequently get hit by lightning. Although my mast is well grounded I have had several aerial arrays exploded, quite spectacular to watch. Also the local EMP pulse was sufficient to knock out the house phones and on one occasion an unplugged in switch mode power supply, this latter died with an impressive bang Now most electromic devices in my home are either buffered or have VDRs attached.

In Thailand there are no risks, the overhead electricity cables and posts are higher than the houses and one can sometimes see the corona discharges protecting us from a strike. Incidentally the ionized feeder for a lightning strike take a few seconds to establish a path, if your hair suddenly stand on end, throw yourself flat on the ground

In your area rather than Thailand I suspect. I am looking at a photo of our village...much like any other in the area. The aerials I am talking about are over three times higher than the posts carrying the power cables. There is not just a risk there is a severe risk and this has been borne out by the incidents I described. Perhaps though, it is simply because I am in an isolated area and the problem is a local one.

[sulasno]

is it a fact that lightning will strike the highest point in a given area?