I'm quite familiar with ground currents. From 1976 to 1996 I was an electronic technician in central Florida, the lightning capital of the US.
I saw numerous cases of damage to TV tuners and other components due to the way they were grounding the cable systems at the time.
The incoming power may be grounded at one end of the house and the cable at the opposite end may be 40 or 50 ft away. It was determined that such a situation could cause a potential as much as several thousand volts between the two grounds as a result of a ground strike nearby. In some cases the cable companies were being held liable for damage until they changed the location of their ground. As a result, all cable and tv antenna systems were required to be grounded at the same point as the incoming power ground.
We spend a lot of time dry camping. Could you comment on the efficacy of insulating pads when our trailer isn’t hooked up to a pedestal? We have a metal-skinned trailer. It seems that the odds of a nearby lightning strike are much higher than a direct hit.
Mike: I would think insulating pads under the jacks would provide a significant reduction in the effects of “step” voltage. The voltage gradient from the front to the rear of the rv, for example, could result in enough current in the frame of the rv start a fire or injure the occupants?
You don’t have to subscribe to my SubStack blog. You can simply read any of my articles online at RVelectricity.SubStack.com You just won’t get notifications when I post a new article.
Hi Mike. First of all, thanks for all. of your thoughtful articles. I looked up "Snap Pads" and it appears they make just round ones that are attached to the the pedestals. Do we, in a Winnebago RV need them as well? Also, do plastic ones help......?
Mike, I have Snap Pads on our coach. However, my main reason was so I did not have to crawl under placing other types of pads, blocks, etc., under the pads. Never thought about lightening safety. Looking forward for your test results. 👍
I'm quite familiar with ground currents. From 1976 to 1996 I was an electronic technician in central Florida, the lightning capital of the US.
I saw numerous cases of damage to TV tuners and other components due to the way they were grounding the cable systems at the time.
The incoming power may be grounded at one end of the house and the cable at the opposite end may be 40 or 50 ft away. It was determined that such a situation could cause a potential as much as several thousand volts between the two grounds as a result of a ground strike nearby. In some cases the cable companies were being held liable for damage until they changed the location of their ground. As a result, all cable and tv antenna systems were required to be grounded at the same point as the incoming power ground.
We spend a lot of time dry camping. Could you comment on the efficacy of insulating pads when our trailer isn’t hooked up to a pedestal? We have a metal-skinned trailer. It seems that the odds of a nearby lightning strike are much higher than a direct hit.
Mike: I would think insulating pads under the jacks would provide a significant reduction in the effects of “step” voltage. The voltage gradient from the front to the rear of the rv, for example, could result in enough current in the frame of the rv start a fire or injure the occupants?
I cover that in Part 2 which is publishing later this week.
Hi Mike, when I try to open your post online, it refers me to Substack, I do NOT want to subscribe to substack. How can I bypass substack. thanks, Joe
You don’t have to subscribe to my SubStack blog. You can simply read any of my articles online at RVelectricity.SubStack.com You just won’t get notifications when I post a new article.
Hi Mike. First of all, thanks for all. of your thoughtful articles. I looked up "Snap Pads" and it appears they make just round ones that are attached to the the pedestals. Do we, in a Winnebago RV need them as well? Also, do plastic ones help......?
Have you looked at any of the devices from empshield.com? They claim to help protect from lightning.
Mike, I have Snap Pads on our coach. However, my main reason was so I did not have to crawl under placing other types of pads, blocks, etc., under the pads. Never thought about lightening safety. Looking forward for your test results. 👍