Over 30+ years of sailing large boats I taught many people to sail. One person ended up being my slip neighbor that I taught to sail a year or so before. Being he was still a rookie, especially in heaver weather we planned on sailing to a destination for lunch in our boat that was built for offshore sailing. I bailed out because of a last minute forecast for extreme thunderstorms, he however decided he could make a go of it, get there, tie up, and eat lunch while the storm passed which I could not talk him out of. About 2 hours latter he returned due to being struck by lighting, it struck the top of the mast destroying everything on top of it, traveled down the rigging, and blew a hole in the bottom of the keel area. Luckily no one was hurt, it did not start a fire, he did not take on water, and was very lucky he had the diesel engine running at the time. The strike did destroy all of his electronics, engine starter, fried almost every wire and electrical component, and destroyed his house and starting batteries to the point they almost ruptured. After repairs the boat went up for sale.
On the water just like land, lighting will strike where it wants to, if struck the only thing we can do is TRY to control the direction it travels to the earth and damage it will make in doing so.
Your setup sounds as safe as the SnapPads. A few of my RVing friends love SnapPads since they have trouble getting down on their knees to place any kind of wood blocks under their jacks.
No expert on electricity but I have seen a lot of windmills. The lead photo is of a water pump windmill not a wind turbine. The tail of the windmill is turned parallel to the direction the blades face so it is "turned off". In other words the tail will point the blades parallel to the wind not into the it. The solar panel near the base of the windmill indicates the wind powered water pump has been replaced by a solar powered water pump. The lightning appears to be originating from the cloud behind the windmill and striking the mountains in the distance. Still an incredible photo!
I suspect the hypothesis that SnapPads reduce the secondary electromagnetic pulse and subsequent damage will be validated, and look forward to your supporting research.
After reading the linked news story, I also ponder on the risk level of leaving the slinky connected during lightning storms, and potential (pun intended) to damage the black holding tank.
Very interesting. When it comes to the possible insulating value of snap pads, would the fact that they are wet, due to rain from a storm, have an effect on the possible insulating values?
Good article. Could have been really good if it went to the trouble to explain what MOV means. I noted that you went to the trouble of properly identifying CG. Why not MOV? What kind of device is that? Not explaining an acronym at its first use in an article breaks the continuity of thought between writer and reader.
I have written about unplugging from shore power in a lightning storm, but only if it’s safe to do so. And yes, most any rubber or plastic pads under the leveling jacks should help isolate your RV from any ground effects due to a nearby lightning strike.
I use pressure-treated 2x12 blocks, cut at 12” long, stacked 3 high. These are screwed together from each side, but the screws do not go all of the way through or touch one another. On top of that, I use 2-4 (depending on need) yellow lego blocks. This setup goes under each of the jacks/stabilizers on my fifth-wheel. Any thoughts on this arrangement in comparison to the SnapPads? I’ve always considered SnapPads to be a solution in need of a problem and haven’t seen the need for them since, in order to reduce wobble and wiggle, it is best to keep the jacks/stabilizers extended as little as possible.
Thanks (and I learned quite a bit from your Hershey class a few years ago at the RV show).
Over 30+ years of sailing large boats I taught many people to sail. One person ended up being my slip neighbor that I taught to sail a year or so before. Being he was still a rookie, especially in heaver weather we planned on sailing to a destination for lunch in our boat that was built for offshore sailing. I bailed out because of a last minute forecast for extreme thunderstorms, he however decided he could make a go of it, get there, tie up, and eat lunch while the storm passed which I could not talk him out of. About 2 hours latter he returned due to being struck by lighting, it struck the top of the mast destroying everything on top of it, traveled down the rigging, and blew a hole in the bottom of the keel area. Luckily no one was hurt, it did not start a fire, he did not take on water, and was very lucky he had the diesel engine running at the time. The strike did destroy all of his electronics, engine starter, fried almost every wire and electrical component, and destroyed his house and starting batteries to the point they almost ruptured. After repairs the boat went up for sale.
On the water just like land, lighting will strike where it wants to, if struck the only thing we can do is TRY to control the direction it travels to the earth and damage it will make in doing so.
Your setup sounds as safe as the SnapPads. A few of my RVing friends love SnapPads since they have trouble getting down on their knees to place any kind of wood blocks under their jacks.
No expert on electricity but I have seen a lot of windmills. The lead photo is of a water pump windmill not a wind turbine. The tail of the windmill is turned parallel to the direction the blades face so it is "turned off". In other words the tail will point the blades parallel to the wind not into the it. The solar panel near the base of the windmill indicates the wind powered water pump has been replaced by a solar powered water pump. The lightning appears to be originating from the cloud behind the windmill and striking the mountains in the distance. Still an incredible photo!
Will turning off the breaker at the pedestal do the same as unplugging the power cord?
Regarding the Farad effect does the
concept extend to aluminum, fiberglass and plastic (I’m thinking cars that have plastic bodies)?
I’ve seen a device from empshield.com that claims to help protect from lightning strikes. Has anyone seen or tested them?
Excellent explanation.
I suspect the hypothesis that SnapPads reduce the secondary electromagnetic pulse and subsequent damage will be validated, and look forward to your supporting research.
After reading the linked news story, I also ponder on the risk level of leaving the slinky connected during lightning storms, and potential (pun intended) to damage the black holding tank.
https://wapo.st/3MVM9Kk
Very interesting. When it comes to the possible insulating value of snap pads, would the fact that they are wet, due to rain from a storm, have an effect on the possible insulating values?
Good article. Could have been really good if it went to the trouble to explain what MOV means. I noted that you went to the trouble of properly identifying CG. Why not MOV? What kind of device is that? Not explaining an acronym at its first use in an article breaks the continuity of thought between writer and reader.
I’m republishing my full article on MOV theory tomorrow.
This was a fascinating read, Mike.
I have written about unplugging from shore power in a lightning storm, but only if it’s safe to do so. And yes, most any rubber or plastic pads under the leveling jacks should help isolate your RV from any ground effects due to a nearby lightning strike.
I use pressure-treated 2x12 blocks, cut at 12” long, stacked 3 high. These are screwed together from each side, but the screws do not go all of the way through or touch one another. On top of that, I use 2-4 (depending on need) yellow lego blocks. This setup goes under each of the jacks/stabilizers on my fifth-wheel. Any thoughts on this arrangement in comparison to the SnapPads? I’ve always considered SnapPads to be a solution in need of a problem and haven’t seen the need for them since, in order to reduce wobble and wiggle, it is best to keep the jacks/stabilizers extended as little as possible.
Thanks (and I learned quite a bit from your Hershey class a few years ago at the RV show).
Tom Herd