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Subject Topic: Thunder Storms vs Caravans Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonJdDerek
via mobile 25/7/2020 at 2:58pm
 Location: Portsmouth
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Afternoon all

We are currently camped in Cambridgeshire and have what looks like a lovely lighting storm heading in our direction..

This has got me thinking... we are surrounded by trees and normally should anyone become trapped with a overhead storm the advice would be to get into your car due to it having rubber tires.

So during an extreme storm does that apply to a Caravan or does the hook up and metal steadys make you a target ??

The storm is building nicely now so in for a good show hopefully......

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Derek

Don't blame me for the poor grammar......

It's my predictive text that's out of control !!!


Personmarg6
25/7/2020 at 3:19pm
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been in some whooper storms and never had an issue, its on tyres, the steadies are stood on either wood blocks or the plastic feet the jockey wheel is on the ground, if your really worried unplug the ehu, not that we have ever done


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PersonColin21
25/7/2020 at 3:36pm
 Location: East Herts
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The rubber tyres on a car are just a myth. If a lightning flash can travel goodness knows how many feet from a cloud to the ground, it can certainly jump from the body of the car to the ground, around the tyres.

However, the real reason you should be safe from a lightning strike in a car is because you are inside a metal box, which would act as a Faraday cage and conduct the lightning around the outside of the car and into the ground. With a caravan I would imagine the same thing would apply as the outer skin is usually metal. A bigger danger could come from any nearby trees though as if one is hit by lightning it could come down.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


Personsaxo1
25/7/2020 at 3:58pm
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Rubber tyres won't insulate you from a lightning strike,the reason you are safest in a car is because you are enclosed in effectively a metal enclosure (Farady cage).
If you are in the van then the risk is minimal if you ensure you don't touch anything metal.
If you are surrounded by trees the greatest risk is from the trees being struck and falling branches.
saxo1


PersonRay Clayton
25/7/2020 at 4:10pm
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HI
Never thought about it to be honest, and never had a problem.
Don worry about it.




-------------
Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4







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Personficklejade
25/7/2020 at 4:23pm
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More likely to hit the trees (assuming they're higher than the van). I've only decamped (from a tent with metal poles) once in a thunderstorm to the car - the lightning hit the small tree next to my pitch just after doing so.

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" When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"


PersonJohn Lock
via mobile 26/7/2020 at 8:55pm
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A lot of caravans are now clad in fiberglass and therefore do not give you the protection of a Faraday cage.

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John


Personsaxo1
26/7/2020 at 10:00pm
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Quote: Originally posted by John Lock on 26/7/2020
A lot of caravans are now clad in fiberglass and therefore do not give you the protection of a Faraday cage.


As they are made of fibreglass,which is an insulator,that would make them even less likely to attract a lightening strike.
saxo1


Personnavver
27/7/2020 at 9:49pm
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Modern vans may be fibreglass but I believe they have a metal frame. Baileys is called Alutech construction which hints at an aluminium frame. If it is metal, it will still work as a Faraday Cage.

I've designed many lighting protection systems and we form a Faraday Cage from conductor tapes across the roof and connected to earth rods in the ground by down conductors.

A car or metal framed or metal caravan would be very well protected.

The danger of being under a tree is that the lightning hits the tree an raises the voltage very high. This causes a current to flow down through the tree to earth. If you are stood under a low branch the current can jump from the branch to your head and then down through you to the ground.

You might find electronic equipment in side teh van is damaged via the electric hook up if there is a strike nearby. The IEE Regs now requires us to fir surge diverters to protect electronic equipment. Problem with these is they have a habit of tripping RCDs.


PersonJohn Lock
via mobile 28/7/2020 at 9:56am
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I believe that the only metal in n the body of the van is in the awning rails.

-------------
John


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PersonColin21
28/7/2020 at 11:35am
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Quote: Originally posted by John Lock on 26/7/2020
A lot of caravans are now clad in fiberglass and therefore do not give you the protection of a Faraday cage.


That would be true unless they have a metal framework. If they have a wooden frame then no protection at all.

However, in the O/P's case I would be more worried about one of the trees being struck and coming down.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


PersonGrampian91
01/8/2020 at 2:25pm
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As above the danger is falling trees that have been struck by lightening. Unless your on a hill top with no trees and a large metal antenna.

The tallest object is likely to be the strike point, thats why they suggest to lie down if your in an exposed position in a storm.

Old metal caravans would act like a faraday cage, wonder how new mostly plastic caravans fare?


Been on hillside sides in Cornwall in stormy weather and never gave it a 2nd thought. On a risk form for your camping trip it would be way down the list.


Person664DaveS
via mobile 01/8/2020 at 3:56pm
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We have been in a few thunderstorms in France, one with quite big hailstones which made life very noisy. We thought the skylights would break!
Another left a couple of inches of rain in the awning and big pools in the roof and a bent pole which had to be replaced!
All part of lifes experiences!

-------------
DS-There's more to life than football!!!



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