Lightning strikes again

[copper67sat]

We were jolted out of bed about 3:15am this morning by a flash bright enough to see even though we were sleeping and a huge BOOM. Lightning had struck somewhere very close. Power was out, but it turned out to be just our bedroom. The power surge tripped the breaker. House looked ok and no obvious issues in the yard, but it was dark, raining and continuing to lightning & thunder so it wasn't a thorough survey.

This morning we could see the pine tree that had been struck - It's maybe 50 ft from our bedroom. Also discovered our internet was out. Router was still on, but something in it fried. Went to the store this morning and bought a new router. While installing it, I noticed black soot on the outlet cover. Sure glad that didn't start a fire in my house.

Second time that's happened in this house. Last time it fried a TV and the power supply on a recliner. Happened once before at our old house. That time it fried a hair dryer plugged into a GFI outlet, a VCR and a wall switch - it wouldn't turn off anymore. I guess that's why Florida is the lightning strike capital.

 

[Fran Blacker]

On vacation in S Carolina night time thunder storms are a different animal down south. Caught driving in one wife screaming to stop. Got off highway stopped and had a nice basket of fried chicken.

 

[65pacecar]

On vacation in S Carolina night time thunder storms are a different animal down south. Caught driving in one wife screaming to stop. Got off highway stopped and had a nice basket of fried chicken.

Did the lightning fry the chicken ;-)

 

[twecomm]

Lightning can do strange and mysterious things. When I was in Jr. high school I remember we had a lightning strike very near the power pole and lines leading to our house. Did some interesting things.. It physically blew a plug in clock off the wall and across the room in our kitchen leaving a large scorch mark on the wall. It also blew up my stereo amplifier. There was a small power supply in the amp to keep capacitors charged so there was no big thump when you turned on the power. That small transformer exploded. There was molten copper from the transformers windings all over inside the amp. It also blew out like half of all the transisitors in the amp. Did not bother any other appliances in the house though.... Strange stuff.

 

[33 IMP]

Wouldn't a lightning rod help?

 

[DeltaV]

A special C-130 out of Hurlburt Field was just testing one of their new toys. Sorry about that.

 

[copper67sat]

Wouldn't a lightning rod help?

I don't know...maybe. We've never had a direct hit on the house, but the strikes have hit trees nearby and were close enough to send power surges through the house wiring and damage various electrical items. Not sure if a lightning rod would help with that.