wood underleveling jacks??

[Volvo240]

I've heard that some people place small blocks of wood under the leveling jacks to act as a insulator during an electrical storm. Is this necessary? Anyone use this proceedure?  Thanks!

[wavery]

I've heard that some people place small blocks of wood under the leveling jacks to act as a insulator during an electrical storm. Is this necessary? Anyone use this proceedure?  Thanks!

That's a falicy........ Wood or any other device would make little or no difference in a lightening storm.

The theory is that if you keep the steel "jacks" from touching the "ground" you will disconnect a complete circuit and keep your camper from being hit by (attracting) lightening.

In reality, there is practically "0" chance of your camper getting hit by lightening (whether your stabilizers are up or down) but in the unlikely event that it does, the stabilizers (jacks) being firmly placed to the wet ground may actually protect you from injury.

The current from the lightening strike could go from your frame and have a direct path to the earth by way of the stabilizers. In either case, a direct lightening hit would not be pleasant. However, the fact that your stabilizers are touching the ground will have little to no impact on where the lightening decides to strike. The lightening is much more likely to be attracted to a nearby tree. However, lightening tends to strike wherever it feels like striking.

I've done considerable research on this topic as I used to travel across major oceans in my sailboat (80,000+ miles over 14 years) and encountered many-many thunderstorms far out at sea. As I had an aluminum mast reaching 60' into the air and nothing else around to attract lightening, this was a genuine concern.

After much research, I decided to run all of my steel chain plates (the devices that attach to the steel wires that hold up the masts) all the way to the lead keel. This would give the lightening a direct path to the water (however a direct strike would probably do severe damage to the boat anyway) and make a fairly good "Faraday Cage"
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci942282,00.html
http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/vehicle_strike.html
I encountered numerous lightening strikes within yards of my boat. I never had a direct hit (Thank God).

[CajunCamper]

This raises a question. Is it best during a lighting storm to disconnect from the electric service at your campsite, or does that matter at all.

CajunCamper

[Jamiek]

another question i have about that is would it be better to run to your car or just stay in the camper?

[wavery]

It would be best to unplug your camper from the power grid to protect your electrical devices from a power surge.

Your vehicle makes an excellent "Faraday Cage" and would be safer than the PU, although the chances of being stuck by lightening is extremely small. However, piece of mind for your family has a lot of value. You may sleep better in the car than in the PU if lightening really bothers you.

[robpoe]

I'm in computers.  I'll reply with what I tell my customers when they ask about surge protectors.

Lightning just traveled (at least) 2000 feet through the thin air .. a HORRIBLE conductor (humidity nonwithstanding).  A little 50 cent piece of ceramic and wire isn't going to protect your computer from that.  A GOOD surge protector (ones that have warranties) are merely insurance policies.  They cover up to however much in damages should you get struck.  The chances of being struck are so low, it makes sense for them to offer it (as in most insurances).  So no, it won't protect it, but it WILL offer you the insurance of replacement should something fail whilst plugged into it (and you have to keep the receipt  / proof of purchase and you have to REGISTER the warranty when it's new -- most people dont).  "Surge strips" that come with no warranty are classified by the UL as "power taps".  If it doesn't come with a warranty (and is from a reputable company), it's no protection at all.

I had a lightning strike outside my house couple years back.  Hit a tree.  The surge from the lightning fried my home stereo receiver (a damn good one at that), a few network cards, a network switch (just the ports connected) and made my computer start being unstable.  The computer WAS on a good surge strip (but then again the network hub / cable modem was NOT)..

As for disconnecting your camper in CASE of something, if it were me, I'd rather be inside if it gets struck.  Car, camper, whatever.  But if you're the tallest thing around (camper and TV nonwithstanding) and you're outside going to your car or unplugging ... you raise your chances of being hurt by lightning.

The camper is just stuff.  Stuff can be fixed or replaced.  If you're THAT paranoid about surges, turn off your main breaker.  Leave the plug plugged in (think, grounding for the electrical system).  Unplug your electronics and get out a board game.  Stay inside.  

If you have some lead time to get to your TV then you might end up with time to get to facilities (if you're not dry camping).  You'd be safer in a bath house than in your camper, or at least the bathhouses where we go (they're brick).

[wavery]

I had a lightning strike outside my house couple years back.  Hit a tree.  The surge from the lightning fried my home stereo receiver (a damn good one at that), a few network cards, a network switch (just the ports connected) and made my computer start being unstable.  The computer WAS on a good surge strip (but then again the network hub / cable modem was NOT)..

The fact is, even a small lightening strike within 20-50' of most electrical devices will put out enough static electricity and electromagnetic force to destroy most sensitive electronic circuitry.

[dthurk]

I regularly put blocks of wood under my stabilizers, but due to preventing them from sinking into the ground (or pavement) or raising the height so I don't have to extend them as far.  I would weather out the electrical storm in the camper.  If it's my time..."Be Not Afraid".

[AustinBoston]

I've heard that some people place small blocks of wood under the leveling jacks to act as a insulator during an electrical storm. Is this necessary? Anyone use this proceedure?  Thanks!

This will work, as long as the wood is at least a mile thick.  2" isn't going to make a difference.

Lightening is going to do what it is going to do.  Only a carefully designed lightening drain system (one with #4 or larger braided cables, and a grounding system far beyond the typical home grounding system, or something like what wavery describes on his sailboat) is going to really protect you from lightening.

Your vehicle makes an excellent "Faraday Cage" and would be safer than the PU, although the chances of being stuck by lightening is extremely small.

A vehicle is only a mediocre Farady cage.  I have known people that were burned when their vehicle was struck by lightening.  But a vehicle is still way better than a pop-up, which is not much of a faraday cage at all.  In either case, your ears might ring for weeks afterwards.

Story:

While in PA this spring for my DD#2's wedding, we had a severe thunderstorm pass through.  I was awake, and distance-timing the lightening.  (Do this by counting seconds from flash to boom...1,000 feet per second).  It dropped from 2 miles (ten seconds) to 1 mile...then 3,000 feet, then 2,000 feet...then I said to myself "that's it."  I started trying to wake PJay (how she was sleeping through this noise, I don't know) when I had a "less than one second" strike.  I don't know where it struck, but it was in the campground.

I finally got PJay and DS up, and moved them from the bunk ends (where the most exposure is) to the center of the pop-up.  I knew I would never get them into the van, because it was raining hard.  But I was not going to ignore the advice I have given other people.  

We had at least five more strikes that were in the 1,000-1,500 foot range before it started moving away.  While 1,000 feet may seem like a lot, it is nothing to a lightening bolt that started at least 20,000 feet away (and more likely 50,000 feet or more away).

Pop-ups aren't really safe from lightening.  Even if it strikes something else (such as a tree), there's nothing to keep that tree from then falling on your bunk end.

Austin

[wavery]

A vehicle is only a mediocre Farady cage.  I have known people that were burned when their vehicle was struck by lightening.  But a vehicle is still way better than a pop-up, which is not much of a faraday cage at all.  In either case, your ears might ring for weeks afterwards.

"Excellent" may have been a stretch :p . However, had your friends been in the exact same spot and not been in their vehicle, they more than likely wouldn't have been able to tell you the story.

The point is, your vehicle adds some protection and is definitely safer than the PU or standing in the open. There is enough steel in the average vehicle to direct the millions of volts of electrical current away from the occupants inside. However, if the occupants are touching any of the steel on the vehicle, there is a good chance that they may be burnt but would likely survive.

[AustinBoston]

"Excellent" may have been a stretch :p .

Of course, I've never exagerated either. :p .

However, had your friends been in the exact same spot and not been in their vehicle, they more than likely wouldn't have been able to tell you the story.

No doubt about it.  Lightening kills about 120 people a year in the U.S.

I think ideas like this (wood under the stabilizers to protect from lightening) get started because somebody asked "Why are you putting wood under the stabilizers?"

Now the practical joker who was asked knows it's because the stabilizer will sink into the ground without it, but believes in having some fun.  So he thinks up something quick but possibly believable, figuring the person will figure it out eventually.  Since this practical joker owns a trailer, they must be an "expert," and their word is taken as gospel.  Then it gets repeated...and repeated.  Sometimes it is amusing.

Austin

[Old Goat]

I have tailored wood blocks, 8 x 8 inch X1 1/2 inch thick with rounded edges that I put under my stabilizer pads. They help keep the stabs from sinking into soft ground when I give them an extra half or full crank to firm up the trailer.....
They would'nt do any good with lightening strikes.

[flyfisherman]

I do those 8" X 8" wood blocks, too. Been using them since the camper was new and together we've been through about three hellacious lightning/wind/rain storms. My fear has not been lightning ... oh, maybe a "deep concern", but what had me worried was that a tree (or a big part of one) would come crashing down on the little Starcraft.

Once upon a time, a few boards back, right here on Popup Times, this lightning issue came up and there was much speculation here as to whether or not a popup camper would act as a Faraday Cage (much like a car is supposed to do) and there were those that believed it would and others who thought the idea insane! But I must confess that that "idea" stuck with me and I've at least "hoped" it would be so while in the middle of one of those storms!



Fly

[wavery]

I do those 8" X 8" wood blocks, too. Been using them since the camper was new and together we've been through about three hellacious lightning/wind/rain storms. My fear has not been lightning ... oh, maybe a "deep concern", but what had me worried was that a tree (or a big part of one) would come crashing down on the little Starcraft.

Once upon a time, a few boards back, right here on Popup Times, this lightning issue came up and there was much speculation here as to whether or not a popup camper would act as a Faraday Cage (much like a car is supposed to do) and there were those that believed it would and others who thought the idea insane! But I must confess that that "idea" stuck with me and I've at least "hoped" it would be so while in the middle of one of those storms!



Fly

You may have a better chance in the PU than out in the open. If a lightening strike were to hit the poor little thing :yikes: I would hope that some of the current would be carried across the top (if it's aluminum) and down the supports (after melting the top). I still wouldn't want to be inside if that happened. However, I think the chances are about one in a Brazilian (old Bush joke :p ) of it happening.

[AustinBoston]

I still wouldn't want to be inside if that happened.

My ears ring just thinking about it.  :eyecrazy:

However, I think the chances are about one in a Brazilian (old Bush joke :p ) of it happening.

We've been in campgrounds that were as flat as pancakes, and didn't have a tree in them.  In fact, there was not a tree to be seen for miles.  Kind of makes a pop-up stand out...and up.  :yikes:

It can happen, if conditions are right.  But your point is valid...while possible, the chance of a specific person (or pop-up) being struck by lightening is rather low.  There is a much greater risk of being in an accident while driving to the campground.  If you don't worry about the drive, then don't worry about lightening.

Austin