tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18283526.post174601826910100910..comments2024-03-27T14:03:14.775+00:00Comments on Captain JP's log: The Fear of a Lightening Strike At SeaJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475536270807856327noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18283526.post-75998402483795820252009-07-17T15:12:43.489+00:002009-07-17T15:12:43.489+00:00I'm not sure if you saw it but there was a cla...I'm not sure if you saw it but there was a classic episode of "Top Gear" where Hammond was in a car while it was struck by artificially generated lightening and was fine due to the Faraday cage effect.<br /><br />That was a traditional steel frame car - not sure if modern carbon fibre would have been as goodJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10749223049615363296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18283526.post-21770915930303448542009-07-17T06:26:37.436+00:002009-07-17T06:26:37.436+00:00If the electronics in question were unplugged but ...If the electronics in question were unplugged but still close to materials through which hundreds of thousands of amps were coursing, the electric field would have been enough to fry the electronics. In that sort of situation, a Faraday cage would definitely have been protective. The oven, assuming its outer shell was reasonably solid and made out of conductive material such as steel, probably was a good way to protect the iPod.<br /><br />Here in New Mexico, with the highest per-capita death rate from lightning of any state in the U.S. (Florida has a higher number, but a lower per-capita ratio), authorities are always advising us to stay away from water when thunderstorms are near. Being in a car, however, is generally a good way to stay safe; the steel shell of the car makes a great Faraday cage.<br /><br />Now, however, Pat and I have a car whose body, like the hull of a boat, is made of fiberglass. We'll just have to make a point of driving something else when there are thunderstorms in the area.Carol Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07201269435839112134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18283526.post-23915476547139459992009-07-15T19:35:03.876+00:002009-07-15T19:35:03.876+00:00Nooooo! My previous iPhone! No bottles of wine wou...Nooooo! My previous iPhone! No bottles of wine would have been enough.<br /><br />I was worrying a bit about the spelling of lightening / lightning so don't be surprised if use one or other.<br /><br />Lisa Copeland said that some of the electrics that were unplugged got zapped too, so that wouldn't help.<br /><br />I could have been doubly safe and:<br />- put the iPhone in a plastic container<br />- wrapped the container in tin foil<br />- put the tin foil wrapped container in the oven<br /><br />It would make a good episode of Top Yacht - zapping a yacht with lightening and seeing what happened and whether this would work (are you listening BBC?)JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10749223049615363296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18283526.post-89784896159803879312009-07-15T06:34:36.045+00:002009-07-15T06:34:36.045+00:00A thought arises ... if a lightning strike were to...A thought arises ... if a lightning strike were to enter the boat in such a way as to get to the oven ...<br /><br />Attached to the oven is presumably a hose that carries propane gas. Even if the gas is turned off at the tank when the oven is not in use, there will still be propane in the hose.<br /><br />OTOH, there aren't any easy routes for electricity to get conducted to the oven, or much of anywhere else in the boat. When electronics get fried, it's usually through the boat's wiring system, via a radio antenna or the like.<br /><br />BTW, I believe that even in Britain, "lightning" (the weather phenomenon) is spelled without an <i>e</i>. "Lightening" is the present participle of the verb "lighten", which means "to make or become lighter".Carol Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07201269435839112134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18283526.post-508091007559864412009-07-15T01:22:46.157+00:002009-07-15T01:22:46.157+00:00I believe the only proven lightning deterrent, JP,...I believe the only proven lightning deterrent, JP, is a nice bottle of wine.<br /><br />Your iPhone might have fried (baked?) in the oven, but you probably wouldn't have cared as much.<br /><br />Has anyone actually captured a live Faraday in one of those cages?O Dockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08674140306304705852noreply@blogger.com