When Lightning Strikes!!!

[Frank G]

Returned to our fifth wheel today in central FL after a 4 week absence.

It was left hooked up to power with a Progressive Industries surge protector, water hooked up, turned off at the source, Direct tv dish tripod mounted and hooked up. Everything was turned off except the rear A/C set on 85.

When we returned nothing was on and the main breaker inside the unit was tripped. Here is what we found; Main TV won't come on, Electric side of water heater trips circuit breaker, Main A/C, nope no work, and yes that wonderful 18 cu ft 4-door Norcold Refrigator is dead on all functions, full of food, in 90+ heat for 10 days or so. Where the power cable attaches to the Fifth Wheel the Ground Contacts were lightly welded together. A while back someone challenged the design of the new style power cord connectors grounding method, I think it worked well as designed.

The bright side, we pray for those in the path of the storms, we are so lucky and it looks like Progressive will take care of it. Yes it looks like a Lightning strike, probably not direct, but who knows. The neighbors are confirming this, they all thought they were the ones hit.

The interesting find is that Progressive Industries surge protectors have a disclaimer that protects them from any damages. Wow, they could care less if there product works or not in protecting your RV or you.

The Mobile Toy Doctors are coming out tomorrow to assess the damages and fix what they can.

[bob91yj]

Wow...we had a highly unusual thunder/lightening storm in the San Diego area last Friday. We had the power go out, flicker back on and then go out again. I and all of my neighbors unplugged from the power pedestals just to be on the safe(r) side.

Surge protection is on my "need to get" list. I do thank this forum for the knowledge I've acquired regarding surge protection. I don't think the thought would have ever occurred to me if I hadn't learned about it here.

I don't think anyone that stayed plugged in suffered any damage, rather safe than sorry though.

[sourdough]

Wow! I am very sorry to hear of the problems. It really wreaked havoc sounds like. It's one of those things that crosses people's minds that they hoe just doesn't happen because there's nothing you can do about it if it does. You're probably better off that you weren't there from the extent of the damage. Lightning is very powerful and there's no telling what could have happened to someone in the family when it hit. Thankfully they are coming out to try to get you going. Good luck and hope you get back in order soon.

[notanlines]

"we are so lucky and it looks like Progressive will take care of it.
The interesting find is that Progressive Industries surge protectors have a disclaimer that protects them from any damages"
Can we assume that you are speaking of two different Progressives here?
As Danny said, nobody injured, that's the most important part.

[Frank G]

Originally Posted by notanlines

"we are so lucky and it looks like Progressive will take care of it.
The interesting find is that Progressive Industries surge protectors have a disclaimer that protects them from any damages"
Can we assume that you are speaking of two different Progressives here?
As Danny said, nobody injured, that's the most important part.

Yes, Progressive Insurance

Progressive Industries is the manufacture of the Surge Protector I have. Yes I was quite surprised to read on there web site that they cover the device only and nothing attached to it. I have purchased other surge protectors in the past for electronic gear and they came with a $xxxxxx protection plan if you could prove there device failed to protect. Now, I do not believe any device will protect form a down stream lightning strike. So I would not expect Progressive Industries to have any liabilities for my losses.

[sourdough]

I don't have Progressive insurance on the RV but I'll relate a conversation with my insurance company when we had a desktop PC and fridge ruined by power fluctuations.

We have terrible power where our house is and we had one extremely dismal day when the power would surge then brown out to the tune of 20+ times (wind was blowing). During that period I lost one refrigerator and one desktop PC. I called the insurance company and described what had happened wondering if there was insurance on that type of occurrence. The rep (Geico) advised that they did not cover poor power or surges etc. but the did cover lightning and told me, after I had told her all that, "if you tell me it was hit by lightning we will cover it"! I told her there was no way I would do that because that wasn't what happened - so I bought new "stuff" (I figure and adjustor would have questioned it anyway). Just saying be careful how you describe the events and make sure from your initial conversation they understand you were hit by lightning.

[flybouy]

Lightning doesn't have to directly strike the power line to do damage. Many years ago we had a tree struck about 60 feet behind a bedroom of our house. The 50' + tall, over 5' diameter tree was reduced to tooth pics. The induced voltage blew out the power diodes in that bed room's television. This was over 35 yrs ago when electronics were not as sensitive. If it was a direct hit, no surge protector will stop the potentialy millions of volts, thousands of amps that a lightning strike can generate.

[sourdough]

Lightning, like a large hurricane, can cause unbelievable damage and we don't actually comprehend their power. I was driving to my house in the mountains in a rainstorm at about 9000' elevation; it was a thunderstorm. I've seen pretty close lightning strikes and you see the lightning and hear the boom a bit later; maybe a fraction a second later, but a bit later. On this day as I drove along I was startled by a large blue light on my left almost blinding me. At the moment I saw the blue light it shot straight down a 100+' pine about 50' to my left. I saw the light, the tree shot all of it's bark off and splintered and about the same time I heard the boom - the tree was decimated and I couldn't see for a few seconds.

All that to say that nature can do things and carries powers beyond our comprehension so we must always keep that in mind and hope that we aren't caught by it in some form or fashion.

[bobbecky]

The use of a pure 'surge protector' does not do much to protect all the electronics and other things in these rigs, as they do not open the circuit when a voltage issue happens, whether a high surge or a low voltage situation which can also damage things. The better option, whether portable or hardwired, is an EMS device, which will open a magnetic contactor if any voltage deviation occurs, and with the contactor open inside the EMS, the hot legs are disconnected from the source. These devices usually have even better lightning or surge capability than a regular surge protector.

Progressive Industries and Southwire Surge Guard are two of several manufacturers that make these devises.

[BAPotter]

Flybouy, similar situation in So. Florida 50 yrs ago, similar tree, ran from the tree and dug a trench 6" deep, blew a 2' diameter hole in a concrete block house, totally destroyed the bed next to the wall. Nobody in the bed, thankfully.

[Frank G]

More Updates. We are so lucky, we have a few new couples in the resort from the Panhandle that lost everything living in friends and family units. We are still without a inside refrigerator, more parts tomorrow. The Direct TV man will also be here tomorrow. The DVD side of the Furreon entertainment center is fried along with the Fire Stick. We have checked all the slides and the awning. Tomorrow we will check the Leveling system with the technician present and plug in the trailer lights. Hopefully we find everything. The Insurance company is coming back this week to assess the new found damage.

As these units become more complex with electrical gadgets, it is extremely important to check everything out, I am amazed to find electronic devices partially impaired.

We had a Progressive Industries Surge suppressor on the unit, it is still working correctly according to the lights. I do not think the Lightning (surge) entered through the pedestal. Do not know how it entered, there are no visible marks.

[14george]

Thanks for the update

[fjr vfr]

We had a Progressive Industries Surge suppressor on the unit, it is still working correctly according to the lights. I do not think the Lightning (surge) entered through the pedestal. Do not know how it entered, there are no visible marks.[/QUOTE]


As stated previously, Lightning will energize the air surrounding where the lightning strikes. It does not need to enter. It does not need to make a direct path through your RV. Air is turned into a plasma full of electrons. Electrically fragile solid state components can be fried from contact with the air alone.

[bob91yj]

What does EMS stand for?

[Alpine]

Originally Posted by bob91yj

What does EMS stand for?

Electrical Management System

Here is the one we use....

[Atlsouth56]

Electrical Management System

[Tatanka Ob Waci]

When bought our 2014 Raptor in 2015. Brought it home and parked it in the driveway. Had it plugged into the house and took a lightning strike. Knocked out all electronics except fridge. Insurance paid for repairs and immediately afterwards we obtained a surge protector. Sales people should advise new buyers about this issue. Havent had any trouble since.

[travelin texans]

Which means it not only protects against surges/spikes, but a list of other possible electrical issues. Once it's plugged in & breaker turned on it takes 2 minutes +/- to check e everything before power goes through it to the rv. You definitely want/need the surge/ems! If you don't don't have one GET IT ASAP!

[bob91yj]

Thank you!

[fjr vfr]

BTW, if a lightning strike is close enough no EMS or surge device will protect you. The effects of a near direct strike will energize the very air in the surrounding area. Lightning can fry electronics without any direct wired path.