Lightning Question

[Willie Dines]

I'm trying to remember the name of CG's that strike outside the area of the thunderstorm's location, but I imagine it can be up to around 10 miles away, (Possibly more as I don't know of any distance limits).

I am very aware that people have been struck and killed by CG's that have strayed from the immediate vacinity of a thunderstorm, and I suspect that a good number of these strikes, are positively charged strikes, therefore being more dangerous.

And so, the possibility of experiencing a positive streamer, whist being miles away from a strike, is not so unlikely, in fact, I would imagine that there may be many positive streamers leave the ground, during a thunderstorm, that don't connect with a step leader, that may not be noticed, unless caught on camera.

Willie

 

[rdale]

No, you are taking what I said out of context...in fact you've conjured words up! I didn't even mention leaders......

Out of context? This thread is about the potential of a leader affecting him when the strike is 3 miles away, not how far away from a storm that a CG can hit

 

[Martin North]

Out of context? This thread is about the potential of a leader affecting him when the strike is 3 miles away, not how far away from a storm that a CG can hit

Ah, I see what you mean now. This is what I was trying to say.

That if a (one of many) streamer where I was (7 miles away) connected with a leader to make a CG hit where I was...then surely a streamer can go up at a range of 3 miles from the actual strike. Streamers go up all over the place...not necessarily in the immediate area.

Btw...if a leader affected him, he'd have been struck by lighting. Leaders come down and connect with streamers.

 

[scott r currens]

When I took the following photo I was standing outside my truck. During the second leading up to the strike I heard a loud high pitched buzz that ended with the strike that was at least 2-miles away. The buzz came from my ham radio antenna. It happened so fast that I didn't have any time to react.

Scott:

Yep, I sure have. I learned of the trick while driving under a strong electrical storm back in the early 80s when I heard my PL-259 connector go 'snap--snap--snap...'

Yep...I'm that old. I'm turning 50 this Tuesday. I'm happy to report that everything still works at that age.


I grabbed the cable, and I can actually see a hot blue arc jump from the center pin to the outside shield. I had a neon bulb in my junk pile, so I clipped it across the RF connector, and it glowed a nice dull orange. When a nearby strike hit, it really blinked quite bright!

Pretty cool..

Again, be careful about trying to use it as some sort of 'warning' tool...although its a good indicator of high static levels.

Happy 50th Tim!

I agree that this device shouldn't be used as to tell you that it is safe to be outside when common sense would tell you otherwise. I would however like to have something that might give me some indication that it is not save when my own common sense doesn't. Having had a few unexpected close lightning strikes over the years I am willing to test the device if for no other reason than to satisfy my nerdy curiosity.

What is the name for this type device or is there a name?

 

[Maggie Kahman]

Mike:

When there is a lightning discharge..even a few miles away, its enough to induce an electrical charge within a certain radius. Your chase vehicle comes 'alive' (get zapped when you touch it), your chase partner's hair stands on end, that fun tingling sensation, etc...

What you felt was the 'induced' electrical discharge on your body.

Hopefully, it will serve as a reminder that: "Hey, I shouldn't be outside".

To actually see/test the actual static/induced electrification from thunderstorms, just attach a neon bulb across your coaxial antenna connection that was attached to your CB or 2 meter antenna (be sure the antenna is the ungrounded type..an easy check with an ohm meter). When there is a strong electric field nearby, the bulb will simply 'glow'. When a strike happens..even a mile or so away, the neon will blink a brilliant orange flash at that very instance. You can buy neon bulbs at Radio Shack.

In fact, one can use an 'unused' antenna for this very purpose....for the chaser who has everything.

Certainly, I'm not endorsing that this is a device that DETERMINES that its safe to step outside of your vehicle...just a fun experiment. Common sense is your best 'warning device'.

........and please understand.....this is NOT a very safe thing to be doing as you are cruising into a high lightning threat area....

Tim

AWESOME!!!...lol....i wanna try that!!! Wouldnt there be a risk of the bulb exploding if you had lighting hit way too close?

 

[scott r currens]

AWESOME!!!...lol....i wanna try that!!! Wouldnt there be a risk of the bulb exploding if you had lighting hit way too close?

You need one that has a clear plastic cover.