Jeff Banter
EF0
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2010
- Messages
- 10
Lightning Strike?????
- Thread starter Jeff Banter
- Start date
Jason Foster
It could be, certainly seems possible. It could be the cg hit the pole then arced to the sign.
I could see it being caused by power line from that pole coming loose and hitting the sign. However the pole looks fine and I don't see any rust as if it happened more than 48 hours earlier.
I could see it being caused by power line from that pole coming loose and hitting the sign. However the pole looks fine and I don't see any rust as if it happened more than 48 hours earlier.
Richard Dickson
EF2
Jeff,
There is maybe a five percent possibility the burn in the sign was lightning caused, but it is doubtful since the sign is directly under the power line. After a lifetime working for an electrical utility, my moneys says lightning struck the conductor above the sign burning the conductor in two and the 'live' end of the conductor fell across the grounded sign. The resulting arc burned the sign during the time the breaker/recloser/sectionalizer/fuse was operating to clear the fault which can be as short as instantaneous to ten seconds or more depending on location in the system and available fault current to operate the device.
If you happen to get back to that location, look up at the wire and see if a repair sleeve is there indicating that is where the line crew made repairs. It is an interesting photo and thanks for sharing it.
There is maybe a five percent possibility the burn in the sign was lightning caused, but it is doubtful since the sign is directly under the power line. After a lifetime working for an electrical utility, my moneys says lightning struck the conductor above the sign burning the conductor in two and the 'live' end of the conductor fell across the grounded sign. The resulting arc burned the sign during the time the breaker/recloser/sectionalizer/fuse was operating to clear the fault which can be as short as instantaneous to ten seconds or more depending on location in the system and available fault current to operate the device.
If you happen to get back to that location, look up at the wire and see if a repair sleeve is there indicating that is where the line crew made repairs. It is an interesting photo and thanks for sharing it.
Jeff Banter
EF0
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2010
- Messages
- 10
neighbors indicate lines did not come down that day. No one actually saw lightning hit the sign but did see a close flash followed by instantaneous thunder.
cedwards
EF5
Lightning does not always hit the highest object. Many times I have filmed lighting hitting TV towers and it rarely hits the top. Many times it will hit about half way down.
Lightning could easily go around the power lines above and hit the sign.
If this is a direct lightning hit, it could be a good safety warning that standing below power lines in not a safe place from lightning strikes.
Lightning could easily go around the power lines above and hit the sign.
If this is a direct lightning hit, it could be a good safety warning that standing below power lines in not a safe place from lightning strikes.
Jason Young
EF2
I would have to say it looks to me to be Lightning:
1.The sign is made of Aluminum ( or atleast most are ) so there would not be rust.
2. You can see a burn going down the sign where the pole is .
3.To me the burn on the top looks to be electrical due to the high heat needed to melt that thick of Aluminum in a downward motion .
Just my thought's.
1.The sign is made of Aluminum ( or atleast most are ) so there would not be rust.
2. You can see a burn going down the sign where the pole is .
3.To me the burn on the top looks to be electrical due to the high heat needed to melt that thick of Aluminum in a downward motion .
Just my thought's.
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