Nevada Thunderstorms October 18, 2015, 01:05:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156472I was caught in some severe thunderstorms yesterday and decided to pull into a park so I could keep comfy with my electric heater. In the early morning the lightning and thunder got severe and took out the A.C. power for about 30 minutes. When this happened my laptop got hit with enough of a power spike to automatically come out of hibernation mode, the Verizon MIFI device ceased to function and it's charger wouldn't charge. Then I noticed my fridge was running on propane and not A.C. Checking the power panel showed 2 tripped breakers. I reset them, turned fridge off and on, then it resumed operation on A.C. when the power restored. The Verizon MIFI device functioned again after removing and replacing battery (it was very hot.) My Wilson amplifier got fried so I plugged in my old one that has collected dust for a year. I unplugged 12V charger and plugged back in and charger functioned again. It appears my surge guard device isn't guarding and needs replacement. Any recommendations on a more reliable power protector than this Surge Guard unit?My Alpine stereo isn't working anymore either. Have to look into that later.bobmoore14Zombie Outbreak Response Team #13
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #1 – October 18, 2015, 01:23:51 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156473Hi Bob, Panamax makes a variety of high quality surge protectors. I have two that I use to protect my home theatre systems at the house. Some of their products are pretty straight forward power strip surge protectors while others are more sophisticated devices for computers and home theaters. Panamax is a highly regarded company in the home theatre business. They have something to fit just about every need.Sorry for your loss and heartache. Good luck.Kent
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #2 – October 18, 2015, 01:32:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156474It appears my surge guard device isn't guarding and needs replacement. Any recommendations on a more reliable power protector than this Surge Guard unit? ----- If a portable EMS unit is preferred, this is the best, IMO:http://www.progressiveindustries.net/?reload=true#!ems-pt30c/c501If one prefers a hard-wired EMS, this one:http://www.progressiveindustries.net/?reload=true#!ems-lchw30/c1t3rOr, this one:http://www.progressiveindustries.net/?reload=true#!ems-hw30c/cuunAs ever, YMMV.Joan
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #3 – October 18, 2015, 01:33:27 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156475During lightning storms simply unplug from shore power until the storm has passed and power is back. Then check with a meter to be sure voltage is in safe range. Now your safe from surges, spikes, low/high voltage, etc.Ed
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #4 – October 18, 2015, 02:04:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156476Now your safe from surges, spikes, low/high voltage, etc---- JMO, but although the motorhome might be "safe" from a hit after a storm has passed through, a good full-featured EMS (Electrical Management System) will protect the rig's wiring from too-high or low voltages, power surges, and reversed polarity and grounding issues *whenever* the rig is hooked up. The EMS may sacrifice itself with a direct hit (my first one did), but replacing the EMS is a lot cheaper and easier than replacing the rig's wiring.I have the portable unit from Progressive Industries; it has provided very efficient and practical wiring protection for my purposes. I don't plug in very often, but if my rig is hooked up, the EMS is first in line.One advantage of a wired-in EMS is that it also protects against "dirty power" from the generator; the portable doesn't, obviously.As ever, YMMV.Joan
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #5 – October 18, 2015, 02:13:12 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156477What you say is true, Joan. I was talking about a good practice during an electrical storm vs a good all the time solution.Ed
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #6 – October 18, 2015, 02:18:43 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156478I was talking about a good practice during an electrical storm vs a good all the time solution.---OK; got it! Thanks, Ed. ;-)Joan
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #7 – October 18, 2015, 02:45:55 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156479I'm willing to bet that the rate-of-rise of a voltage spike during an electrical storm strike will far exceed the clamping speed of any man-made protection device. Additionally, any strike REALLY nearby could simply cause a high enough peak to simply arc over the entire device. Pretty hard to shield against a megavolt or more. Realistically these surge protection devices all have their limitations, and do their best protecting against man-caused error in design or implementation of the electrical distribution network. During a storm, disconnect and hunker down!Steve
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #8 – October 18, 2015, 04:35:15 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156480I'm seldom plugged in, but I do unhook if there's lightning; if it's just raining, my EMS is working and staying dry in its Goretex rain jacket! ;-)The first "surge protector " I had was fried by a near-the-power-pedestal strike in an Estes Park, CO, storm; the motorhome's wiring was not damaged, so, apparently, the thing did its job. The second EMS was given to a friend, and the third, the Progressive portable, is in the compartment.But, I agree that the EMS is better relied upon to diagnose "line" problems and warn of same than (relied upon) as a fail-proof bulwark against wiring damage from a lightning strike; the PI has found polarity mis-wirings and open grounds at pedestals and has "clamped" a few times with (sustained) too-low or high voltages and/or spikes.Joan
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #9 – October 18, 2015, 08:40:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156485In November, 2009, I was at Coronado campground in Bernalillo, New Mexico. Around 9:30 or so, as I was settling down for the night, the power went out. It was a clear night, no storms in the area. In about 30 seconds, the power came on, then dropped out again. After that, I saw the power wink on and off a few more times in the campground, but my surge protector was fried. I unplugged from shore power and waited about an hour until power in the campground had come on and stayed on. I reconnected, but my surge protector was dead. I took my multimeter and checked voltage. All looked good, so I disconnected my surge protector and plugged directly in. My systems all came on and were fine. In the campground around me, though, most other rigs were dark, and stayed dark. Their systems were fried. I later learned what happened. A car accident nearby had taken out a pole. A high voltage line, 13,500v if I remember right, had dropped and touched a local service line, 600v I think, sending voltage surges through the nearby system as the connection was made and broken and made and broken by the wind moving that hanging live wire. OK, it is an unusual circumstance, BUT - surge protectors are not just for protection from lightning strikes. As Joan pointed out, the power supply in a campground is not necessarily to be trusted. My Progressive Industries portable surge protector saved my systems that night. No RV in that campground without surge protection was undamaged. I now have a hard wired surge protector on board, and my portable one sits in a cabinet against a time when it may be needed. I will not be without one. That being said, when lightning is in the area, I unplug. Why tempt fate?Ken F in NM
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #10 – October 18, 2015, 10:18:59 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156486"That being said, when lightning is in the area, I unplug. Why tempt fate?"I had not even considered that as a pre-caution. So I'm mighty grateful for this guidance. Thank you.Ed & Margee Fort Worth
Reply Thunderstorms Reply #11 – October 19, 2015, 12:31:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156496Another thing to be aware of for those that have metal leveling jacks is they are a direct contact to ground and a good path for lightning. Wood or plastic blocks under the jack pads do help if there is not a lot of water standing around them. Same goes for the tires. Lightning travels several miles through the sky and it laughs at all the thing we do to prevent damage from a strike. We lost a toad to lightning when water came up to the steel wheel. Vehicle looked fine but all electrical components were fried. Insurance totaled it. We live in the lightning capital of the US (western central Florida) and have seen bolts do many strange things. This summer a bolt hit a power pole several feet away from me (fortunately, I was in a vehicle on our ranch) throwing splinters from the post and a cone of dirt 10' up into the air. Less than a minute later a second bolt hit another pole further away. Typical summer storms. Mike
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #12 – October 20, 2015, 02:25:55 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156526Thanks Joan for those sources. My Verizon MIFI device was cooked as well. One hour at the Verizon store and $100 later I'm back on the internet. This experience taught me a few things, not least of which is how attached I have become to mobile devices. Navigating, e-mail, news, etc. when taken away left me somewhat lost. Thankfully my Rand-McNally book got me where I needed to go.bobmoore14
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #13 – October 20, 2015, 02:27:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156527Kent, Thank you for the info. Going to look into that manufacturers product.bobmoore14
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #14 – October 20, 2015, 02:52:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156528The thought of unplugging did cross my mind but the rain and cold outside temperature kept me from leaving the confines of my nice dry warm interior and down comforter. I payed a hefty price for my lack of precaution and laziness. Live and hopefully learn.What I don't understand is how the 12VDC power was affected. I thought the power converter wouldn't pass surges thru it from the A.C. to D.C. side. I was wrong.bobmoore14
Re: Nevada Thunderstorms Reply #15 – October 20, 2015, 03:35:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156531Bob, You may find something useful in the Panamax line to safeguard your electronics. After reading the other responses, I'm leaning towards a dual prong approach to the issue. Whole house protection and secondary protection for ancillary items like the lap top etc. Really looks like unplugging during a storm is the safest bet, though. I'm looking into the other protection devices mentioned in conjunction with Panamax. I'll be sure to bring up these concerns when I pick up my LD in November. I'll be interested to hear what they have to say.Kent
Topic: Nevada Thunderstorms (Read 8 times)
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Topic: Nevada Thunderstorms (Read 8 times)
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