GlueGuy
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2001
- Messages
- 1,654
- Tractor
- Kubota B7500
Patrick,
We've had several experiences.
First was about 15 or 18 years ago. Lightning struck a power pole and blew off one of the primaries. End result was that one of the 110V phases coming into our house became (essentially) ground potential and the other one went to 220V. We slept through the storm, and first thing in the morning (on time) I heard the 220V pool motor kick on out in the back yard. I got up and padded out to the kitchen; turned on the kitchen light, and POP! it blew out. Hmmm, still no clue, then went into the family room (next to the kitchen) and flipped on the light. POP! another one bit the dust. Now I'm awake, and figuring something is fishy, but the pool motor is running (normally). Hmmm. Got out the trusty DVM and started checking outlets. First three I checked were dead. Hmmmm. Fourth one read 220V! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif. I moved as fast as I could to the main panel and shut everything off. Called PG&E ASAP. We were lucky, only lost a clock radio, phone answering machine, and a few lightbulbs. Everything else that was potential was either on the dead circuit or turned off. Other neighbors were not so lucky.
Since we've been living on top of the mountain, we've had lightning strikes 3 times. Lost at least one modem each time (our modems are all protected now). Blew a couple of phone lines. Last one took out the transformer that feeds our house (about 80-100 feet away). Blew it up like a roman candle. My wife was on the phone when it hit (cordless), but her ears were ringing for a couple of weeks. She said she hit the floor when it happened. She was really spooked.
The GlueGuy
We've had several experiences.
First was about 15 or 18 years ago. Lightning struck a power pole and blew off one of the primaries. End result was that one of the 110V phases coming into our house became (essentially) ground potential and the other one went to 220V. We slept through the storm, and first thing in the morning (on time) I heard the 220V pool motor kick on out in the back yard. I got up and padded out to the kitchen; turned on the kitchen light, and POP! it blew out. Hmmm, still no clue, then went into the family room (next to the kitchen) and flipped on the light. POP! another one bit the dust. Now I'm awake, and figuring something is fishy, but the pool motor is running (normally). Hmmm. Got out the trusty DVM and started checking outlets. First three I checked were dead. Hmmmm. Fourth one read 220V! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif. I moved as fast as I could to the main panel and shut everything off. Called PG&E ASAP. We were lucky, only lost a clock radio, phone answering machine, and a few lightbulbs. Everything else that was potential was either on the dead circuit or turned off. Other neighbors were not so lucky.
Since we've been living on top of the mountain, we've had lightning strikes 3 times. Lost at least one modem each time (our modems are all protected now). Blew a couple of phone lines. Last one took out the transformer that feeds our house (about 80-100 feet away). Blew it up like a roman candle. My wife was on the phone when it hit (cordless), but her ears were ringing for a couple of weeks. She said she hit the floor when it happened. She was really spooked.
The GlueGuy
