Is this a risk with Hydraulic Self-levelling?

[Millcourt]

Last night we were on a very pleasant Aire in the South of France with 7 other MoHo’s. Although a reasonably flat tarmac surface, as is our routine since fitting VB Self-levelling last August, we levelled up on arrival to overcome the normal nose-down design of the Fiat chassis and to be stable to avoid disturbance with nocturnal loo trips.

Around 01.00 we experienced a really violent thunder storm which lasted about 40 minutes. It seemed that there were a number of lightening strikes not far away. As I lay snuggled cozily under a 10.5 TOG duvet, I started to worry that having 4 steel rams in contact with the ground may make our MoHo a more attractive path for a lightening discharge to earth than the neighbouring MoHo’s.

Was I worrying unnecessarily that I might be at greater risk with my self-levelling rams deployed?

 

[Steve N Tracy]

As they put carbon black in tyres to make them black they are also conductive which helps disapate static electricity.

 

[David and Sally]

I am assuming the body of the van is of composites so less likely to attract lightening?

Good question though.

 

[Bill-H]

I would guess that your whole motorhome should act as a Faraday Cage

 

[Lenny HB]

As they put carbon black in tyres to make them black they are also conductive which helps disapate static electricity.

Yep, what I was going to say.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Googlebot]

I wouldn’t worry, the chances are very slim of you being hit at all.

Likelihood if you do is the energy will dissipate around the motorhome ripping it to bits regardless.

Having seen a few houses struck, it causes a fair bit of damage regardless. A friend’s house got hit while they were in bed, thankfully apart from a massive zap, they were okay. The house required extensive repairs and a new roof.

 

[enark]

Guess the composite box would not be conductive to lightening?

There was a case some years ago of elephants all found dead in India, greatly shocked local community as elephants are protected.

Cause was deemed to be electric shock due to path of least resistance been Ground - back legs - body - front legs - ground

 

[Jonno1103]

The component of lightning which damages travels up, the positive charge, Due to the van tyres the downward invisible negative charge won't 'earth' in any part of your motorhome or car.

 

[KNWH]

I remember being caught in a thunderstorm on a mountain in Scotland years ago.
Saw a lightning bolt strike the ground about 200m lower than we were.
That certainly got our attention

 

[Googlebot]

I remember being caught in a thunderstorm on a mountain in Scotland years ago.
Saw a lightning bolt strike the ground about 200m lower than we were.
That certainly got our attention

I was on a Via Ferrata in the French Alps, proper storm rolled in and I was stuck attached to a metal cable.

I papped myself.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[B+W vanman]

I was once given the following advice by an old African guide (they have endless lightning storms on the high veld)
If caught out with no shelter:
1. Do not shelter under trees
2. Crouch down
3. Loosen your lower garments
4. Roll into as close to a sphere as possible (no projecting angles)
5. Kiss your #ss goodbye