Sleeping in a roof top tent during a thunderstorm

[Dave Morgan]

Hi all,

 

This is maybe off topic for techtorque but a pertinent topic nevertheless. There has been an interesting discussion on the overland forum about being in a roof top tent during a thunderstorm and the consensus is that you could be struck and thus fried, particularly when in the open. Having been in a severe thunderstorm at Three Provinces this last weekend, I do ask the question what should those sleeping in a roof top tent do in the case of a thunderstorm? It appears you are not even safe in your vehicle. The overland forum gives no answers. Maybe you guys can help?

 

Cheers,

Dave

[Peter Levey]

Overland forum was very clear - you get into your vehicle and will be perfectly safe from lightning, not because the rubber Tyres insulate you from the earth, but because of the Faraday Cage effect which will divert any lightning strike around the vehicle's metal skin.

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[Mike Ilsley]

Well put Peter, they showed this on Top Car, where one of the chaps sat inside a vw golf, and they zapped it with a van de graaf generator. Not only did he get out totally unscathed, but the car suffered no electrical damage to its computers! Amazing...

Rgds 

Mike 

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[JANSEN VAN RENSBURG, HANNES (AG/6216)]

Hi Dave

A few years ago I slept inside my Land Rover during a thunder storm. Lighting struck my Land Rover and sparks were flying everywhere. Nothing happened to me but the next morning I could not touch any steel parts on my Land Rover without getting an electric shock.

 

Regards

Hannes

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[Mike Nieuwoudt]

Dave, it depends on your vehicle if you are safe or not. If it is a metal skinned vehicle, you should be safe, but dont lean your arm out a window, preferably sit towards the middle.

 

If you are talking about a canvas roofed Landy, sorry man, you're toast.

 

And the older fibre glass topped Hardtops could also be problematic.

[Eric]

Hi Dave

I would think that you are safer in a roof top tent then a ground tent because most of the people will always pitch there tent under a tree for shade, which is most likely to a get lighting strike then a 2 m tall Land Rover. But if all fails you can carry a 30m pole and place it upright 30m away from your Landy.

You would have a greater chance of being wiped out in the centre of Pretoria.  

 

Eric Wolstencroft

[Tony Pollastrini]

Mike/Peter,

 

A Defender with aluminium body panels - would the Faraday cage effect work? (maybe just not as well as a steel body vehicle?)

Regards Tony

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[Bertus Bekker]

It will have to be closer to the tent  than what it's length is, Eric, as a single pole only covers an area spread out 45 degrees from its tip. So a single 5m pole close to the tent will help, if it is earthed VERY well.

I guess it's a bit like swimming in the ocean - we know the sharks are there, but we still get in the water  :-)

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[Mike Lauterbach]

The Faraday cage effect works with any good conducting material, so yes, it does work with Ali.

Cheers
Other Mike

[Mike Ilsley]

Hi Tony

 

My guess is it would be perfect as aluminium is an excellent conductor of electricity.

 

Rgds

M

[Peter Levey]

Exactly

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[Tony Pollastrini]

Tks – relatively, just as safe in a trusty Defender!

Regards Tony

[JANSEN VAN RENSBURG, HANNES (AG/6216)]

My Landy has a fiber glas top and I survived a lightning strike

 

From: lroc-te...@googlegroups.com [mailto:lroc-te...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Mike Nieuwoudt

Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 9:59 PM
To: lroc-te...@googlegroups.com

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[Mike Nieuwoudt]

Yip, but the fibre top is like a large window above. If you sit or lie down "ïnside" the ally side walls you still have some protection, it just is a lot worse than having a full metal skin. Count your lucky stars.