Lightening Strikes

[Hummel]

We have a 2013 36RE that we park in the Arizona mountains for the summer. Today we traveled to the 5er to find out that it had been hit by lightening sometime last week. So far the motherboard is gone and the batteries are both dead. Has anyone has a similar experience and can you guide me for what else I might look for? My tech is ordering a new board and I have a battery charger on the batteries so the refrigerator will work. Any assistance or experiences would be appreciated.

[UNDRPSI]

We once got hit by lightning in the campground that we were staying and it blew out or circuit board for our thermostat. We didnt find out till we tried to turn on the heat. And nothing. Had to hot wire (bypass) the thermostat. So I would say check your 12volt thing's also. Actually I would check everything. Was it a direct hit or close by?

[Hummel]

It hit the pine tree in front of the 5er - about 15 feet away. I am wondering if it traveled underground to the tripod we had on the front.
Thanks.

[atom ant]

motherboard to what?

[Hummel]

The inverter. I am not very knowledgeable on things of this nature.

[atom ant]

OK, just curious. There are motherboards in the fridge, dishwasher, levelers, Shwintek slide system and probably lots more. I would check everything before you settle with insurance.

[hoosierguy]

Originally Posted by Hummel

We have a 2013 36RE that we park in the Arizona mountains for the summer. Today we traveled to the 5er to find out that it had been hit by lightening sometime last week. So far the motherboard is gone and the batteries are both dead. Has anyone has a similar experience and can you guide me for what else I might look for? My tech is ordering a new board and I have a battery charger on the batteries so the refrigerator will work. Any assistance or experiences would be appreciated.

I would have a qualified RV service shop recommended by Redwood / Crossroads go through and check everthing and provide a list of all that needs repaired/replaced to turn into insurance. You likely aren't going to be qualified to do this yourself. Get some professional help.

[BradPAjax]

A lightning strike will take out everything plugged into an outlet including TVs, Microwave, Dirt Devil, and electronics tied to the ground bar. Lightning strikes in major storm in Ontario last summer fried everything in a coworkers house including his furnace! Have a qualified tech check everything as posted above.

Fibreglass sailboats stuck by lightning have thousands of pin holes in the gelcoat along the waterline where lightning went to ground. Direct hits and near direct hits on these units can be very destructive.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by BradPAjax

A lightning strike will take out everything plugged into an outlet including TVs, Microwave, Dirt Devil, and electronics tied to the ground bar. Lightning strikes in major storm in Ontario last summer fried everything in a coworkers house including his furnace! Have a qualified tech check everything as posted above.

Fibreglass sailboats stuck by lightning have thousands of pin holes in the gelcoat along the waterline where lightning went to ground. Direct hits and near direct hits on these units can be very destructive.

zowee, I didn't know it could do that to a boat, dont tell my wife or we will be fishing from the shore from now on!Edited by: atom ant

[hoosierguy]

There can also be latent failures that will occur weeks or months after the initial episode of failures. I would recommend that you discuss this possibility with your insurance representative to establish how to hand those eventuallities.

[BradPAjax]

Atom Ant,

I am talking sailboats with 50 to 60 foot aluminum masts... fishing boats are probably ok unless you fish with an aluminum rod above your head a lot.

Some guys connect booster cables to the mast shrouds and drag them in the water on sail boats to help dissipate lightning when stuck in the middle of Lake Ontario.

Heading from Ajax, ON to Youngstown, NY on a C&C 29 this Friday to participate in the 40th Anniversary Level Regatta ... no lightning in the forecast!

[atom ant]

Ah - I didn't even think of a sailboat. We had a guy burn his legs in a circle after lightning hit somewhere on the water and he was standing in the water trying to wave his kids in off the Jet Ski. The kids were fine.

[UNDRPSI]

The mother board was in our thermostat control that controled the heat and AC in our 96 King of the Road 5er. We could no longer get that thermostat controller and the updated one that replaced it was $300. Check Everything!!!