Lightning

Bluebell · 06-10-2005, 07:04 AM

Just wondering if anyone has experienced any reactions from the software while driving in an intense lightning storm.

ScottY · 06-10-2005, 08:46 AM

Never experienced that. But I assume the car won't be affected by lightning, unless you are strike by it (which will fully charge your battery

).

Scott

jayman · 06-10-2005, 09:09 AM

It's [possible that any modern car or pickup with electronic integration will be affected by the high charge before a lightning strike. For the most part, there is nothing special that will protect any car or pickup onboard system from a direct strike.

The Prius uses a Timing Triggered CANBus onboard network. In theory it will tolerate brief glitches without latching up. CANBus has extensive industrial use due to it's tolerance of stray RF and spikes, eg a Variable Frequency Drive.

In a metal body car or pickup you will still be very well protected from lightning due to The Faraday Cage Effect. It has nothing to do with the tires, it has to do with the metal body. During a lightning storm, stay inside the vehicle.

http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/ve...cle_strike.html

The exception to that would be the onboard systems on modern passenger airliners. They have to be certified to withstand direct lightning strikes, since one can expect a large jet to get hit by lightning - sometimes repeatedly - during a flight and especially during a lifetime of flying.

That sort of protection is very expensive, and it doesn't always work as intended. For example, sometimes the nose assembly that holds the weather radar and radar altimeter equipment will get hit, and the radome will be partially or completely destroyed. It won't bring down the aircraft, but I bet the pilots have to change their underwear after landing.

Dan Gross · 06-10-2005, 09:53 AM

I was hit by a torrential downpour on the way home last night with lightning that was hitting pretty close...not a problem....

06-10-2005, 07:04 AM	#1
Bluebell Join Date: May 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, VA (near D.C. Posts: 14 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Lightning Just wondering if anyone has experienced any reactions from the software while driving in an intense lightning storm.

06-10-2005, 08:46 AM	#2
ScottY Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,249 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Lightning Never experienced that. But I assume the car won't be affected by lightning, unless you are strike by it (which will fully charge your battery ). Scott

06-10-2005, 09:09 AM	#3
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 12,161 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 82 Thanked 272 Times in 238 Posts Friends: 14	Re: Lightning It's [possible that any modern car or pickup with electronic integration will be affected by the high charge before a lightning strike. For the most part, there is nothing special that will protect any car or pickup onboard system from a direct strike. The Prius uses a Timing Triggered CANBus onboard network. In theory it will tolerate brief glitches without latching up. CANBus has extensive industrial use due to it's tolerance of stray RF and spikes, eg a Variable Frequency Drive. In a metal body car or pickup you will still be very well protected from lightning due to The Faraday Cage Effect. It has nothing to do with the tires, it has to do with the metal body. During a lightning storm, stay inside the vehicle. http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/ve...cle_strike.html The exception to that would be the onboard systems on modern passenger airliners. They have to be certified to withstand direct lightning strikes, since one can expect a large jet to get hit by lightning - sometimes repeatedly - during a flight and especially during a lifetime of flying. That sort of protection is very expensive, and it doesn't always work as intended. For example, sometimes the nose assembly that holds the weather radar and radar altimeter equipment will get hit, and the radome will be partially or completely destroyed. It won't bring down the aircraft, but I bet the pilots have to change their underwear after landing.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
"Why Did Cars Have Tail Fins?-The WWII P-38 Lightning Fighter Plane	hb06	Other Cars	10	12-26-2008 08:39 PM
Lightning and Prius and looking for journal	scruopec	Gen II Prius Main Forum	20	07-24-2006 08:10 AM

06-10-2005, 09:53 AM	#4
Dan Gross Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Western New York Posts: 38 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I was hit by a torrential downpour on the way home last night with lightning that was hitting pretty close...not a problem....