Thunderstorm tips?

NO, NO, NO!  Do NOT disconnect shore power.  AC current and a grounded electrical system are protective against lightning strikes - reason unknown to me.  Stay in your trailer and don't shower or touch metal trailer parts.  ID early a place to shelter during high wind threats.

There's nothing you can do with the permanent electronics in time for a surprise strike, but preemptively unplugging charging ipads, phones, tablets is the best you can do. Like Mom always said, "don't take a shower and don't touch the metal that is the ground wherever you are".

(Story Time) As kids, we swam competitively all year 'round. Summer t-storms were the norm. 'Hear thunder' and life guards got everyone out of the pool and into the gymnastics building next to the pools with all of us moaning and groaning since it was just a little thunder and no clouds were in the sky. We used to hang our towels on the fence next to the gym. During those times we'd hop out of the pool, grab our towels and go inside (fans only - and it was HOT). There had to be a certain time without thunder before we could go back and cool off in the water before practice. We always thought getting out of the pool was an exercise in futility.... until the day the littlest swimmer was having a time getting the towel off the fence and someone helped. Both were made it inside just fine - but shortly thereafter, lightning struck the fence (the gym door was still open). You could smell the ozone. There wasn't black clouds above the pool. The sun was still out. There was no rain. The guards just heard thunder. Made us all believers! It also made us all immediately get out and to safety without grumbling or lagging behind in the future thunder warnings. I'm not sure any of us actually saw the lightning because it happened so fast, but we heard it. Of course, the story spread from person to person until the swimmers were closer and closer to being struck. They weren't, but experiencing the fence strike was enough.

Photomom said:

Interested in other opinions about whether to unplug the trailer. I'd think a lightning strike would fry the converter, Alde, and fridge electronics.

It depends on what the lightning has struck. If it strikes the tallest object (a tree), there's probably not a chance it'll affect the campground electrical system.

If it strikes the camper and you are in it, there's nothing you will be able to do about the electronics. Dad said the fuses aren't fast enough. Both your vehicle and camper are floating grounds though and you should be fine inside. I'm curious about the jack, however.... If there's a wheel, your camper is still a floating ground. If the jack leg is on the ground with a metal foot, is the camper now fully grounded to the earth and not considered a floating ground? If plugged in, you are grounded to the campground electrical system.

If you have an electronic jack, I'd assume the electronics would blow if wired to the battery and you'd have to manually jack it up - unless you set up a 7 pin plug so you adjust the jack via your TV battery and not the camper battery (which is the way I wanted to go to save battery power for extended boondock weekends).

Homebodyatheart said:

@Ratkity what if the jack and metal foot were on a piece of plywood? Interesting thread!

Then it wouldn't be touching the ground and you'd still be in a floating ground state. That said, how many people pick up their chains and not allow them to touch the ground (ok, bet some do, but I don't lol)? That would also cause an earth-ground effect.

What about the metal stabilizers.  How do they impact our susceptibility?

@gophergrad I believe the connectors are made to be left out in the elements. I've got the Progressive SP too, and have never had issues, including rolling downpours over two days. I also wrapped my 7 pin up in plastic with a rubber band, and water got in anyway. Now I leave it hanging down off the tongue, but not hitting the ground. That was a great tip I got on this forum. Good luck!

SAM said:

What about the metal stabilizers.  How do they impact our susceptibility?

The stabilizers (unless you place plastic pads beneath them) provide a quick path to ground.  The characteristics of electricity and lightning are that both seek the quickest path to ground.   This is why people like heavy equipment operators, drivers involved in car/pole accidents, etc. are electrocuted when they step down from equipment/or step out of a vehicle (with downed power lines on them) after making contact with a power line, as the electricity uses their body and the contact with earth (via the equipment/vehicle) to go straight to ground.  And inasmuch as rubber tires do provide some insulation from electricity there are times when they have melted down the tires via higher voltages and the vehicle or equipment burn up if fuse protection doesn't operate effectively.  

And this isn't intended as a point of argument, but I personally would eliminate any potential ground contact to the trailer and agree, the safety chains on the ground provided a path to ground, as does the trailer jack.   If things do get real dicey lightning wise, I will head to my vehicle or the nearest shelter.   In most instances people are going to ride some of these severe thunder storms out and probably wouldn't think about the power cord, chains, stabilizers, etc.  

This is all personal choice and everyone will react differently in these situations, but for me personally, I will always err on the side of safety and what my gut feeling tells me at the time and depending on the weather conditions in protecting both myself, my family and anyone around me.   The recent tragic/fatal flash flood in Arizona this past weekend is a good example of how things can seem normal, yet turn deadly in an instant and catch innocent and unsuspecting individuals off guard as Mother Nature knows no bounds and can deal a fatal blow when you least expect it.   Stay to the high ground, leave yourself an out, seek out a good shelter if one is available and remain safe.  

I've been thinking about the flash floods of AZ. The same thing happened in a SC camping area (and swimming hole) downstream of a big t-storms waaaaay up the mountain. This was a sunny day and trapped 2 people (they were rescued). We weren't there, but we frequently camped on the banks of that river and would have had to wave bye-bye to all camping equipment. The water rose incredibly fast.

Thoughts to all the folks in the path of these storms. Please stay safe!

Wut I know fer shure: Do NOT stand under a tree, on a golf course, with one of those big ol' 'golf umbrellers' open to keep dry. Apparently, you jus' put an X on yerself to da lightning gawds. Jus' say buhbye to dem expensive Walmart sneakers. You ain't staying in em long!  

Boo, good point.  Guess I should have qualified my statement by emphasizing a direct lightning strike affecting people inside the trailer.  I agree that electrical equipment can be affected by a strike anywhere, even miles away, that causes a spike in electrical voltage/current through the equipment.  A structure like a tent or even a pole barn without electricity offers no protection to people.  A sheet metal vehicle or a metal skinned trailer does offer protection in that it tends to dissipate energy around the contents.  The dialectric strength of air is ~3 million volts per meter(3 MV/m). After a 500 MV lightning strike travels 150 or so meters to ground, that last few inches of air between the trailer's metal frame and ground won't matter much.  Tires and thin pads under stabilizers made of polyethylene or polystyrene with a dielectric strength of ~19 MV/m won't matter either.  That said, I've felt quite comfortable in my T@B during dozens of intense lightning storms.  Like Verna said, put on a DVD and enjoy your time.

@Michigan_Mike, that was so cool! Loved the video.

One word of caution, when running into the concrete building out of a hail storm (scenario - 1986, Big Bend, TX - Window Trail area), one lady stood too close to one of the few windows in the building. It was not tempered. The hail broke it and glass sliced her arm. Fortunately, we had an MD in our group and patched her up. The nearest hospital was 1 hr away. Then medics and our doc (meeting in the middle) had to wait for water to wash through the "dips" in the roads. People who have lived in TX know about these. Never drive through them.

Buildings are safest. Do as you Mom always told you. Stay away from the windows (and don't shower!! lol).

@SAM It might have been smelling you after working hard outside in the summer sun or getting you electrocuted. I guess they took their chances! LOL.

SAM said:

Still here - still stink

I think your 'rents forgot to tell you the secret ingredient for showers... SOAP!!