Dont take a Bath when it's Lightning

[Paintedcow]

When I was a kid, I was told "Dont take a Bath when it's Lightning". Back then, it made sense. Metal pipe, metal bathtubs, all WELL GROUNDED. Including a lightning attracting cast iron vent stack pipe on the roof.

These days we have almost all PVC drain pipes, including the vent on the roof, PEX or CPVC supply pipes, and most (not all) tubs are made from some plastic material. Thus, NOTHING is grounded.

I have often wondered if that old advice ("Dont take a Bath when it's Lightning") is still true?????

Yes, many older homes still have metal pipes, and metal tubs, so that advice is still true. But for any newer home with all plastics for plumbing, I tend to discard that advice.

Of course many homeowners are clueless about their plumbing, so the best advice is still "Dont take a Bath when it's Lightning". But for those who are absolutely sure their tub and plumbing are made from non-metal, I'd think there is little risks.

I wonder if there is any actual scientific studies on this issue?

[Micky]

How many places do you take baths?

[GOWGN]

Interesting point.

I don't recall ever reading about anyone being killed by lightning in a bathtub. Lightning likes golfers more than bathers.

[Paintedcow]

I never heard of it happening to a bather, but I have heard of it happening to people swimming in lakes or pools. I have also heard of it happening to anyone outdoors as well as cattle and other livestock.

I was always told to never use a wired telephone during lightning. That is smart advice. I've lost several modems, but years ago, my neighbor had his phone blown right off the wall, leaving a hole in the plaster. That same storm killed my phone and all the phone wires in my house were charred, with segments of insulation with no copper left in it. The phone company had to completely rewire both houses, and I heard another guy a half mile away also needed all new wire.

[gfretwell]

All of this comes down to bad grounding practices and a misunderstanding of surge protection.

[Moe DeLoughan]

My mom was once washing dishes in the kitchen sink during a thunderstorm and had ball lightning appear out of nowhere, roll down her right arm and into the dishwater. That was the day she quit washing dishes during thunderstorms.

My next door neighbor's huge tree was struck by lightning a few years ago. Not only did it blow that section of the tree apart, sending flaming sections of branches with the bark blown off into neighboring yards, it blew the dirt off the tree's roots, set off the car alarms of both their cars (parked in the garage), shattered windows in the house, fried the phone and cable, and set some of the wiring on fire inside his walls.

I was in my kitchen that morning, just about ready to head out and go to work, when the air in front of me suddenly filled with blue sparks. Then the lights flickered and - BOOM!

Luckily, I just had to reset my breakers. My neighbor behind me (and kitty corner from the neighbor whose tree was struck) woke up just before the strike and saw a cross of silver sparks hanging in the air over head bed just before the strike. She thought she was losing her mind, till I told her about my blue sparks. The strike took out her telephone and cable, too. I lucked out.

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Moe DeLoughan:

I saw luminous balls moving along a power line once.

Until then I would not have thought it possible.

Can anybody shed some light on the phenom?

[Tekkie®]

[e-mail] posted for all of us...

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[Tekkie®]

(PeteCresswell) posted for all of us...

It's a transelectricalsexual