Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:20472 sci.geo.meteorology:488 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!wuarchive!hsdndev!cmcl2!adm!smoke!chidsey From: chidsey@smoke.brl.mil (Irving Chidsey) Newsgroups: sci.electronics,sci.geo.meteorology Subject: Re: using the bathroom during lightning storm Message-ID: <16288@smoke.brl.mil> Date: 28 May 91 14:03:55 GMT References: <1991May23.223109.19908@cbfsb.att.com> <1524@cvbnetPrime.COM> <1991May24.210108.9982@solbourne.com> Followup-To: sci.electronics Organization: U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory, APG, MD. Lines: 30 In article <1991May24.210108.9982@solbourne.com> imp@solbourne.com (Warner Losh) writes: > >Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't the metal plumbing in your >house grounded? Is that why the house's electrical system is >sometimes grounded to the plumbing? And since it is grounded, >wouldn't it have a zero or near zero potential? So there is no >problem. However, other examples that have been given assume the >"object" is much different than ground potential. > >Warner Losh imp@Solbourne.COM Plumbing is not a reliable ground! PVC tubing does not conduct appreciable ammounts of electricity. Even copper pipe may have insulating sections put in to stop ground currents from causing electrolysis. The problem is not whether you are grounded or not, it is whether you are in a significant ground path that happens to conduct electricity. A college friend was milking the cows during a thunderstorm. Lightning hit about 100 metres away. That cow never ever again let him milk her. He had to call his mother for that one cow. She was sure it was his fault! Irv -- I do not have signature authority. I am not authorized to sign anything. I am not authorized to commit the BRL, the DA, the DOD, or the US Government to anything, not even by implication. They do not tell me what their policy is. They may not have one. Irving L. Chidsey