Is it safe to clean in a storm

I have 10 hours worth of cleaning tomorrow starting at noon. Forecast is calling for "severe damaging thunderstorm" starting about noon as well. I don't care about the rain or hail since I can run the butler with all the doors closed, but I'm not so sure about lightning.

With my past in regards to lightning, you would think that I would know the answer, but I never really thought about it since I normally cancel jobs during severe storms. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I can't cancel this one.

What worries me is mainly the psi hose. It will be sitting on the ground in the water with steel braids running all the way to a metal wand in your hand. I've seen a lot of crazy lightning strikes that follow a cable until it blows up a transformer and I really don't want to become a transformer.

I understand the odds of it happening are very slim, but I'm proof that lightning often defies odds. What do you think, ever hear of it happening before?

Man, we get so little lightening around here, I really don't know.

But if you wore some think rubber gloves would that protect you, if the line were hit??

What would it do to your TM and van if the line were hit?

Rubber gloves are excellent idea I think ? Also your vinyl hose cuffs also provides protection as well ?
If the distance between truck and indoor not very far you can wrap the hose with split bicycle tires maybe ?

400 volts can jump the distance of 36 inches.

Lighting is many, MANY more volts than a high energy line.

In it right now! Hail, high winds, lots of low lightning. Finished the first bldg., but start the second in an hour.

Damn ! I'm learning something new today !
Be safe out there Rob !

What did you learn today?

To stay in CA, where we don't have to worry about lightening?

you should be fine, unless the steel braids are showing I dont think it would transfer.

electricity is pretty amazing when it jumps but I dont believe it can pass thru the rubber coating on your line at all.

I could be wrong but I think your prettty safe. you could also just cover from the van to the door with towels if your worried about it

My tech suggested the same thing about the rubber covering, but people are electrocuted every year via phone lines in the home which are covered until they connect.

A braided psi hose is connected on both ends by exposed metal....so, might be the same.

It is a bit of a reach and I have never heard of it happening, but I can't help but wonder "if" it could?

We got by without any close calls....that 10 hour cleaning ending up a little over 12 due to some bad jets that required frequent attention.

That left me with exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes worth of sleep, so today's 12.5 hour shift is starting out a little painful. I will not missed days like this when I resign.

IF?? It's lighting, and it's the most powerful energy source on earth.

A high power line itself, can jump 36 inches to a ground.

Just be careful Rob. The likelihood of it happening may be next to none, but I don't want to die.

Davey Cracker wrote:What did you learn today?

To stay in CA, where we don't have to worry about lightening?

Exactly !

I agree with James, better safe than sorry is almost always my motto, especially when it comes to death

get some sleep man!       lack of sleep is really hard on your heart regardless of eating habits

Id be more worried about that than a lightning strike

I definitely get the sleep thing, but something happened to me years ago that makes 4 hours seem like a full night sleep.

So, my 1 plus night last night is more like a normal person getting 5 hours. They will be tired, but fully functional....I am that way and almost never use caffeine.

I have hail and possible tornado activity for the next night of cleaning, so the lightning isn't as big of concern as it was before.

Last two years I lost two friend to lightening...one was hiding in a storage container to get away from the bad storm and it got him....sad. The other was just out to get his dog and it got him....I dont like it either and have bad storms hitting Oklahome this week as well....I never thought about it. now Im worried Rob! I have several jobs this week that expect me there ...and older lady said I'll see you rain or shine! Rob, you must be getting what we had and are having....if you need updates just ask. Tomorrow is supposed to be a big one.

I've been expecting a bad one tomorrow...I might be staying home. I really don't need another destroyed vehicle like in the last year's hail storm.

I did speak to an electrician who is also a paramedic about my hose concerns. He has seen people get electricuted by lightning while taking a shower!

According to him, unless the lightning struck the interior of your truck, you should not be at risk. It would almost have to originate from the machine to ride up the solution line to your wand.....well with one exception.

I you have multiple lines connected with the connection out in the open, then a proximity struck "could" charge the connector and ride up / down the pressure line. It would be a long shot, but he said that in theory it could occur.

So, just don't have a QC sitting outside on the ground in the rain and you should be protected......or I asked the wrong guy.

I have felt the slight jolt of electricity from a lightning strike about 200 yards away that traveled through groundwater and my solution hose. I no longer work when it's lightning.

kleen1 wrote:I have felt the slight jolt of electricity from a lightning strike about 200 yards away that traveled through groundwater and my solution hose.  I no longer work when it's lightning.

That is what I am afraid of....

Holy moly it does happen. I remember running my electric truckmount so I had two 10 gauge electric cords and solution hose while lightening. I was a thrill seeker back then

I hate electricity so much my brother has a chipped tooth because he zapped me with one of those pens that shocks you when you click it to write....I clicked and swung! he doesnt like the dentist and I don't like electricity. Oh, we were only 40 when this happened....so, kids play.