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Tall Tex · 08-16-2016, 03:15 PM

It could be worse! We have friends that left their home in May to rv Alaska. The day they got to Alaska their home was hit by lightening and burned it to the ground. Thank God they were not in it. You were very lucky!

Aussies · 08-16-2016, 03:34 PM

Can't recall if Progressive offers any guarantee against lightning strikes like UPS units for computers.... Sorry for your problems and hope it all can be fixed ASAP.

Bob & Jennifer Stevens
2016 Entegra Aspire RBQ
Zipper (poodle)

Gary.Jones · 08-16-2016, 04:11 PM

Mallory

Re-reading your original post makes me think a whole different logic. You say the Progressive was fried, which is good, and good possibility that the transfer switch is also fried.

I am also a ham radio operator and have two 100' tall towers in a leased field behind my house. I have been hit several times with indirect and maybe fairly direct strikes over the years. Lost more than little equipment until I learned that i needed to have no connection of any sort that comes into the S&B, My current system has everything that disconnects outside of the house. One of the things that I had to learn was that a ground is not necessarily a "ground' when it comes to lightening. When the strike hits at some point and goes to ground, the "ground" where the strike is going to earth is hundreds to thousands of volts higher than the "ground" a couple hundred feet away because at that instant, there is tremendous voltage and amperage going to ground. My equipment was always well grounded through a series of ground rods around the S&B and of course through the telephone and electrical power ground systems. However, I continued to blow equipment and the problem was the different grounds which at the time of the strike show enough differential voltage on the grounds to fry electronics. If you don't find any "point of entry" on the coach (you should be able to see it, if it really hit the coach), then my bet is that what got hit was the power lines or power transformer in the park or near the coach and the strike came in on the ground or power lines. People that deal with lightening strikes for a living say that it is very hard to really figure out a strike in many cases unless you can see the place where it literally makes contact with the coach or a ground on the coach. Again, you are lucky and although this is enough to make anyone cry, you are lucky that it was not a lot worse. Keep us advised of what you find out.

Gary

brobox · 08-16-2016, 05:25 PM

Mallory, so sorry to hear of that misfortune. We should have stayed in Traverse City

, but my woes are no where near yours. Gary gave good advise, don't volunteer lightning strike information. A good friend of mine went through the same thing and it was a year to get everything working and replaced. He was fortunate, he was covered under his insurance....he is a full timer and had coverage as his home with State Farm.

Please keep us informed as to the outcome. So sorry to hear it happened. I looked at Progressive's site and they also have the "Acts of God" provision.

spuds · 08-16-2016, 05:33 PM

So very sorry to see that photo and I hope everything gets repaired quickly.

Having worked in the field of electromagnetics and things like lightening strike, I can say that you never know where lightening will go. Folks try to model it, but the transients are so unpredictable and the frequencies are MUCH faster than any surge protector could come close to dealing with.

At best, when we see a storm coming, we unplug, pull in the power cord, disconnect any other wires, and lower any antennas. Most often, the strike is nearby and the energy travels through things like shoreline conductors, cable conductors, portable satellite cables, etc. We have had everything connected to a phone line at a S&B fried when a nearby strike chose to dissipate via our in-ground telephone line (phones, computer due to internal modem card, etc.). We have had damage to a security system due to a ground strike and our system being connected (underground) to a nearby outbuilding. It doesn't need to be a direct hit - high frequency electricity can easily couple to conductive materials if the gap is small (like a cable or power cord lying on the ground).

So best practices - unplug. Reel in cords (don't leave them lying on the ground where coupling can allow energy to be induced onto the cord). Lower high, conductive objects like antennas. Another good practice is to put a loop in your power cord near the power pedestal whenever you hook up - this acts as a bit of an inductor and can be a small bit of a preventive measure should a surge occur when you're not at the coach.

Michelle

Mwillis · 08-27-2016, 05:07 PM

UPDATE: well we finally got insurance to okay our claim. Spartan shipped us a preprogrammed tcm (transmission control module) and with a lot of difficulty it was installed. Engine now turns over and starts, and transmission engages. Lots of beeps and flashing lights still on the gauges. A Cummins tech is coming Monday morning to hook up his computer to see what else he can find.

We are camping on an rv sales and service lot with only 20 amp service so have to run the generator about 16 hours a day. I haul water about 50 yards in a five gallon jug every few days and have been introduced to the "honey wagon" experienced. I have to drag that little jewel about 50 yards too. Aquahot was knocked out and no one within 150 miles is qualified to evaluate/repair it. We currently heat water in a pot, take it into the shower, pour some into a sprinkler can, mix a bit of cool water with it, and pour it over our head.

Despite all of this mess we are actually enjoying this experience as much as anyone can. Went on a cruise up the St. Lawrence Seaway, went to a casino, attended the New York State Fair, and have done a bunch of shopping. We expected to encounter the obnoxious New Yorkers while here, but that has not happened. The people here in Cicero, NY have been absolutely wonderful and have made us reevaluate our preconceived ideas about this area.

We are still optimistic about getting repaired and back on the road soon headed to Middlebury for some additional help. We are scheduled to attend the Spartan classes the 19th of September and really hope we can make it. Can't wait to take a normal shower again, too.

Mallory and Madeline Willis
2016 Anthem

brobox · 08-27-2016, 05:21 PM

You and Madeline are real troopers to go though that. It's too hot to go home, you sound like you are making the best of it. Keep us updated on the progress. It is taking much longer than I thought to get it running, but lighting can kill things you don't even realize.

Best to Madeline for being a real RV'er.

Karen would have been home a long time ago.

waterboy10 · 08-28-2016, 07:11 AM

Great story for around the campfire. My hats off to you both. I am sure when you get to Camp Entegra they will go out of their way to get it all fixed for you. It will be interesting to see how your insurance carrier handles this claim. Who do you have? I am sure they have handled this issue before at least in a house.

Mwillis · 08-28-2016, 08:36 AM

Our insurance is with Allied/Nationwide. They may have had motor home lightning strike claims before but none of the agents we spoke with had a clue. They all kept stating they needed to see scorch marks at the entry or exit points which we didn't have. I think the adjuster convinced them after talking with the mechanics and seeing the number of systems affected.

Mallory

Dr4Film · 08-28-2016, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mwillis

By the way, I had the Progressive surge protector and it was fried. I guess it may have been worse if I hadn't had it but don't expect to to escape damage free if you get hit. At this point we are just hoping they can get the motor running so we can drive to Middlebury for some help.

Keeping a positive attitude and hoping for the best.

Unfortunately not even the excellent Progressive Industries EMS system can prevent damage from a direct lightning strike.

I don't believe there is an affordable device that can protect our coaches from a direct hit.

Once the 3580 Joules of MOV's have been sacrificed you are toast.

Good luck with the balance of repairs.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

KarenS144 · 08-28-2016, 08:56 AM

Sure glad you two weren't hurt but sorry about the damage to the coach. Hopefully, you'll be back on the road quickly and can get everything working again soon.

carl.swoyer · 08-28-2016, 09:15 AM

carl.swoyer · 08-28-2016, 09:16 AM

I was towed last week. My brakes on the Silverado locked up. Good luck I was 3 miles from home.

KKRONOWITZ · 08-28-2016, 03:48 PM

I am not a mechanic!!!!

I was in hammond, la in 2009 when lightning was flashing in a campground around me. I had to have the coach towed. I went to a nearby dealer and tiffin authorized them to fix the problems.
After that the coach worked.it was never 100% after that.
I had it taken back to tiffin. They found a ceramic block in the back where a lot of wires were connected. I heard back that someone said the ceramic piece in the back closet was cracked if not broken when the coach was built.

I am sure that mark quassis knows what is the piece i am talking about. Anyway i would make sure it is checked!!