peanut
Well-Known Member
I've been offered a corrugated iron field shelter but am concerned about lightning strikes. Is there anyway I could ground it? Would putting some kind of sheeting or tyres on it have any effect?
Anyone good at physics / lightning?
- Thread starter peanut
- Start date
Bay_Beasty
Well-Known Member
Well, it may get struck by lightning, however if you earth it, as in dig into into the earth by a good few inches, it should just go through the shelter and as long as your horses are not touching the walls at the time, should be ok.
Or, put it near a tall tree which would get struck over preference to the shelter, though having the shelter under the tree, might increase the trees chances of being struck by lightning. Or failing that, put a lighting rod somewhere else in the field which should attract the lightning.
To be fair, in this country we do not have that bad electric storms so the chances to start with are slim.
If your really worried, you could cover the roof with rubber matting or encourage moss to grow on it.
Or, put it near a tall tree which would get struck over preference to the shelter, though having the shelter under the tree, might increase the trees chances of being struck by lightning. Or failing that, put a lighting rod somewhere else in the field which should attract the lightning.
To be fair, in this country we do not have that bad electric storms so the chances to start with are slim.
If your really worried, you could cover the roof with rubber matting or encourage moss to grow on it.
coss
Well-Known Member
Ditto above... I'm thinking faraday cage possibilities? But then it has to be open one end- lightbulb moment. Wonder if possible though?
Gilbey
Well-Known Member
My O/H who is a physics prof, says as long as it touches the ground it will be OK. BUT he also said that if any part of horse was touching the wall (eg tail) then it would be the end of them and a horrid way to go. He also added that lightening would hone it on it if isolated in a field. However he did said try putting a tall metal flag pole by it..... and just remember trees explode when hit by lighteneing!!
Mike007
Well-Known Member
Unless this shelter is the highest thing around the area it is no more likely to be hit than ,for example,the horse itself.
camilla4
Well-Known Member
Martha, one more thing to consider is that corrogated iron can be *very* noisy when it rains and many horses will avoid using the shelter in this situation!
peanut
Well-Known Member
That would help with noise too, and I have some spare matting.
Maybe I should think again
