Topic: VP2 Struck by Lightning

[dcriner]

A couple of weeks ago, around midnight, there was an awful crash of lightning and thunder. My wife was sure the house had been hit. Then early the next day, with my coffee, I went around the house, and saw no damage, shingles, or other debris. An hour or so later, I walked out to look at my vegetable garden. I discovered the plastic remnants of the anemometer and wind vane on the ground, blown to smithereens.

The outside device was mounted on a 1-1/4" steel pipe, embedded in concrete - perfectly grounded. I decided to extend the pipe 2' above the elevation of the ISS, hoping that would help shield the equipment from any future lightening strikes.

I obtained a replacement wind assembly and everything is back in operation. Nothing else was damaged.

[chief-david]

You got lucky.  My old wired was rendered useless.

http://weather.rms.rdale.org/about.php

[ValentineWeather]

Any pics of damage? Would be cool to have.

[dcriner]

I should have taken pix, but I didn't. There was no indication of burning - just the black plastic anemometer parts blown to bits. Everything else was OK, amazingly. I think most of the jolt went down the steel mast to ground, but there was a minor explosion.

[ValentineWeather]

I dread the day mine gets hit. I do have a back up however when or if it happens.

[dcriner]

Update:  I noticed that the wind direction wasn't being displayed on the console. The new anemometer is fine - I tried it on a friend's system. Davis say that the wireless transmitter board is zapped. A new one is on the way.