WARNING re Thunderstorms & Digital equipment!!!

stevelewis

stevelewis

Registered
Just my usual hopefully timely warning, regarding the threat of Thunderstorms.

I recommend that if you have an outdoor line connected to a Digital system, you disconnect it whenever thunders storms are forecast, to protect from damage that could be caused by lightening.

I had it happen to me once a few years ago the occurance took place during the night, the lightening struck a house around a mile away, but my central station was rendered useless by it.
 
Many thanks for the timely warning Steve, I uncoupled my CS a week or two back when some serious Storms were forecast.
JonD
 
I'll echo that. I left my track connected a few years ago and a storm fried the whole thing. Very expensive. Given the number of storms we have here in Northwest Florida, it's a case of unplug after each session. Takes moments and gives much security!

In my case, the track acted like an antenna and fed the electricity back into the black (in my case, Grey!) boxes.

Never harms to have the whole lot protected by surge protectors too, even when the storms aren't forecast.
 
Last edited:
Nigel, make sure your TV, phone, Hi-Fi, computer are also shielded and unplugged.........⛈⚡️
 
Martino said:
Nigel, make sure your TV, phone, Hi-Fi, computer are also shielded and unplugged.........⛈⚡️
Click to expand...

Yep! I'll vouch for the necessity to do that - once had the PC fried via telephone and electrical supplies:banghead:
 
oberinntal said:
Reading about the problems people seem to have with DCC you start to wonder why anyone bothers.
Click to expand...


Well having been a digital user in many scales since around 1997, I would say that problems are extremely infrequent, I have used many different manufacturers systems from Basic Bachmann E-Z to Massoth for the large scale.

What the purpose of the thread intends is to advise users of possible problems, not brought about by digital systems, but by the effects of adverse weather conditions, I believe an analogue sytem connected to outdoor track when lightning strikes could also be damaged,

Its not just model railway systems, Internet equipment in the home can be affected.

Some computer instructionals do have a warning about disconnecting during electrical storms.
 
You can do more and more easily although more complicated with DCC :eek:

Possibly its a man thing the ability to mess about and change things?
 
When I changed from Analogue to Digital on my then garden railway, the performance, became noticeably improved

Simply due to the fact that digital provides full volts & amps to the track constantly, thus providing very good pickup to the loco where the onboard decoder does the work of regulating the voltage required for the chosen loco speed,

Track cleaning became much less frequent!

Purely as an aside I was building ( assisting) with a smallish 00-9 layout which was going to use analogue control, I had to really think hard re the wiring requirements, almost a case of re-learning analogue control.
 
stevelewis said:
When I changed from Analogue to Digital on my then garden railway, the performance, became noticeably improved

Simply due to the fact that digital provides full volts & amps to the track constantly, thus providing very good pickup to the loco where the onboard decoder does the work of regulating the voltage required for the chosen loco speed,

Track cleaning became much less frequent!

Purely as an aside I was building ( assisting) with a smallish 00-9 layout which was going to use analogue control, I had to really think hard re the wiring requirements, almost a case of re-learning analogue control.
Click to expand...


Steve,

Nigel's comments about DCC made me laugh out loud when I read them. However I imagine that in years to come Digital will be the default setting in this scale at least. Phone apps etc will move us more and more in that direction as they are with other hobbies - even Scalextric!

I guess if I was starting out today and I had one or two locos I would go that way too, but I have far too many locos, points, signals etc, plus I like to run loads of trains at once (up to 11), and see them stop and start automatically. This would cost a fortune to convert to DCC and would add immeasureably to the complexity, whilst probably acheiving far less than I can do now!

Therefore I will continue to live in the past electrically and enjoy it (relatively) cheaply!

I am also confident that if something does not do what it should, I can find out why that is and fix it myself. Wheras with a lot of technology I am clueless beyond anything at a basic level! When I read any messages about DCC I realise how little I know/understand about it beyond the basic concept.

Not sure how many of us feel the same, but I guess the luddite tendancy of which I proudly belong is still a substantial rump and in no hurry to move on!

James
 
If you have an aerial on the roof you should unplug the TV and if your phone wiring is above ground it's a good idea not to use the phone in a thunderstorm. Murphy's Law applies. If you have an overhead power feed it is a very good idea to stay clear of anything connected to power. There are many stories of cables blowing out of walls, etc.
 
I'd have thought it's pretty basic common sense never to leave your control system connected to your outdoor track when not in use. A thunderstorm could turn up at any time, no guarantee you'll be around to unplug things.

I still remember my parents always used to unplug the telly aerial before going to bed.
 
Interesting thread(s). Good & helpful advice about lightning & potential damage. A few years back lightning hit a tree about 1/4 mile away (just over 400 metres for the younger set...) and there was a "flash and a pop" in our lounge which was the sound of the BT master socket frying itself, even though all BT cables are underground apart from a foot or so on the outside wail of the house. Oddly, the phone still worked but our broadband was well and truly dead. So even though no direct hit on the house, TV aerial or Sky dish we suffered some collateral damage. On the plus side, this episode introduced me to a very helpful chap on eBay who sold me a new Master Socket, punchdown tool and some additional cable for a fraction of the charge BT wanted to (a) come and survey the damage and (b) fit a new master socket - in excess of £250 as I recall.

(Also, as someone who has only ever run DCC, I confess I don't get why anyone would want to use analog but each to his own - my reading of Rule 8 is that it applies to everything about a person's railway :):):))
 
Ralphmp said:
(Also, as someone who has only ever run DCC, I confess I don't get why anyone would want to use analog but each to his own - my reading of Rule 8 is that it applies to everything about a person's railway :):):))
Click to expand...

Phil,

I can totally understand why you and a lot of people like DCC. It has a lot of advantages in many areas of operation. However I had explained my reasonings for not choosing to use it:

I am running multiple trains automatically using a lot of differnet locos.

I am no expert as I freely accept on Digital, but my guess is that the cost of acheiving what I already have by using DCC instead would be huge and require a complex interface.

I can therefore see no benefit and lots of expense just to do what I am already doing.

I stand to be corrected of course

So I submit that sometimes DCC is not the appropriate route for some people's need.

But as you said, maybe rule 8 applies?

James
 
Oh dear here we go again DCC verc Analogue discussion. Each to his own I guess. Both have plus and minus, me I am DCC but can accept reasons for the older so called luddite way. Whatever way you go, Lightning can and has trashed Controllers and Train Sets. This thread was I believe just a little friendly reminder.

Oh by the way, I will not be using my Plane Controller with its Aerial during a Lightning Storm neither will my Battery Locomotives be under Charge or used. Think we have covered it all yet?
JonD
 
John S & JonD

You're right - i apologise to all for prolonging the off-topic nature of the thread; I should know better as I've also experienced the frustration of off-topic posts when I've sought advice in the past.

Best wishes
 
Arthur Aardvark said:
Thanks JonD, the thread was originally about a reminder of the hazards of a lightning strike, and it was sensible to excersise common sense to avoid any disasters.

The subject matter is once again hijacked to contain total irrelevances, I for one am beginning to find this behaviour intolerable, what ever happened to Forum Etiquette, perhaps it is time the Forum Administrator and the Moderators started to intervene!
John S
Click to expand...

Before the thread gets locked (or whatever) I'd just like to say that it was very sound advice John.
 
Ralphmp said:
John S & JonD

You're right - i apologise to all for prolonging the off-topic nature of the thread; I should know better as I've also experienced the frustration of off-topic posts when I've sought advice in the past.

Best wishes
Click to expand...

Phil,

I could not say it better myself. Apologies to all for my own off topic postings here. In future I will take the advice of Abraham Lincoln:

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt

James
 
Last edited:
I have had folk doing thread drift on one of my 'For Sale' threads, so i know how you feel...

As to thunder storms and electrical equipment. It tends to be the induced charge that can do damage even if you are out of the strike zone.

Unplugging is the best way as is disconnecting your router
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom