Lightning?

[nickmarch]

Hello All!

Years ago I was obsessed with getting photos of lightning especially lightning hitting in Philadelphia. I was across the Delaware River on the NJ side trying to get the shot. I've been on roof tops as storms approached, in fire towers made of steel and other insane places. I've never been afraid of lightning!

Now I'm wondering if a MD would attract a strike?

Knowing myself I wouldn't put it past me to go out in a storm & hunt the beach.

What do you think?

 

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[pwcguy]

I'm not going to wave (in my case carbon fiber rod) around in a thunder storm. I've been out in thunders storms taking pictures of lightning. One storm I was within 300 feet of 3 strikes in less than a minute. That's when I decided it was time to get back in my truck. Then the gazebo I was standing under was hit. That was one hell of a storm. Turns out there was a tornado near by. I had to drive 30 miles out of the way because of all the limbs that were down. I managed to get a few ok pictures too.

 

[Diggit]

I doubt it will. If anything,the ACT of detecting would make you more susceptible. (Walking in the open during a T storm) But a detector itself wouldn't "attract" lightning.

Funny thing, I was dirtfishing the other day, and a storm started approaching. I was getting bursts of static that corresponded with lightning flashes in my headphones as I walked back to the vehicle to get out of it.

 

[GibH]

Last summer lightning hit about 50 feet away from me and started a fire in the neighbor's yard. First thing I did was run and bang on their door and head back for a hose. The fire department got there after we had the fire out. The last thing I did was come inside so I could change my drawers.

 

[gleaner1]

Dont play out in lightnin' storms. Dat's what my mom always said. But this is the woman that always told me to crank up my Black Sabbath Paranoid album, she would say "toyn it up, an' aw da way!". She especially relished Planet Caravan.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Doubtful. Maybe if you stood in a field and waved it over your head. Yes, the coil coax is a path of less resistance, but how far the lightning might travel to save three feet of airspace is likely pretty limited.

Remember, lightning travels from the ground up. So, if the hair on your arms and head stands on end it might be a good idea to drop the detector and flop on the ground. ;-)

 

[Minrelica]

Hello All!

Years ago I was obsessed with getting photos of lightning especially lightning hitting in Philadelphia. I was across the Delaware River on the NJ side trying to get the shot. I've been on roof tops as storms approached, in fire towers made of steel and other insane places. I've never been afraid of lightning!

Now I'm wondering if a MD would attract a strike?

Knowing myself I wouldn't put it past me to go out in a storm & hunt the beach.

What do you think?

I'm not sure if the metal detector would attract lightning or not but you better have your camera ready if it does or you're gonna be awfully PO'd.

 

[dustytrails123]

I dont know about a metal detector but i had lightning strike so close to my jeep wrangler that the fillings in my teeth got really hot .... i dont care for lightning anymore

 

[TerryC]

I was detecting a NC beach a few years ago. I could see the storm coming... my PI machine was telling me it was violent... but I stayed. When I got dumped on, I got under a wooden walkway that ended at the beach. Lightning was striking the sand within 30/50 feet of me. Many times. I tried to dig a hole and become VERY, VERY small. You don't want to stay on a beach in a violent thunderstorm EVER! Got it? Never! It is not worth it. TTC

 

[Ray S ECenFL]

Lightning is nothing to fool with. It can reach out from a distant storm, about 10 miles, and zap you. You could be standing in the bright sun light and get hit. When detecting and a storm containing lightning is in the area your best bet is to call it a day and leave.

 

[rickjr]

Lightning seeks the path of least resistance and if you and your medal detector are it then you will be struck. If you are out and a storm comes up and you can hear the thunder you can be struck by the lightning. When I lived in Atlanta I was talking on my phone in my house and lightning struck the house. I just happened to be leaning on the kitchen sink and was struck as well, it did $8000 in damage to the house. At the time I was working for Bellsouth and knew better than to be on the phone during a lightning storm, but you know how it is you never think it will happen to you. So, if your hear thunder my recommendation is head for shelter and not a tree.