Lightning

[Elfin]

I live in a cottage on a hill out in the sticks.  Nearly every time there is a storm, either the power lines or the phone lines get struck by lightning.  The phone socket has been burnt out 3 times (once set fire to the curtains!) and there are numerous power cuts.

Last night, sitting there watching telly, the power goes off, lights out and a brilliant blue flash occured indoors a couple of feet away from me near the window, rather like you see inside a plasma ball. It was no more than a foot in diameter.  Within a second or so there was a single clap of thunder, then the lights/telly etc came back on (although the TV picture didn't recover properly for about 5 mins).  I wasn't the only one who saw it - my friend and I just looked at eachother in amazement! Quite awesome actually.

What could it have been?  There are no scorch marks anywhere and the phone line/socket are fine.

Also, what measures can I put in place to manage these frequent strikes?  BT said there's nothing they can do.  I do have an earthing rod outside for the mains.

[kempie]

Sounds like you saw ball lightning

[slimfandango]

I didn't read all the way through your question, but if you do have ball lightning, I strongly suggest that you go and see your doctor. It could be very dangerous.

[Elfin]

Well slimfandango, I would say it's a desirable skill, being a lady ;-)

Thanks kempie and In A Pickle, you could be right from what I have read.  I feel rather honoured!

Any suggestions from anyone regarding lightning management still welcome...

[thikasabrik]

Your situation sounds so scary. I think I would be tempted to buy curtains made of rubber and then head off to visit the estate agents.

[mr. piper]

i am pretty sure that the heat prduced i lightning is hotter than the surface of the sun.

it is a pity you didn't have domestic CCTV to capture the moment, if this is a frequent occurance( lightning  generally) you may need a lightning conductor. it doesn't channel the strikes down it, it helps to dissipate the build up of electrons locally to itself (I THINK!)

Also be advised not to host a convention of the Kaiser Wilhelm apreciation society outside your house in a storm! 

[mongos bird]

Don't sit too close to the window in an underwired bra!!!

[mongos bird]

Unless you're wearing wellies. . . .

[Thunderchild]

well lukily for u mate i am an electrician/electronics wiz. frankly u r probably luky u got to type the question as u may have been killed. u need to install a lightning conductor. i am asuming a pointed roof so along the to the base of the roof and down the walls preferasbly at each angle and run them into the ground like the earth stake u already have and don't think one about using the eath stake. u may want to connect to this earth cage the pilon of your tv arial. this should give lightning a better path to earth than straight thru your living room. and if u know that the lightning always strikes in that particular spot put an "earth wire accross is to catch it best.

note that lightning is not hotter than the sun ! it is only a few thousand to million volts discharging to ground but the amps (power) is so small that it hopefully won't give rise to extreme heat situantions. anyhow ask a local electrician.

[Peter Pedant]

Yeah ball lightning. I thought this was incredibly rare until I pling-ed the URL and at least 1349 people have seen it and photographed it [with and without clothes on]

There are no medical reports of people being hit by ball lightning but the proper straight stuff, heart irregularities are seen in the first 48 hours post - strike. And you get a characteristic ferny pattern, frosty pattern in the skin whose name I have forgotten. (which is useful for those who are dead and cannot ssay what happened to them)

And yes lightning is high power and is powerful enough to kill you. Somewhere on the net there are videos of people being struck - specifically that footballer