The Lotus Grand Tourers

http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls ... trike.html
http://stormhighway.com/safety.shtml
Hands on lap - tricky if you're driving

muphy wrote:Anyone want to volunteer their car (and themselves) for testing ???

Resistance is a fact but when you are talking about lightning in the 30-50 kiloamp range and a potential difference of up to 1 billion volts it means generally non-predictable behaviour particularly around air/dielectric breakdown is to be expected.

An interesting theoretical discussion and the odds are minute so I'd say rain hail or shine get out there and enjoy, it's more likely that the tin cans and/or trees will be hit before you ever are!!

M

Yes of course the lightning behaves a bit difference from other electrics since its such a high scale, but it is still the same rules.
But to create it you need the right resistance and i think it needs about 2000volts per millimeter to get through air, however there is not easier to go through the car (coupe, driver) than it is in the air and electricity don't like changeing materials when the marginal is that low.
Despite this it might hit any metal in the car but in that case it won't hurt you.

If it really worries you, you could always try putting a metal skin over the car to help the electrickery find earth.

Well, it needs a paintjob one of these days, but why not wrap it in a brushed aluminium skin?

Still, the Faraday cage thing, I know it has a centre roll-bar thingy since i re-trimmed that console, but has at the front and rear window something similar and running above the side windows hidden there aswell? Like in the A- and C-pillars?

Is the GRP body the structual thing that holds the body in its form or are there hidden steel re-inforcements?

Regards, and i like the way you all are concerned on my well being
Coen

DeLorean's tend to disappear when struck by lightning....ask Doc Brown.

Jim

Lotus Jim wrote:DeLorean's tend to disappear when struck by lightning....ask Doc Brown.

Jim

Only if they have enough of a run-up to hit 88mph. (downhill, probably, cliffs help a lot)

Trains are a big help too.....