Lightning Strike

[onepk]

It seems my VP2 kit has suffered from a nearby lightning strike - after the strike no data were received for the best part of a day (ISS test LED dead), then all sensors spontaneously returned unaided apart from wind direction and sun sensor. It seemed like a catastrophic loss of power, even from the battery (6 months old), and the solar cell took time to recharge - is this a feasible explanation? After the self-recovery I fitted a new battery to the ISS and that seemed to make communication more robust. I'm now assuming the wind/sun transmission electronics are beyond hope (have tried different station IDs, rebooting etc etc).

Has anyone else had this experience?

Are there any suggested ways of mitigating against this vulnerability? The equipment does tend to be found in exposed places and having the possibility of a serious and expensive repair after such events (even if it happens in only a small percentage of storms) seems an unattractive proposition.

[Coast]

Are there any suggested ways of mitigating against this vulnerability?

Move to East Sussex, we haven't had lightning for soooo long now!

[4wd]

There was a thread on WXforum where a guy's Vue at a remote cabin had inexplicably stopped during a storm but seemed fine once he got up there and pressed the button to reboot it.

Obviously the electronics are not going to like a close-by strike from the induced electromagnetic pulse alone.

A direct hit is going to be messy, I suppose if you had it on a plastic pole the chances of it being hit might be less but it is a very small chance anyway.

Perhaps it's better a metal pole in the garden gets hit than your house anyway?

At least the wireless versions don't carry the risk of cables into the house igniting.

[Methuselah]

Sounds as if the enormous potential has drained all the charge from your battery and solar cell. On the up side, the chance of repeat performance could be said to be somewhat remote?