Okay, I was in my basement yesterday because of all the tornado warnings in my area. I was sitting in the middle of the room doing nothing, when suddenly I heard a huge explosion and there was a gigantic spark on a pole, and then there was soot on the outlets. Half of the house's power wouldn't work. The internet was screwed up. My brother says he felt a shock when it happened. Do you think that lightning struck near (or on) our house?
I really have no idea...
2006-09-05 10:11:33 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
I don't have power poles nearby. I live in the middle of no where...
2006-09-05 10:16:09 · update #1
If a transformer was hit, *ALL* your power would be out. If only some of your power is out, your house itself was hit. You took a lightning strike. I don't know what "pole" you are referring to that there was a gigantic spark, but if it was near the house, the power surge could have travelled through the ground, into your ground wire and shorted out your electrical system. Lightning is so strong that even the best surge protector will not stop it. This is why when you have a storm in the area you should *UNPLUG* your computer, your TV and even stay away from phones that use electricity!! My husband got shocked from an electrical strike through his phone at work Friday.
You are very lucky if the TV tube did not blow out (has happened to my friend), or your computer exploded!
2006-09-05 10:21:38 · answer #1 · answered by Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
yes..
Obviously if the tornado pulled down the cables, you would've mentioned it somewhere. So it must be lightning. The lightning would've traveled along all the wiring into your house. Any exposed metal your brother touched may have shocked him. People have been shocked by appliances when lightning strikes. The soot on the outlets is vaporized plastic from the wiring. Tornadoes do come with a lot of lightning. See if the wires outside are bare with metal from plastic covering melted or vaporized from the wires. See if the pole's wood is split or exploded. Lightning makes a REALLY loud clap noise.
2006-09-05 17:17:36 · answer #2 · answered by Ilooklikemyavatar..exactly 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A power surge due to an electrical flux from the source to your outlets caused it. Pretty much, the breakers are supposed to work to prevent the surge from flowing to the wrong ground here.
2006-09-05 17:17:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely yes... A transformer on the electrical pole probably blew from the extreme voltage. Probably causing your circuit breakers to overload, and blew your power.
2006-09-05 17:14:15 · answer #4 · answered by AresIV 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I bet it hit a transformer. They are located on the telephone poles and they make a loud noise when they are struck.
2006-09-05 17:15:26 · answer #5 · answered by flower 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It probably did hit your house. Sounds like you'll have to get the wiring replaced in the house.
2006-09-05 17:59:37 · answer #6 · answered by IthinkFramptonisstillahottie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LIGHTNING HIT A POWER POLE NEARBY
2006-09-05 17:14:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The utility company's transformer died.
It probably arced out and that was the sound you heard.
I'm surprised half your power worked.
2006-09-05 17:15:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightning strike sounds right.
2006-09-05 17:19:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Transformer taken out by lightening
2006-09-05 17:14:30 · answer #10 · answered by Popi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋