Lightning strike - van battery dead?

[clift_d]

We had a big thunderstorm here last night, including one big strike just after 3am which hit something right next to where we live, probably one of the tall blocks on our estate.

This morning we found our van battery was dead. We also received a battery disconnect email from our tracker time-stamped shortly after the strike hit, without getting a prior low battery warning, so we have a fair idea that whatever has happened did so suddenly and around the time of the storm.

I have only had a chance on the way out of the house this morning to try the ignition and there is no sign of life, but I won't be able to put a meter on the battery etc until later this evening. Assuming the van wasn't hit directly, has anybody got any ideas as to what might have happened?

[Jeff J]

Rain got in somewhere?

[AdrianC]

It's entirely possible that a big static discharge or electromagnetic surge of some kind has zapped various electronics, but a bit left-field. Was anything else parked near your van?

[clift_d]

Our van lives on the street so there were other cars parked in front and behind. Not sure whether they've had any issues - I'll hopefully get a better idea this evening.

[syncroandy]

^WHS. I'd have thought the battery was one of the most robust parts of the electrical system, more likely something else went pop. You seem sure the battery is 'dead', have you measured the voltage ?

[Plasticman]

look for someone to blame/sue
mm

[clift_d]

look for someone to blame/sue
mm

Not a bad idea... has anybody got a telephone number for the Vatican?

[Plasticman]

dont blame a catholic
mm

[California Dreamin]

Interesting....not that I'm an expert but I remember one of the Top Gear programs showing an ordinary family car being driven around lightening conductors, the vehicle being hit numerous times..the driver and car were completely uneffected.

Martin

[clift_d]

When I put a meter on it yesterday evening the battery was well down - probably beyond recovery. There's no sign of any blown fuses or fused wires so I'm not sure what might have happened to make the battery discharge do quickly. Today's task is to get a fully charged battery in the van and see what happens.

[1664]

The battery could have developed an internal short. That would kill it in next to no time.

Lightning shouldn't effect any vehicle due to the Faraday cage principle although the artificial lighning on Top Gear would have had very little current compared to the real deal.

[clift_d]

Okay. Quick update.

I've managed to get the battery charged back up again,although I'm not sure that it's holding its charge very well, and the good news is that the van starts okay and seems to run fine. It does however looks as if the alternator has died - the voltage across the battery terminals actually drops to around 12v when the engines running. Whether this was caused by the storm or whether it is coincidental is purely speculative. I've tried changing the alternator regulator/brushes and this hasn't helped so the next thing is to try swapping out the alternator and see what that does.

Onwards, ever onwards...

[clift_d]

Looks like the alternator was foo. Again no idea whether it was storm related or not. I understand alternators can get damaged by surges from welding - maybe ours was on its way out and got finished off by the storm. Anyway, I've swapped in a reconditioned unit and we're now getting 13.5v rising to 14v after running the engine for a minute or so. It also likes the battery might have survived - it's managed to hold it's charge okay over the last couple of days, although I'm going to keep an eye on it anyway.

Yey!