I got electrocuted the absolute bejesus out of today so I packed up the kite and went home. It happened when I was doing massive boosties on the beach. I saw sparks fly out of my toes and my arm hurt like fark.
Is this a normal thing that happens a lot to everyone?
Also afterwards I became really hungry and ate heaps and heaps of chicken.
Does anyone keep kiting after a big zappo? Im guessing that this would be less than sensible (even less sensible than doing massive boosties on the beach I guess 
)
happens a lot on the water but generally a lot milder, maybe because water is a pretty crap conductor?? maybe. getting shocked is like doing something really scary and exciting in that you get a big adrenaline dump and then are likely to feel tired and hungry.. play it safe in electrical storms. would it be worth while checking your gear?? I assume its possible for it to be affected too.
It happen a couple of times a year here in Sydney, often around this time of year as afternoon thunder storms start to gather. You go for a jump and as you are in the air you and your kite build up a static charge. As you land you earth that charge. When this happens I often come in or keep riding but try to do more wake style trick and don't go big, till I see a flash of lightning. Some times the condition are quite mild and you get Zapped other time You see lightning before you get Zapped
If this is happening, you should come in straight away, put your kite down, as it means there is a good chance of lightning. All this "you see lightning before you get zapped" is bull.
There have been lots of documented accounts where people's hair has stood on end, zaps, etc etc and then the person has been struck by lightning or there has been a strike moments later nearby.
If you are jumping and then getting zapped when you land it means that there is a potential difference generating between you and your kite, when you land, you earth the charge and the zap occurs. It must be a fairly decent charge for you to notice it maybe about 50volts? (speculation)
Water is only a poor conductor IF it is distilled. Salty/sea water is a very good conductor of electricity.
Someone is going to tell me to HTFU for this I know, but I don't like to see completely wrong information posted like this as it gives people the wrong idea. You can still go out and ride if you like, but at least you have the right information.
Advice from a nearly graduated Electrical and Electronic Engineer
YEP-Salt water is a brilliant conductor-u can actually use it in an experiment instead of copper wire to make a light bulb shine!!
But lets apply some famous history - Ever herd of the Ben Franklin's kite and key experiment?? Basically flew a kite and put a key on the end to see if lightning would be attracted to it! And guess what - it was!! So now lets put a big kite in the air, (Note that your kite strings are more conductive than air so lightning will more likely go down them instead of through air). Put something metal at the bar (oops guess what - thats already there in many of your bars, harnesses and connector pieces) and kite on salt water (a big conductor!!) guess what?? You are now a perfect target for lightning to hit.
So, no dont take the advice of Toughen the f. up-If your smart you'll avoid kiting in lightning.
Static discharges are generally between 10,000 and 50,000 volts, and Ben Franklins kite did not get struck by lightning - Luckily. It just built up a static charge.
You can get static discharges at any time, especially when bosting high and building up potential between you, your kite and the water. Kinda like rubbing a balloon on your head or scuffing your feet on carpet. They are not necessarily related to an imminent lightning strike.
However if you think there could be lightning imminent, (ie storm clouds or you have seen flashes etc) then yes come in and drop the kite, they are nice conductors.....especially if your lines are wet.
It's happened to me before. I was standing on the beach and my lines were buzzing like mad and vibrating all over the place. Every time I touched the bar I got a shock and it made no differance when i got into the water. The diff with mine is that I was just standing on the beach while a big storm was coming through. Everytime I took a step on the sand I would get a zap and had the sparks coming from here there and everywhere!!!
An interesting experience and somehow I got given the nickname of 'carbon neutral' !!!!
Isn't it the amps that matter not the volts? It felt about the same as grabbing onto a well functioning electric fence. How many amps is that?
But if you do intend to go out into a lightning storm apply the general rule of thumb for an electric current through a human body. Basically put one hand (preferably left) in your pocket. Then if your kite gets struck and goes through your "right" hand/arm its goining to go down the body not accross (aka not through the heart). (This is taught at my uni)
Prob why all thoes electricians out there look lazy with one hand in their pocket!
But no seriously its not a good idea! Lightning may change your heart rhythm/or a paralysis of the respiratory center... both not something u'd want to happen and can can easily lead to death either then or later on
Just to clarify. I would never fly a kite in a thunder storm. Golfers are regularly kill by playing in thunderstorms
I always land my kite if I see lightning or hear loud thunder(sometimes lighting goes from cloud to cloud and cannot be visible). I keep the kite low if I think there is any chance of lightning
I agree 100% with Paradox
I have seen power lines pulled down by kites but no one was shocked even though there massive sharks. Both time the kites were dry and It was a tangled launch. I think the line vaporised before the current got flowing.
Train overhead wires Carry major volts and amps and can arc over 3m.
PS miss Jessie
In this situation keeping your hand in your pocket would not really Help the connection point of the kite(the main source of the charge) is the kite. Most of the shock is felt in the legs. Most of what you say is true. AC and DC current make the body behave in different ways. What you say is true for AC. Ask your lectures about he shock from a large capacitor like a tube telly.it makes you jump across the room. 240 AC makes you hang on
One thing not discussed is that with all the dust, low humidity and dry winds we have been having over the last few weeks we have many more small particles in the air capable of carrying charge leading to a significant increase in the possibility of static build up and discharge. Wind carrying dust over a surface of a kite may be leading to the surface becoming relatively charged resulting in a discharge (static) - some food for thought.
To clarify P=V x I, Power = voltage (Volts) x current (amps)
As for putting a lighting rod up in the air when there is a thunderstorm around - - not for me.
- J
How much chicken is heaps and heaps?
If it's seriously heaps (like more than 2.5 chooks in total), then I'd say it was definitely lightning, not static build up.
get a anti static lead you see them on the back of old cars then just attach it to tour big toe or buy a new one at supa cheap autos
Salt Water as pointed out is a great conductor, one of the best, when your in it your at earth potential, ie zero. Its probably best to keep your kite and lines dry.
Air breaks down and becomes conductive at 33kv/cm. Its not really conductive. Believe it or not they reckon more lightning stikes are from the ground UP!
And just looking at wiki on air discharge potential And I read the following
An average bolt of negative lightning carries a current of 30 to 50 kiloamperes, transfers a charge of 5 coulombs, and dissipates 500 megajoules of energy (enough to light a 100 watt light bulb for 2 months). However, an average bolt of positive lightning (from the top of a thunderstorm) may carry a current of 300 to 500 kiloamperes, transfer a charge of up to 300 coulombs, have a potential difference up to 1 gigavolt (a billion volts), and may dissipate enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for up to 95 years. A negative lightning stroke typically lasts for only tens of microseconds, but multiple strikes are common. A positive lightning stroke is typically a single event. However, the larger peak current may flow for hundreds of milliseconds, making it considerably hotter and more dangerous than negative lightning.
Just tie a copper wire on your chicken loop and drag it behind you in the water and I am sure you will be Ok.
we are still learning about how the universe works so its more a lucky dip..we havent worked out any fundamentals either lets see if they can get the LHC to work yet and wait till we get a MASS CORONAL EJECTION then lets see if we are worried about a spark
I hope your right. Cos after the vac work I did so many of my 5 years I did at uni seemed useless!
