thomas2 Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 On friday july 28 our Intamin giant drop tower Dalton Terror at Walibi Belgium was struck by lightning. It has a lightning protector but apparently it didn't work properly. Dalton Terror is 78m high and thus attracts alot of lightning. The tower wasn't operating at the moment of impact, question raises what the effects where when people where on this thing. At this moment, the tower is closed for repair, God only knows when it will reopen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheArchfiend Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Lightning protector? Like what? A forcefield? I assume it got struck by lightning because it was made out of metal and lightning strikes big tall metal objects all the time. It probably had a faulty ground somewhere and the thing blew some circuitry. That or the heat from the bolt melted something that lead to the breakdown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XanderLee Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Umm just to let you know, rides get struck by lightning all the time. They (especially the taller rides) are designed to withstand a lightning strike. Assuming it just struck the tower and not a prox switch or something the ride should be fine. Now if it struck a prox switch things get a little more interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnage Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Lightning protectors are never going to protect the ride 100%. Lightning hits rides all the time, quite often causing damage that has to be repaired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdillaman Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Lightning protector? Like what? A forcefield? More likely a lightning rod. The invention of Ben Franklin that protects tall objects from lightning strikes by catching the electricity and carrying it to the ground through a wire so the structure won't be damaged. -James "Has a lightning rod on his house" Dillaman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verticalzero Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 As long as the lightning did not strike any breakers the ride should be fine. It was not operating right when I visited the park at the end of May, some of the sides where not working or struck 1/2 way up the tower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnage Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 More likely a lightning rod. The invention of Ben Franklin that protects tall objects from lightning strikes by catching the electricity and carrying it to the ground through a wire so the structure won't be damaged. -James "Has a lightning rod on his house" Dillaman A lightning rod won't make something imune to lightning though. It'll help yes, but lightning can and will get around it from time to time. Mother nature's a bitch, a little pole isn't going to stop her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFanatic Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Lightning rods do protect to a point, but it is hard to predict that whole "wrath of God" thing. Apprently, God doesn't like: Intamin Drop Towers GCII Woodies ACE Classics (Bluestreak) Kingda Ka or Cedar Point patrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSLSM Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 ^He just hates CP all together. If you know anything about CP's history, a tornado hit it in the 60s or 70s. It is a good thing nobody was on it, but it is strange that it some how managed to halt its' operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnage Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 ^ Lightning has a tendancy to fry circuits. It's quite common to have to completely rewire the electrical in a house after it gets hit. So if a ride is hit by lightning it can quite easilly take otu sensors,computer control systems,etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 I was going to say... it is most likely the electrical system/mechanisms etc. rather than damage done to the structure itself, the rod would protect the thing from being toast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UberBeavis Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 So just blame Allen-Bradley... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ducky Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 they shut i dowwn most likely that is the tallest point in the park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaddyboy Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 i'd love to see a long shot of the tower as the lightning was hitting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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