Storms, lightning, and falling objects

[jcwells]

Strange occurrence here, looking for ideas. Sunday of this week, we had a small, but intense thunderstorm. Bunch of rain in a short time, 1"+ hail, and a lot of cloud to ground lightning, some very close. Interesting, but not super unusual around these parts of North Texas.

Next morning, I went out to my shop/barn, and found all of my hanging 4' LED shop lights crashed to the floor. 10 of them, in all. Now, some details. Building is a typical metal building, with spray foam insulation. The lights were hanging by magnetic hooks from the roof perlins, and linked together by their electrical cords. Two rows of five, independent of one another. If one light comes loose, it would take out the other four in it's row. These have been happily hanging there for 5 years.

Trying to understand what would have caused both rows to fall. Nothing else fell from any shelving, there was no sign of water leakage, and no sign of wind blowing around (all my dust was still waiting for me to clean it up!). None of the electrical gear (stereo, fans, workbench lights) we're damaged.

Can a lightning strike cause a magnet to fail?

 

[MossRoad]

earthquake?

Concussion from thunder might have knocked the building so hard it knocked one or more of the magnets loose and the weight of the fixture(s) pulled the rest down.

We've had thunder break windows here in the past. Rattle dishes. Shake the house, etc...

 

[Thomas]

I agree with Moss about the thunder,one light fixture falls domino effect begins...maybe that magnet was weak.

 

[stuckmotor]

Was there any sign a squirrel had paid a visit?

 

[MossRoad]

If it was me, I'd put up light like that with a pull chain then pull it down on my head 2nd time I used it. :laughing:

 

[jcwells]

I agree with Moss about the thunder,one light fixture falls domino effect begins...maybe that magnet was weak.

Thought maybe that could be the case, except both rows fell, and the two rows hang independent of one another. If only one had fallen, I wouldn't hae thought much of it. But with both coming down at the same time, that's what's puzzling to me.

Squirrel, or a big bird? That'd do it. But didn't see evidence of either one.

Real bummer is that these hang about 20' up. This time I'll screw them into the purlins, but I hate having to drop a couple hundred bucks to rent a scissor lift. 20' up on a ladder leaning against the purlin, hanging these one-handed?? That terrifies me! I don't bounce near as good as I used to!

 

[Diggin It]

The lights were hanging by magnetic hooks from the roof perlins,

Never, never, never, NEVER rely on magnets to hold anything of any weight for any extended duration. NEVER. Temporary only.

I've even found keychains on the floor that were on magnetic hooks on a steel door.



Edit: You shouldn't need to drill or screw anything. Use Beam Clamps (sort of like a small C clamp) as they're made to hold the weight of conduits and other fixtures.

 

[LouNY]

I would expect that the thunder noise wave flexed and popped the magnets loose.
I have felt a good sized barn flex and shudder from the sound wave of a close strike.

 

[aczlan]

Edit: You shouldn't need to drill or screw anything. Use Beam Clamps (sort of like a small C clamp) as they're made to hold the weight of conduits and other fixtures.

Something like this should work: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Superstrut-1-4-in-Strut-Beam-Clamp-Silver-Z500-25/100149960

Aaron Z

 

[Wagtail]

I believe that the lightning caused an EMP, enough to reverse all of the magnet's polarity simultaneously for a moment.

In a typical pulse, either the electric or the magnetic will dominate.