[CoallyPax]

SWER = Single Wire Earth Return.

[Alex Photographer]

>>>SWER = Single Wire Earth Return.

Yes, saves on wire for us country folk.

[Joesred]

Yahya Ayyash was killed when his mobile exploded. But it probably wasn't being charged at the time.

And of course most mobile don't have explosives in them.

[adolfadsermens]

>>>Why is there such a difference in the likelihood of being killed between using a landline and using a mobile phone on charge?"

In some sense the impedance of the power distribution system in any building and outside on the street is lower than the telephone line protection. Most power wires [twin and earth] in the house have parallel earth and neutral wires also bunched with the active, and you have all the neutrals and earths connected via MEN links in every building, + earth stakes, and street pole neutral wires are grounded, and down at the street transformer the neutral is likely grounded also. All loads connected to power circuits provide a spike diversion point, essentially damping spikes.

Telephone landlines are very small cross section wire, and up to some voltage are somewhat isolated from ground, excepting when the gas arresters flashover in which case they go low impedance to ground via any comm's earth stake fitted. The phone or whatever connected probably has MOVs across the line which have a lower voltage than the gas arresters back at the junction box on outside of house, so you can see why a lightning hit can still fry the comm wires to the phone or whatever is connected. The gas arresters can't be relied upon to hold the voltage down the same on all wires relative to earth.

In the case a fax machine or something with earthing you may get current going through the comm line and into that equipment earth.