Could this wire energize a tree?

[miko0618]

Its the re-directed set. Heading left if that makes sense.

Theres a co-dominate pine in there and the one side grew out into the yard. Kind of like a wide "v". They want it removed. The wire in question is the primary closest to the trees. I'd estimate between 2 and 6 feet of space from trunk to wire. It varies from each tree. There is some small growth closer to the wire. I can fall the tree from the ground.

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[bomar]

yes sir it could call the power company i am line clearance certified and the minimum approach distance 3' on distrubution wires any thing within in that has the potential to energize anything in its path if you are not line clearance certified you are not suposed to go within 10' of any energized conductor

 

[miko0618]

What options do i have with the power company in this situation? They take services down for me regularly but what about a primary?

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[bomar]

i work for pacific power and when a tree service comes across something like your situation they will send our crew out to make it safe and get the tree atleast 10' from all primarys that is our policy here in oregon i would call and see they have to make it safe its part of the PUC standards

 

[miko0618]

They do yes. However, for them to do that, they would have to remove the other side of the tree as well. The side in question is well beyond 10' away. Its just connected to 1 that isnt.

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[bomar]

oh ok well what they would probably do is just limb up the 1 stem closest to the primary and make sure no limbs will catch the wires when its falling over

 

[miko0618]

Ok cool. Is it possible for that voltage wire to arc to the tree? I always wondered when that stuff happened. And i saw a youtube video, i was watching trees get fried, and i saw a line clearance guy but he was in the tree. Isnt that a no no?

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[miko0618]

It was an asplundh video i think

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[bomar]

they usualy do not arc unless direct contact is made between the wire and the tree but ya what you probably seen was him trimming a tree burning in the wires and yes that is a no no but there are non conductive tools that we use that are dielecticly tested to make it safe to get the limbs that are burning/arcing out of the wires with out getting zapped

 

[miko0618]

That makes sense. I wondered why the power company didnt just top them. I would think a real hard wind would blow them into the wires.

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[old_soul]

That makes sense. I wondered why the power company didnt just top them. I would think a real hard wind would blow them into the wires.

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If they are that close, the power co might do a "make safe" for you and top them below the wires. you would still have to chip all the brush but it would help.

I am guessing they are still growing there because they can't get a bucket truck to them? If its hard work, nobody wants to do it

 

[miko0618]

Nope. They can drive right to them. They aren't THAT close. But in a real bad wind storm, i bet they bump the line. So say they would in a wind storm, what would likely happen?

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[peetar]

They arch on the tree.

You would see the burn marks. If you see burn marks, you are too close.

 

[peetar]

That doesn't mean if you don't see burn marks your fine. It just means if you see burn marks, you are too close.

 

[miko0618]

I didn't see any burn marks. Would it pop a fuse every time?

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[miko0618]

That would get annoying if the neighborhood had an outage from them bumping in the wind

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[capetrees]

When you call the power company, tell them that the tree arcs and sparks in heavy wind. Power companies don't like sparks. If it's just close they'll tell you it's no problem.

Either way, don't go near it. One wrong move and it's over. I know, I was shocked last year and it wasn't fun. Not primary, secondary with a very thin branch luckily.

 

[Single_Shooter]

Power company here will "Boot" primaries to make the safe but they won't drop them. So far I have had 3 jobs where the clearance was too close and we called to get the primary lines booted but the power company guy went up in his bucket and just topped out the tree for us and then we dropped it from the ground every time. Lucky us - the line guys around here are really helpful...since they don't want to clean up our mess.

 

[miko0618]

Is there a way to get educated on what electricity can and cant do? I really dont have a desire to be line clearance certified but the subject is interesting to me.

The power company here is decent. On service drops they are prompt. On cleaeance issues, they are not. But they do make it safe.

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[miko0618]

And i kinda think you should have to have some type of pole education to do tree work. How many people are out there that have no idea the potential dangers? Up until a year ago, i assumed anything on a pole was live. I knew that phone and cable was there but couldnt i.d. them. I just stayed away from it all. I know tree guys that have very little respect for wires.

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