Power lines

[Eagle1]

Stupid question, but honest.

If you are in a tree removing branches, and you happen to make contact with the power line with the branch you are tring to throw down or drop do you get zapped? No metal contact.

Rope lanyard, but wearing spikes.

I ask this question because I have a story after the reply. It is a good one.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i think spurs biting into the watery layers of tree will conduct better you to the ground; not good!

So if there is any chance of any such thing, i call for a free safety trim from the utility; and not just cuz the price is right. On private lines the free line drop is affordable and recomended too!

The more resistors, the higher up, further apart (the lines) the more power; all those add ons cost more, and are required as the power raises and so budgeted in, but someone pays for it, so is not done out of boredumb or excess materials.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Eagle1
you happen to make contact with the power line with the branch you are tring to throw down or drop do you get zapped?

In my brief utility career I got zapped twice in the scenario you describe. One was a tip-heavy green ash branch that I misjudged; I was seeing some bright stars for quite awhile (which may explain a lot). It was not a really high-voltage line, never mind spurs or none or how much water's in the tree; avoid contact at all costs!

 

[ORclimber]

Originally posted by Eagle1
.If you are in a tree removing branches, and you happen to make contact with the power line with the branch you are tring to throw down or drop do you get zapped?

It is best to assume you will. There are many variables involved.

Electricity follows the easiest path to ground. If going through the branch and climber is the easiest path to ground....zap!

I have made indirect contact with branch to 7.2kv lines several times accidentally. Sometimes I got zapped, sometimes not.

Have also seen many branches hanging on primaries and making contact with neutral. If current was flowing through the branch it should spark, smoke, or blow the fuse. Sometimes they don't.

 

[NeTree]

You may or may not, depending on the condition of the branch. Too many variables, and there's a reason only line clearance certified arborists are supposed to work near power lines.

 

[Eagle1]

All good answers. All true.

we rigged a mid size pine branch. Started lowering the branch down and it got cought on a small stub tha I failed to flush cut on the way up. Anyway, I grabbed the rope and started to yank and pull to free the limb. Well, with all that the branch shifted to the other side of the tree and handed on a power line. I was still holding the bull rope and so was my groundie. Nothing....nothing happened. I pulled it back up and down making alot of contact with the wire. After a while we lowered the branch and wondered why no sparks, nothing!!

This was a power line.
??????

Lucky?
Any guesses?

 

[MasterBlaster]

There are all sorts of rules and tricks when working around energized lines. I'm lucky I wasn't killed many times when I was an untrained newbie trimming for the city.

There are different types of lines; Basically, the little ones and the big ones. Personally, I preferred working with the big one cause they don't have the tendency to 'grab on and you'. The big ones knock you away(usually).

Rocky gave you a good answer. I would just add that, in reference to the 'grounded' part, electricity is gonna take the EASIEST PATH TO THE GROUND.

Key word - easiest. The trick is to not let yourself be the easiest path. I've been the easiest path several times, ranging to mild discomfort to having to take off a week cause my right arm and shoulder were stoved up from being zapped. This was all back in 'the day'.

Something else. All two phase lines have a ground wire that is not energized. We've all seen it. The line that isn't burning even when its all wrapped up in tree. You can even look at the transformer and follow it all the way to the ground. I always liked to know which was which when I was working in close proximity with them.

The ground wire ain't gonna do diddly to you unless it has somehow become energized. Its that hot one thats looking for a nice, easy path to the ground. But your supposed to treat both of them as if they were hot. This is part of the 'may or may not' Erik was talking about. Like he said, many variables involved.

Heck, when in doubt do as TreeSpyder suggested and get the utility trim. I do it ALL the time. I know all the guys, their doing what I was doing back in the 70's. I can usually get 'em to do a little extra!

Eagle1, either that was a well insulated wire, or you slapped the ground wire. Next time, trace it out to the pole and the transformer if your still curious.




And yea, Spidey, I HAVE felt that 'lil tingle in my gaffs!

 

[treehugger01]

I did a tree that 3 other climbers came out of. Once I got to where they got up to I saw why. Climbing past the line my attached saw swung and almost touched the lines. It was close and it was dead no problem a tree close by to rope it to. Things went great. A limb did break out and land on the feeds a small fingerling and sizzled the entire time I did the tree. I've seen power companies come and take 1/2 a day to do one limb. Then I finish the entire tree before they can get away.I told them Im glad my boss called you to do that limb I couldnt have done the tree without you. Power lines=no chances to me

 

[Eagle1]

Thank you all.
Next time I will call for the power comp. to trim it up for me.
I don,t want my luck to run out.

 

[ORclimber]

Originally posted by Eagle1
This was a power line.
??????

Did you ID the lines before beginning work on the tree? That's important. The EHAP manual, or an Asplundh formans manual contain good info on line ID. Also spending some time with a local utility forester could help with that. The utility foresters here are good about educating tree companies if they call.

 

[Eagle1]

Rock, love the new flying squirl thing. Hey, havent I seen you running on top of powerlines? with the greatest ease!!

 

[treehugger01]

Originally posted by Eagle1
Thank you all.
Next time I will call for the power comp. to trim it up for me.
I don,t want my luck to run out.

The power companies have limits too
Thats when they call us dude. Cranes Jobs Etc.

Yes rocky I consider all lines charged.Even doing rental property thats unoccupied say a small service drop. I think squirrles eat the protective covering on them service drops I dont take any chances around powerlines..

 

[Ax-man]

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
Heck, when in doubt do as TreeSpyder suggested and get the utility trim. I do it ALL the time. I know all the guys, their doing what I was doing back in the 70's. I can usually get 'em to do a little extra!
: [/B]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That is the kind of relationship that used to exist here with the line clearance guys. But all that has changed in the last ten years and not for the better.

Too many private tree companies have taken advantage of the utilities " free of charge, to clear wires, in the interest of safety".If a phase wire was any near a tree, they would have the line clearance guys come out and virtually do most of the work, pro bono of course, then turn around and charge customers full prices for the tree work. It wasn't long before the utilities wised up and put a stop to it, now they just do the minumim.

When ComEd merged with Peco, Peco brought Asplundh with them to do the line clearing. Now if you need a trim done, you have to call in a job or work order so to speak, they send out someone to access the job, they make up some kind of estimate and the contractor requesting the work done is charged for said work, which gets done when it is convenient for them to schedule.

I don't how it is in other parts of the country, but I would say this is just a preview of things to come, if it already hasn't happened in other parts of the country.

I have had a few other rubs over the last few years with the utilities. Getting them in the act when it comes to doing tree work is a last resort. What used to be a pleasant experience has now turned into something that you would rather avoid like getting the flu.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Hey, they can come out and clear their lines, or they can set new ones!

 

[treehugger01]

I had to many angery faces in my post to post.
Big money power utility contracting companys Suck!

 

[ORclimber]

Originally posted by treehugger01
I had to many angery faces in my post to post.
Big money power utility contracting companys Suck!

Maybe. But, not knowing the difference between energized and non-energized lines swallows.

 

[treehugger01]

They hoard all that money and dont train their men
Ive seen um fall 3 feet from me.
Soon I'll be qualified Arborist. I'll have quiet simular qualification as a regional supervison over thousands of miles of line for say Asplundh. Id sooner help these big money hoarding companies out than id rather tinker with unexploded carpet bombs. I got zero respect for these big companies. None the works however do it all with just about nothing. Close to getting zapped. Honestly I'm surprised the tree workers even know that the powerlines have e l e c t r i c v o l t a g e in the silver wire.
Their training is that of kindergarden.
Ill say again Asplundh sucks!

 

[Eagle1]

The power companies have limits too
Thats when they call us dude. Cranes Jobs Etc.
posted by "Treehugger01"

What? I don't understand that.
Do you work for a bucket based tree company? I was wondering because of all your "The Fly" posts.
If the power companies have limits than it's the contracted tree companies that you hate so much that would be called in.

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
Hey, they can come out and clear their lines, or they can set new ones!

B-I-N-G-O

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Rocky wrote:

A clean, dry rope is not conductive.

__________________
RockyJ
aka Brian

You'll never get a rope manufacturer to vouch for that.

Over the years of helping at EHAP training I've asked every journeyman lineman if he would ever use a rope or throwline to move a wire. They have all looked at me with "What-are-you-stupid?" eyes. None of them would ever do it so I won't either.

LIke you said, too man variables.

Tom