Working around power lines

[JJackson]

Like someone already posted..call the utility and have them disconnect the service drop, most dont charge for this, but they dont come out right away to do it either, so some advanced notice is needed. That is the way we do it here and the way it was done for PG&E. Better safe than sorry. I have always been told that the insulation is for the wires protection not the peoples. Line clearance certified cannot make contact with a drop, anything higher in voltage requires minimun seperation.

 

[Erwin]

Ralph, I'm glad to see your second post. That sounds like what a guy who knows electricity well would say. The reason I posted that lengthy reply to your 1st post is that it seems to be very misleading to people (lots of them on this site) who don't have much training in this area. We don't want people to think that high voltage is not that much worse than low voltage. This is just my personal opinion: I never joke about things pertaining life and death, like firearm and electricity. If you go back to your 1st post, I think that you will agree with me. Also, when I say “If you come to contact to a high voltage line and a home drop line with the same pole, your body, boots, same ground,-------“, I meant to compare two situations, not to touch both lines the same time, rather in the same manor. Sorry for not wording it clearly. Erwin

 

[begleytree]

Sorry for possibly being vauge before
-Ralph

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Another suggestion for "working around lines" is to set your line so that you will swing away from the charged line.

One thing i learned the ahrd was, throw your shot line away from transmission, so if you over shoot it does not wrap around a line.....

 

[topnotchtree]

Before working around a service wire you should first inspect the wire,from the ground, from the pole to the house completely. Some original service wires are old 3 phase wires which are 3 seperate wires running close together like secondary wires. These are often completely bare wires that have had all weather coating worn off over the years. If you are working near these and drop even a pruner clip on them, you will likely knock 1 wire into the other wire and cause a short. This will likely burn the wires in two, letting a hot wire fall to the ground. Try to avoid 3 phase services at all cost. If you see that the wire looks in good shape, proceed with caution. Use a fiberglass or kiln dried wooden pole pruner to clip everything close to the wire. Any limb you cut near any wire that has the remote possibility of contacting the wire should never be cut off completely. Cut the limb part way, then use your pole pruner to pull the limb away from the wire. When the limb is safely away from the wire, cut it off. If the limb should contact the wire while attatched to the tree with hingewood, the flow of any electricity should follow thru the sap in the limb the ground. If the limb contacts the wire while cut completely from tree, it will search for a ground thru whatever the limb touches next, possibly you! Hope this is not confusing and is of help.

 

[JJackson]

to add on to what topnotchtree said about the 3phase open sevice, be carefull around 3 phase open secondaries as well, very fire prone lines

 

[Al Smith]

May I interject

Thank you.I realise,I don't have expertise to talk of this,but please bear with a novice.My training is as submarine sonar tech 2nd ,20yrs as an Ibew inside wireman and 14 yrs as an industrial electrician.The amount of current that will pass through your body,is dependent on the source voltage,and the resistance of the current path.As has been pointed out,general distrubution voltage is from around 4160 volts to 8,000.34,500 to 69,000,is considered as medium transmission,or high distrubution,and is generally the highest you will see,on wooden poles.Generaly speaking,above 69 kv,is normally on steel structures,and quite high in the air.The key safety factor,is safe working distance.Safe practices,can be obtained through proper tecnique,and properly insulated tools,personal protective equipment and training ,repeat,training.High voltage demands respect,it will kill you,please work safe.Oh,one more thing.Negative,to positive ,on Dc,or at least,that is the world wide,accepted theory.That being the case,how does it flow within the source,Enrico,where are you.

 

[Davidsinatree]

I contacted indep power & light, talked to there forestry person for some time. He does the EHAP training classes for local tree services. Also informed me that the power co incourages the local tree co's to let them come in and do line clearence before we go into trim or remove trees. Or they will drop the service line, whatever needs done to make our job safer. They seam like they will be easy to work with when needed. No charge.

I will be joining a large local tree service to train with them to get EHAP training in early february.
Anyone have any links or pics of electricl injeries from touching lines. I know that is a sensative subject but revisiting this can make us more aware of the dangers of electricity.
Thank you for all the info posted in this thread. I am learning.

:angel:

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I will be joining a large local tree service to train with them to get EHAP training in early february.
Anyone have any links or pics of electricl injeries from touching lines. I know that is a sensative subject but revisiting this can make us more aware of the dangers of electricity.
Thank you for all the info posted in this thread. I am learning.

:angel:

Kenny posted a few in the I&F forum, they are sickening!

 

[Al Smith]

I see pictures,on the subject,in training classes,because of how I make my living .A little tid bit of info for everyone.In addition to the electrical shock,is the burn danger.An electric arc,is second,only to a laser,as being the highest recorded temperature known to man,including the surface of the sun.

 

[topnotchtree]

This link was brought up here before, but there may be some of you that have not seen this .....http://www.rock103.com/crew/pics/?pow=011501

 

[Davidsinatree]

That is stunning!!!!!! Im shocked he made it that high without falling.

 

[blackwaterguide]

ameren UE is pretty good about getting power heads down when business is slow. However, I suggest one purchase exact equip/tools they have and learn by watching. Nothiing off a 3wire power head service gets through those specialtly linemens gloves. I've even usesed welding gloves in very dry conditions. Or you can wait.....while all the other guys are making money. Just stay clear of the high tension top line which usuallyy has no insulation on it. Hang a branch on that and you got 3 seconds to kick or cut it loose before current passes due to hisgh pressure of 7plus Kv.

 

[Stumper]

BWG, Nice to have a 3 second delay on energy moving at the speed of light.-Resistance is too variable to be able to count on anything.

 

[blackwaterguide]

You're right. I've been fortunate over the years. Have had branches smoking with a definite "bite" in the air! Certainly don't wish to repeat that.Thakfully took it's own path and I wasn't in it.