Cutting a high-voltage power line - video

[Jon]

Cutting a high-voltage power line. 43-second video:

More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_gap

Previously: Lichtenberg figure woodworking

[mklotz]

WTF! Cutting an energized line? What kind of electric utility endangers their employees by not switching the line out before they attempt something like that?

[Gary A. Wills]

There are times cutting power isn't feasible. The other lineman holding it first is the SAFTEY ground and separator. As its cut free it will try to maintain its path till broken. Very high voltage can and will jump very long distances with differing weather . Bad stuff to mess with . That's why those giant towers , they hum extremely loudly kind of like a freight train down a track.

[Toolmaker51]

Yes Marv, WTF is exactly right. Impressive on one hand, ie the long ratchet cutter. But barely long enough, I note...Gives story 'arc' an all new meaning.
The yeehaw from the linesman indicates he expected something perhaps less electrifying...

I expect the common undertakings of utility companies isn't for the faint-of-heart, like hot-tapping natural gas lines. I just drove back from Reno, NV. On I-80 Eastbound, mile marker 207 to 231 or so, are an uncountable number of the large variety wind-driven generators. With prevailing weather, distance and other conditions in that part of Kansas, the next many miles were occupied with thoughts of 'how in hell' so much infrastructure gets in place.

[Frank S]

thoughts of 'how in hell' so much infrastructure gets in place. One piece at a time.
Every week it seems that a complete wing generator passes through the town neatest where I live 3 trucks hauling the blades 1 hauling the turbine hub 1 hauling the Nacell ( the main body ) I don't know if the generator and all of the switch gear is inside or not, 1 truck hauling the top of the tower that has the swivel and 5 to 6 hauling the tower sections
""Wind power in Texas consists of many wind farms with a total installed nameplate capacity of 21,044 MW[1][2] from over 40 different projects. Texas produces the most wind power of any U.S. state.[3] Wind power accounted for 12.63% of the electricity generated in Texas in the 12 months ending Oct 2016.[1]""

[Terer]

какое отношение имеет данный видеоролик к Домашним Инструментам, это простои флуд.

[mklotz]

There are times cutting power isn't feasible.

My father worked for a major power company for many years as a substation operator. One of his frequently recurring jobs was to remotely operate the switches to remove power from a line before work was done on it. I never once heard him speak of working a line hot. In fact, he would tell stories about how fearful the crews were of unwittingly opening a hot line.

It's puzzling. The workers obviously know the line is hot, hence the stand-off cutter. Also, they've placed an insulating boot (red) on the nearby line. It could be there in case the cut line falls down on it or they're concerned about contacting it with the cherry picker.

[olderdan]

I found a video which explains how and why they work this way.

[Frank S]

You guys might also be interested in this half million volt work

[mklotz]

Reminds me of the recent super-hero culture. "Here, wear this magic suit and nothing will happen to you." Yeah, right. I guess I'm just too old. I'm from the era where you turn off the breaker before installing the new outlet.

Risking people's lives so a bunch of customers won't have their daily dose of "Judge Judy" interrupted just seems a bad trade-off.