Man throws copper ball at power line - GIF

Man throws a copper wire wrapped rock at power line.

<video controls autoplay loop> <source src="https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net/copper_ball_transmission_line.mp4" type="video/mp4"> Your browser does not support the video tag. </video>


Previously:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...425#post200581
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...991#post125196
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...232#post188339
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...610#post182346
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...089#post180105

Another Darwin Award Candidate...

Wire must have been trailing behind the rock, perhaps the end connected to a ground rod?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hemmjo

Wire must have been trailing behind the rock, perhaps the end connected to a ground rod?

---

I'm guessing that the grounding was accidental. These douchebags try to short adjoining power lines by throwing the weight over both. Usually the free end of the wire is well off the ground by the time the arcing starts. Sometimes they knock out power or start fires with their dumbassery.

Neil

I’m guessing I’m not alone in thinking we have all enjoyed these little snippets of when idiots attack, but this one, this one tickles me the most! And thank god for the person with the good common sense to decide to record this act of thinning the herd.

A friend of mine's kids one time threw a bicycle chain up over the residential power line. It hung on the top line. the momentum caused the bottom of the chain to contact another line. The chain would immediately turn cherry red and it would be blown clear, only to come back down again on the wire. Lights would go on and off repeatedly. The workers from the power company were not amused when they had to come out, de-energize the line and remove the bike chain from it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sossol

I'm guessing that the grounding was accidental. These douchebags try to short adjoining power lines by throwing the weight over both. Usually the free end of the wire is well off the ground by the time the arcing starts. Sometimes they knock out power or start fires with their dumbassery.

Neil

---

Correct. I know a guy who threw a chain over a set of power lines and knocked power out to the whole community because he had a test at school the next day (and didn't want to go). $5 worth of chain can do an enormous amount of damage. It's not like any of this power distribution stuff is covered up. Substations have a little chain link fence around them but are otherwise wide open.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nova_robotics

Correct. I know a guy who threw a chain over a set of power lines and knocked power out to the whole community because he had a test at school the next day (and didn't want to go). $5 worth of chain can do an enormous amount of damage. It's not like any of this power distribution stuff is covered up. Substations have a little chain link fence around them but are otherwise wide open.

---

They don't have to spend that much. A wet stick or branch could do the same thing if it didn't explode first.

Neil