Ouch!
12-06-2011, 04:43 AM
#1
Administrator
Thread Starter
Ouch!
So I get a call this morning that they have no electricity, No big, I get these all the time.
But today I get to see what it looks like when a 16,000 volt primary transmission line falls down across the 120/ 240 secondary and falls through an avocado tree and onto a chain link fence at one of our apartment buildings.
Here you can see where the high voltage with unlimited current arced from the electrically charged chain link fence through the metal lath wire under the stucco and burned through the side of the breaker panel trying to find a ground path back to the earth.
People say there was a blinding flash and the apartment shook with a loud hum.
Here are the exit woulds.
As the arc flashed through the breaker section the vaporized copper made everything conductive, everything is a dead short.
Everything was melted and sprayed with molten copper.
Every connection and joint on the fence was fused together.
The Hi-Pot condition entered every unit and destroyed every surge suppressor for those who were smart enough to have one on they're flat screen TV's
And those who went, well they were not so lucky.
Just thought I would share.
Jim
But today I get to see what it looks like when a 16,000 volt primary transmission line falls down across the 120/ 240 secondary and falls through an avocado tree and onto a chain link fence at one of our apartment buildings.
Here you can see where the high voltage with unlimited current arced from the electrically charged chain link fence through the metal lath wire under the stucco and burned through the side of the breaker panel trying to find a ground path back to the earth.
People say there was a blinding flash and the apartment shook with a loud hum.
Here are the exit woulds.
As the arc flashed through the breaker section the vaporized copper made everything conductive, everything is a dead short.
Everything was melted and sprayed with molten copper.
Every connection and joint on the fence was fused together.
The Hi-Pot condition entered every unit and destroyed every surge suppressor for those who were smart enough to have one on they're flat screen TV's
And those who went, well they were not so lucky.
Just thought I would share.
Jim
12-06-2011, 07:23 AM
#4
DTR Mom
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so much power, sight unseen.
should keep a pic in my glove box for the ijuits that want to walk around downed power lines after a storm....
nice wake up call! yikes...
should keep a pic in my glove box for the ijuits that want to walk around downed power lines after a storm....
nice wake up call! yikes...
12-06-2011, 07:25 AM
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12-06-2011, 09:55 AM
#11
Administrator
Jim, would you mind if I used your pictures in some of the trainings I deliver? I don't have anything specific in mind, but I often talk about hazards to first responders and these would illustrate those points quite well!
12-06-2011, 10:46 AM
#12
Administrator
Thread Starter
Here in Southern California last week we were hit with 80-90 MPH winds that came out of nowhere, most of Southern California suffered major wind damage from toppled trees and downed power lines, I heard there were like 200,000 customers without power.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/fierce-sant...ry?id=15065048
The little girl you see in one of the picture has her bed directly on the back side of the wall, the paint is burned off close to where she would have been sleeping if the wind had not scared her, the lady said her apartment was filled with smoke.
Jim
12-06-2011, 11:22 AM
#14
Thanks for posting that stuff Jim, having STARK visual reminders like that from time to time can have a tendency to save lives.... I have the photos saved here and I will print them out to show the Grand Babies and Nieces and Nephews when they show up here for Christmas.
Being a former teacher of sorts, I like to try to include good life lessons into any family gathering we have......Downed power lines have a far reaching effect and many a person has been killed just trying to walk up and get a look at it, as the power surges through the damp soil and electrocutes them from the feet up.
I sat in my vehicle for 2.5 hours waiting on the Power Company to show up when I found a downed line that was laying across a side walk a block from a Middle School. I was surprised it took that long for some one to respond and I was not about to leave the area in case any one were to come walking through the area.
As it was I had to convince a hand full of people to take the long way around to avoid injury and they ALL looked at me like I had a 3rd eye. That convinced me that people in general do not have the respect they should for Electricity.
Being a former teacher of sorts, I like to try to include good life lessons into any family gathering we have......Downed power lines have a far reaching effect and many a person has been killed just trying to walk up and get a look at it, as the power surges through the damp soil and electrocutes them from the feet up.
I sat in my vehicle for 2.5 hours waiting on the Power Company to show up when I found a downed line that was laying across a side walk a block from a Middle School. I was surprised it took that long for some one to respond and I was not about to leave the area in case any one were to come walking through the area.
As it was I had to convince a hand full of people to take the long way around to avoid injury and they ALL looked at me like I had a 3rd eye. That convinced me that people in general do not have the respect they should for Electricity.
12-06-2011, 12:23 PM
#15
Just a plain ole guy
That is just crazy sick. I wonder if it was over in just a flash. No pun intended, as in the short to ground was just milliseconds. Still however long, anyone on that fence would have been post toasties.