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Downed power lines

  • Thread starter Abstract Dissonance
  • Start date
A

Abstract Dissonance

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm curious as to how one, say if they are forced to, approach downed power
lines. Is it possible to safely get past them? I was thinking that one could
"ground" each side of the lines by using a long wire that is grounded and
this should provide a better path of least resistance then the human body?
To me this would be a very safe method if one could be sure that the wire
was grounded properly and properly attached to the power lines but is theres
something I'm missing?

Thanks,
Jon
 
D

David L. Jones

Jan 1, 1970
0
Abstract said:
I'm curious as to how one, say if they are forced to, approach downed power
lines. Is it possible to safely get past them? I was thinking that one could
"ground" each side of the lines by using a long wire that is grounded and
this should provide a better path of least resistance then the human body?
To me this would be a very safe method if one could be sure that the wire
was grounded properly and properly attached to the power lines but is theres
something I'm missing?

Yep, you are missing your mind if you want to mess with downed power
lines without the proper training and equipment. Leave them alone,
period.

BTW, downed power lines can provide some really nice aluminium wire,
hang around until the power guys have fixed it and then offer to take
the "scrap" away for them.

Dave :)
 
M

Michael A. Terrell

Jan 1, 1970
0
David L. Jones said:
Yep, you are missing your mind if you want to mess with downed power
lines without the proper training and equipment. Leave them alone,
period.

BTW, downed power lines can provide some really nice aluminium wire,
hang around until the power guys have fixed it and then offer to take
the "scrap" away for them.

Dave :)


Not around here. The crew has to turn in every foot they take down,
or risk losing their jobs.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
A

Abstract Dissonance

Jan 1, 1970
0
David L. Jones said:
Yep, you are missing your mind if you want to mess with downed power
lines without the proper training and equipment. Leave them alone,
period.


It was a hypothetical... surely you could easily have picked up this if you
read the very first line?
 
A

Abstract Dissonance

Jan 1, 1970
0
Yes, lets suppose.

Whatever... I guess they don't teach hypothetics when you went to school? I
never said this was something that would really happen.

What gets me is that some of you guys are somewhat intelligent but can't
understand that I was asking a hypothetical. Its not like I'm going to go
try test out any responses.
 
P

Phil Allison

Jan 1, 1970
0
"Abstract Dysentery "
Whatever... I guess they don't teach hypothetics when you went to school?


** Shame other reader of this OPEN PUBLIC FORUM are at risk from YOUR
asinine crapology.

I never said this was something that would really happen.


** Irrelevant what you did NOT say.


What gets me is that some of you guys are somewhat intelligent but can't
understand that I was asking a hypothetical.


** The extraordinary DANGER makes it " X rated " - ab initio.

Its not like I'm going to go try test out any responses.



** What a damn shame that is.

Love to see a criminal scumbag fry.






....... Phil
 
J

John Fields

Jan 1, 1970
0
Yes, lets suppose.


Whatever... I guess they don't teach hypothetics when you went to school? I
never said this was something that would really happen.

---
Geez, really???

Silly me, here I thought maybe a power line had fallen across your
car and you had to get your pregnant wife to the hospital or
something...
---
 
V

vic

Jan 1, 1970
0
David said:
Yep, you are missing your mind if you want to mess with downed power
lines without the proper training and equipment. Leave them alone,
period.

Hum, what makes them dangerous ? Danger comes from current going through
your body, so presumably from one foot to the other one, due to the
strong voltage gradient on the ground near the cable, right ? So if you
jump on one foot, would you be safe ? :)

vic
 
A

Abstract Dissonance

Jan 1, 1970
0
John Fields said:
---
Geez, really???

Silly me, here I thought maybe a power line had fallen across your
car and you had to get your pregnant wife to the hospital or
something...


Nope, What I was after if the general principle was right. Now, any
electrical engineer who actually learned something in school could easily
answer the question. He would also not hesitate go through powerlines if he
knew how to ground them. Just like a chemist is not afraid to mix two
chemicals because he knows what he is doing even if those chemicals are very
dangerous(probably more then downed powerlines). If there is a simple
physical law that exist here such as "electricity takes the path of least
resistance" then there should be no reason to have any problem with downed
powerlines if you can make sure you are not the path of least
resistance(ofcourse theres never a way to be completely sure but an
electrical engineer would be more confident then a philosophy major).

The real problem is that you get so easily confused if the context of the
problem is not to your liking. What you need to do is abstract it and
realize that it has nothing to do with power lines but its just a general
electricity question. If I would have said it in a more appropriate context
for you then the answer would be obvious.
 
G

Guest

Jan 1, 1970
0
Abstract Dissonance said:
I'm curious as to how one, say if they are forced to, approach downed power
lines. Is it possible to safely get past them?

A 11 foot pole (non conductive)

I was thinking that one could
"ground" each side of the lines by using a long wire that is grounded and
this should provide a better path of least resistance then the human body?
To me this would be a very safe method if one could be sure that the wire
was grounded properly and properly attached to the power lines but is theres
something I'm missing?

You ARE missing something. How do you attach your ground wire without
contacting a "hot" wire?
Thanks,
Jon
If I felt I absolutely had to deal with a downed power line, I might try a
*DRY* wooden handled garden tool (rake, hoe) to move the line.
 
M

Michael A. Terrell

Jan 1, 1970
0
Abstract said:
Nope, What I was after if the general principle was right. Now, any
electrical engineer who actually learned something in school could easily
answer the question. He would also not hesitate go through powerlines if he
knew how to ground them. Just like a chemist is not afraid to mix two
chemicals because he knows what he is doing even if those chemicals are very
dangerous(probably more then downed powerlines). If there is a simple
physical law that exist here such as "electricity takes the path of least
resistance" then there should be no reason to have any problem with downed
powerlines if you can make sure you are not the path of least
resistance(ofcourse theres never a way to be completely sure but an
electrical engineer would be more confident then a philosophy major).

The real problem is that you get so easily confused if the context of the
problem is not to your liking. What you need to do is abstract it and
realize that it has nothing to do with power lines but its just a general
electricity question. If I would have said it in a more appropriate context
for you then the answer would be obvious.


You are a very dangerous idiot. You have no idea of the voltage on
the line, or if it is live. To "ground" it would require a very low
impedance grounding system, and the metal vaporizing from making the
connection could cause serious injury, or even kill you.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida
 
A

Abstract Dissonance

Jan 1, 1970
0
Michael A. Terrell said:
You are a very dangerous idiot. You have no idea of the voltage on
the line, or if it is live. To "ground" it would require a very low
impedance grounding system, and the metal vaporizing from making the
connection could cause serious injury, or even kill you.

Jesus christ.. did you not read? IT WAS A FUCKING HYPOTHETICAL!!!

If you don't know what that word means then look it up in the dictionary.

The only idiots in here I see are the ones who can't understand what a
hypothetic is.

I guess you never watched MacGyver?
 
A

Abstract Dissonance

Jan 1, 1970
0
vic said:
Hum, what makes them dangerous ? Danger comes from current going through
your body, so presumably from one foot to the other one, due to the strong
voltage gradient on the ground near the cable, right ? So if you jump on
one foot, would you be safe ? :)

I have actually read in a safty book to do this if you get in that
situation.
 
G

Guest

Jan 1, 1970
0
The downed line is already somewhat grounded just by being down on the
ground. Don't pick it up and break ground and force a path through your body
to ground. Just shove it sideways.
I think I would rather have you (instead of these other weenies) with me if
I got in trouble. You might try to help instead of running away.
 
A

Abstract Dissonance

Jan 1, 1970
0
A 11 foot pole (non conductive)

I was thinking that one could

You ARE missing something. How do you attach your ground wire without
contacting a "hot" wire?

It shouldn't matter. Just like a bird can stand on a wire because its more
resistive then the wire itself.

If, say, you are holding a wire you found on the ground or got out of the
garage or whatever(its a hypothetical so you can just assume you have it)
then you just have to walk up to the power lines and toss the wire on the
power lines and make sure the other end was grounded first.

You just have to make sure the wire is closer to the power lines than your
body so it doesn't arc to you to get to the wire. I suppose there might be
a conductive path through the ground too so maybe you gotta hop on one foot.




If I felt I absolutely had to deal with a downed power line, I might try a
*DRY* wooden handled garden tool (rake, hoe) to move the line.

Yeah, but maybe it could arc and get you? If you had some bold cutters then
maybe you could use them if you grounded it first?(cause surely the
electricity would go through the cutters then the wire attached to them then
to the ground?)
 
P

petrus bitbyter

Jan 1, 1970
0
Abstract Dissonance said:
I'm curious as to how one, say if they are forced to, approach downed
power lines. Is it possible to safely get past them? I was thinking that
one could "ground" each side of the lines by using a long wire that is
grounded and this should provide a better path of least resistance then
the human body? To me this would be a very safe method if one could be
sure that the wire was grounded properly and properly attached to the
power lines but is theres something I'm missing?

Thanks,
Jon

Your question is too general, theoretical and incomplete to provide an
answer. From a practical point of view you may survive... or not.

petrus bitbyter
 
G

Guest

Jan 1, 1970
0
I've watched the power company guys and they use multiple levels of
protection. The cherry pickers are insulated, they put rubber mats over
adjacent hot wires, use thick rubber gloves and jackets and shoes, use poles
to handle wires and get well paid and have a GOOD insurance plan. Any time
you make or break a connection there will be some arcing, I've had some
sparks fly, but they fly between voltage source and ground and past me.
Don't let sparks startle you into jumping into more danger than you are
jumping away from. Panic kills, but you won't panic if you are prepared for
some fireworks. Even if you could throw a knife switch and shut off the
power you might see some arcing (sparking) and hear some noise. The grounded
bolt cutters would work IF THEY WERE GROUNDED WITH A LARGER GAUGE WIRE THAN
THE POWER WIRE AND SECURELY ATTACHED TO A METAL STAKE DRIVEN 10 FEET INTO
THE GROUND. Personally, I would prefer to rely on insulation and even more
importantly DISTANCE!
 
J

John Fields

Jan 1, 1970
0
Nope, What I was after if the general principle was right. Now, any
electrical engineer who actually learned something in school could easily
answer the question. He would also not hesitate go through powerlines if he
knew how to ground them. Just like a chemist is not afraid to mix two
chemicals because he knows what he is doing even if those chemicals are very
dangerous(probably more then downed powerlines). If there is a simple
physical law that exist here such as "electricity takes the path of least
resistance" then there should be no reason to have any problem with downed
powerlines if you can make sure you are not the path of least
resistance(ofcourse theres never a way to be completely sure but an
electrical engineer would be more confident then a philosophy major).

The real problem is that you get so easily confused if the context of the
problem is not to your liking. What you need to do is abstract it and
realize that it has nothing to do with power lines but its just a general
electricity question. If I would have said it in a more appropriate context
for you then the answer would be obvious.

---
OK, but especially if it's HIGH VOLTAGE, because even if you wear
rubber shoes and gloves it can be very dangerous if you go to pick
it up.

What many folks don't know is that its possible to have a tiny prick
in your gloves and HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICITY will jump right through
it into your body and fillibrate your heart.

A good example is we had three blind guys working at the power
company here, and one of them got killed because he came in contact
with HIGH VOLTAGE, so in order to make sure the other guys wouldn't
get hurt the power company put up a whole bunch of signs everywhere
there was HIGH VOLTAGE that said: "DO NOT TOUCH" in Braille.

So, the bottom line, basically, is: "What if there were no
hypothetical questions?"
 
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