Re: [MBZ] Electric transmission pole grounding
Those conductors ground the lightening arrester wire that runs along the top of the poles. If enough of them are missing you can get power surges when lightening hits the main conductors. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Electric transmission pole grounding
The copper grounding conductor that runs the length of a utility pole isn’t connected to anything on the pole as far as live conductors but it is connected to the static wire (the line across the tops of the poles that doesn’t carry current.) The grounding conductor is just that - it provides a path to ground on each pole from the static wire to Earth ground. The static wire bleeds off lightning and voltage that can be induced from it that would otherwise build up on the main conductors and damage them or the connected systems. It’s remotely possible that under the right (wrong for you) conditions a charge could build up on a transmission line or a secondary service drop (the line between the transformer on the pole and your service entrance) and affect the power coming into your home. Because the lines are grounded regularly throughout the system I’m not sure I would be too concerned. Of course you should make sure your grounding is correctly done and in good working order as well, as by providing a ground in your part of the system you’re less likely to encounter a problem. I’m not sure I know what to tell you, other than I would document the missing ground wires as often as they disappear and contact your insurance agent so they know you have some potential exposure for a loss. Dan On May 21, 2015, at 7:22 PM, WILTON via Mercedes mercedes@okiebenz.com wrote: Dan, I understand the importance of grounding for electrical systems in general, residential grounding, etc., but how important are the grounding conductors on the sides of transmission line poles along my residential street? I ask because nearly every one I see in my neighborhood is missing - stolen, cut off at the ground and as high as a thief can reach and likely sold as scrap copper. I've called in the missing conductors several time to the power company, but they get stolen nearly as fast as the power company can replace them. 'Had not noticed for several years, but I noticed yesterday that none of the poles across front and side of my lot has a complete grounding conductor. Power co. does not seem to be concerned - seem to have given up to the thieves. How important are these conductors? I think that, under the right/wrong set of conditions they could be extremely important. How 'bout it? Wilton ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] Electric transmission pole grounding
Dan, I understand the importance of grounding for electrical systems in general, residential grounding, etc., but how important are the grounding conductors on the sides of transmission line poles along my residential street? I ask because nearly every one I see in my neighborhood is missing - stolen, cut off at the ground and as high as a thief can reach and likely sold as scrap copper. I've called in the missing conductors several time to the power company, but they get stolen nearly as fast as the power company can replace them. 'Had not noticed for several years, but I noticed yesterday that none of the poles across front and side of my lot has a complete grounding conductor. Power co. does not seem to be concerned - seem to have given up to the thieves. How important are these conductors? I think that, under the right/wrong set of conditions they could be extremely important. How 'bout it? Wilton ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Electric transmission pole grounding
Yeah, lightening arrester - I had forgotten that. Thanks. Wilton - Original Message - From: Peter Frederick via Mercedes mercedes@okiebenz.com To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Cc: Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2015 7:26 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Electric transmission pole grounding Those conductors ground the lightening arrester wire that runs along the top of the poles. If enough of them are missing you can get power surges when lightening hits the main conductors. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Electric transmission pole grounding
Well then.. if that pole ground wire is definately NOT connected into the grid ground, how about wiring a high energy fence charger to that ground wire.. with a disconnect section hidden just above the actual ground? Thus.. when the thieves come to steal the copper wire.. they get a few thousand volts of love reward upon touching the ground wire they were going to steal.. Use that body connection to be the switch that starts cameras rolling [mounted high on the pole, out of access range] with remote WIFI capacity to video recorder.. Sort of a back alley bait car .. If you will.. Just a thought.. All the wires on the poles on the house in town have been stolen now twice in the past 14 months.. so thieves apparently learn ... Time to play a good game of catch a thief. On Thu, May 21, 2015 at 8:05 PM, WILTON via Mercedes mercedes@okiebenz.com wrote: Yeah, lightening arrester - I had forgotten that. Thanks. Wilton - Original Message - From: Peter Frederick via Mercedes mercedes@okiebenz.com To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Cc: Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2015 7:26 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Electric transmission pole grounding Those conductors ground the lightening arrester wire that runs along the top of the poles. If enough of them are missing you can get power surges when lightening hits the main conductors. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
