OK Power company guys ....... What is it?

[mivey]

I can only imagine that they are lightning arresters but the bottom of each one would be attached to a pole ground. This seems very strange, photos would be very helpful.

It is most definitely lightning arresters. He is just not seeing the ground...it is there. Having them every 3 poles is a lot.

As charlie knows, you would expect them at equipment poles, deadends, corners, risers.

Typical placement is anywhere from every 5th to 10th pole or even 1 or 2 per mile for some areas on some systems. It would be terribly expensive to put them on every 3rd pole throughout the distribution system. They might do this in areas with critical loads or if there have been a lot of direct strikes.

 

[boboelectric]

What is this thing called "Vacation?"

 

[charlie]

1. He is just not seeing the ground...it is there.
2. Having them every 3 poles is a lot.
3. . . . or even 1 or 2 per mile for some areas on some systems.
4. They might do this in areas with critical loads or if there have been a lot of direct strikes.

1. I believe you are correct
2. More than needed by a factor of two or more
3. Actually, the rule 097C in the NESC requires at least four ground connections on the neutral conductor in each 1 mile of line, exclusive of ground connections at customers? service equipment. Installing lightning arresters would require the installation of pole grounds at LA installations
4. Absolutely

 

[mivey]

...Actually, the rule 097C in the NESC requires at least four ground connections on the neutral conductor in each 1 mile of line, exclusive of ground connections at customers? service equipment. Installing lightning arresters would require the installation of pole grounds at LA installations...

Naturally. But there is no requirement for 4 arresters per mile.

 

[charlie]

Naturally. But there is no requirement for 4 arresters per mile.

Sorry, you are correct; that is the way we did it.

 

[bob]

Naturally. But there is no requirement for 4 arresters per mile.

Depending on the area and outage data, it may be more than that.

 

[mivey]

Depending on the area and outage data, it may be more than that.

See post #41

...They might do this in areas with critical loads or if there have been a lot of direct strikes.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

I have inspected these before (they require a special permit). They are placed on private property, for customers who complain about voltage drop on their house services. After about a week, they stop complaining and the POCO moves them on to the next complainer. :grin:

 

[mivey]

I have inspected these before (they require a special permit). They are placed on private property, for customers who complain about voltage drop on their house services. After about a week, they stop complaining and the POCO moves them on to the next complainer. :grin:

It is called a SIMBY permit: Substation In My Back Yard. :grin:

 

[techntrek]

I did a lot of driving around my county and the next one over today. I paid close attention to the poles, and this is what I noted (sorry, still couldn't pull over for a picture). The mounting brackets did appear to have a wire coming off of them so I assume that is the ground that others said must be there (I thought so too, but never really noticed them before).

On the main line that feeds the north half of the county, these are on every 3rd pole. One some back roads there are none at all, on some you might see one here and there, and on others I saw them on every 5th pole. So only consistant on the main line.

Thanks for the inputs!

 

[ceb58]

We also have audible warnings & flashing lights at some substations (wire theft issues) when a proximity detector goes off.

Bob, that means you cant steal the ladder on the ground:grin:

 

[masterinbama]

We have used these when upgrading 5KV overhead to 13KV on a Military base. We would move it down the line every weekend as we replaced insulators switches and transformers.