interesting story

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southernboys

Senior Member
Hey guys I dont know how to post threads but there was an interesting story in the local paper today. The website is pensacola news journal. It seems some hack hooked some christmas lights up to wires coming out a parking light pole that had been bent over probaly by huricane Ivan. This other cat walked over to inspect the job after customers had complained about the wiring. When he stepped on wet grass he was shocked. Now is it just me or is something missing from the story. Typically we wire parking lot lights to 277. I aint never seen no 277 christmas lights. Also how did the hack hook em up cut the cap and make a splice or just insert the hot wires into the cord. Finally how are you going get shocked when wearing shoes just by stepping on wet grass. If someone has time to post link I would appreciate it
 
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hurk27

Senior Member
Location
Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: interesting story

By southernboys: how are you going get shocked when wearing shoes just by stepping on wet grass.
Click to expand...
First I don't see where the article said what he was wearing?
But depending upon what kind of shoes like sandals, if the light pole didn't have a EGC and depended upon a grounding electrode then it is most likly there was step potential from the pole and electrode heated up. You don't have to place your feet very far apart to receive enough shock to kill.
 
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jbwhite

Senior Member
Re: interesting story

I remember a story from an article the instructor had when I was in electrical school many years ago.

If anyone has a copy of this story or remembers it maybe you can correct my memory.

A family was woken up early one morining before dawn by a cracking noise. The family claimed that they could see the ground arround one end of the house having a slight glow. The parents got the kids together and got out of the house, but claim to have been shocked while walking on the dew covered grass and sidewalk away from the home.

Later investigation found a loose neutral at transformer serving the house causing the homes GES to be energized. If I remember correctly the ground rod at the transformer was not connected properly, or was not installed as well.
 
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realolman

Senior Member
Re: interesting story

"Mr. Eberlin was just attempting to disable what he perceived to be a hazard to his customers and others."

Sounds like a little more than just looking at it from a distance.

It's been many moons since I was a lineman, but I seem to recall street lights sometimes hooked up to current regulators.
 
charlie

charlie

Senior Member
Location
Indianapolis
Re: interesting story

realolman, you are talking about constant current regulators. They will keep the current at a preset amount by varying the voltage. Most of them are set at 6.6 amperes and the open circuit voltage is usually around 25 kV. :D
 
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