I sometimes discussed line work with Glenn, the gentleman who recently passed on. We were both holders of combination tickets in the IBEW, lineman and wireman.
I worked for the Bechtel Corp. in the 1960's on the 500 KV switch yard and feeders from the Mojave Power Plant in So. Nevada. The feeders went to the main power grid in So. California.
We often had to repair bullet holes in the lines.
I worked with the bucket crew on live maintenance. The pay was time and a half, I think it was about 9 dollars per hour.
We worked out of a bucket truck. The bucket had a Faraday cage of copper braided screening. We wore the specialized conductive clothing for shielding from the electric field.
The bucket was clamped to the line and I wore an ankle bracelet with a braided copper jumper to the faraday cage. I still have my leg iron.
The suits are only required on EHV and UHV lines.
345 KV and above require the conductive clothing.
This procedure is very safe and can be done from fibreglass ladders.
I worked for the Bechtel Corp. in the 1960's on the 500 KV switch yard and feeders from the Mojave Power Plant in So. Nevada. The feeders went to the main power grid in So. California.
We often had to repair bullet holes in the lines.
I worked with the bucket crew on live maintenance. The pay was time and a half, I think it was about 9 dollars per hour.
We worked out of a bucket truck. The bucket had a Faraday cage of copper braided screening. We wore the specialized conductive clothing for shielding from the electric field.
The bucket was clamped to the line and I wore an ankle bracelet with a braided copper jumper to the faraday cage. I still have my leg iron.
The suits are only required on EHV and UHV lines.
345 KV and above require the conductive clothing.
This procedure is very safe and can be done from fibreglass ladders.