power lines
- Thread starter bill-doh
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: power lines
I see you listed yourself as "Bird Watcher" so I will take this question at face value.
In order for a bird or a human to get a shock they need to be part of a complete circuit.
It takes at least two conductors to complete a circuit.
When a bird is sitting on a live wire they have only connected to one conductor of the circuit.
They become 'live' but there is no current flow.
Now if you could touch them with another conductor of the circuit they would be in trouble.
I see you listed yourself as "Bird Watcher" so I will take this question at face value.
In order for a bird or a human to get a shock they need to be part of a complete circuit.
It takes at least two conductors to complete a circuit.
When a bird is sitting on a live wire they have only connected to one conductor of the circuit.
They become 'live' but there is no current flow.
Now if you could touch them with another conductor of the circuit they would be in trouble.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: power lines
I have occasionally seen fairly large birds (i.e., large wing spans) sitting on adjacent wires. I know that if they flap their wings with unfortunate timing, and their wings touch each other, they can create a complete circuit (i.e., from one line, to one bird, to the tip of its wing, then contacting the wing of the other bird, and through the second bird's body to the second wire). That would kill both birds in a spectacular flash. I have never seen it, but I have wondered if it ever happens.
In any event, that is what it would take for a power line to harm a bird. Of course a bird that has a wing span wider than the distance between two lines could be killed, if it contacted both lines at the same time.
I have occasionally seen fairly large birds (i.e., large wing spans) sitting on adjacent wires. I know that if they flap their wings with unfortunate timing, and their wings touch each other, they can create a complete circuit (i.e., from one line, to one bird, to the tip of its wing, then contacting the wing of the other bird, and through the second bird's body to the second wire). That would kill both birds in a spectacular flash. I have never seen it, but I have wondered if it ever happens.
In any event, that is what it would take for a power line to harm a bird. Of course a bird that has a wing span wider than the distance between two lines could be killed, if it contacted both lines at the same time.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Re: power lines
I read a story a while back about someone who climbed a power transmission tower and urinated toward an energized line. He was reportedly found dead, lying on the ground, with his genitals still smoking.
I read a story a while back about someone who climbed a power transmission tower and urinated toward an energized line. He was reportedly found dead, lying on the ground, with his genitals still smoking.
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
Re: power lines
If a bird has both feet on the same wire, a small amount of current goes through the bird, as the bird's body is a parallel path for current. Since the birds impedance is relatively high, compared to the impedance of the 3" of conductor at the bird's feet, a huge majority of current goes through the wire.
I would assume that the bird gets a little tingle.
If a bird has both feet on the same wire, a small amount of current goes through the bird, as the bird's body is a parallel path for current. Since the birds impedance is relatively high, compared to the impedance of the 3" of conductor at the bird's feet, a huge majority of current goes through the wire.
I would assume that the bird gets a little tingle.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: power lines
I saw one in CT and another in MA
That would explain the two huge nests I saw on poles that seemed to be installed beside power power lines exclusively for the nest.
I saw one in CT and another in MA
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician (retired)
Re: power lines
One of the biggest groups of Avian pests are Monk Parakeets. They build huge nests on power poles. Some states including Connecticut have been trying to eradicate them. Here's a photo of one such nest:
One of the biggest groups of Avian pests are Monk Parakeets. They build huge nests on power poles. Some states including Connecticut have been trying to eradicate them. Here's a photo of one such nest:
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Re: power lines
Looks like my Afro from back in the '70's.
Looks like my Afro from back in the '70's.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Re: power lines
Ron,
I wonder about the temperature of the conductors. Some distribution lines are designed to operate above 100?C when fully loaded.
Don
[ January 07, 2006, 08:10 AM: Message edited by: don_resqcapt19 ]
Ron,
The only voltage that is there to drive current through the bird is the voltage drop on the small length of conductor that is between the birds feet. I would not expect there is enough to produce a tingle.
I wonder about the temperature of the conductors. Some distribution lines are designed to operate above 100?C when fully loaded.
Don
[ January 07, 2006, 08:10 AM: Message edited by: don_resqcapt19 ]
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
Re: power lines
Don,
If I were to make an order of magnitude guess, it would be about .01 mA going through a bird. I don't know if that is a tingle or not.
Don,
If I were to make an order of magnitude guess, it would be about .01 mA going through a bird. I don't know if that is a tingle or not.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: power lines
Who do these birds think they are?
Or wait....they are self employed OSHA does not apply to them.
Regardless I am reporting his flagrant violation of 70E to OSHA.Originally posted by ron:
I don't know if that is a tingle or not.
Who do these birds think they are?
Or wait....they are self employed OSHA does not apply to them.
- Status