Sitting Transformers on Residential Apartments

[adindas]

Some people argue, and so is utility company argue that Tx shall be located >3m from a residential apartment.

Is there any perticular sensibel reason for this:
What I am thingking is:
-Noise
-EMC (is there any issue of this ?).

Thank you for your time

Adindas

 

[jtester]

The only issues I am aware of are 1) fire codes, you don't want the transformer to leak and start a fire on the building exterior;
2) clearances for workers, and also for just removing or replacing the transformer.

I am not aware of any clearance requirements based on EMF, electricalnoise, etc.

Jim T

 

[robbietan]

me neither. although our utility gets sued from time to time regarding the placing of transformers near some VIPs house....

 

[BnE]

I believe it is a issue of clearance and safe working distance for the utility workers, most pad mounted xfmr have a sticker on the chassis with a similar requirement although I don't think they cite a specific code NEC or otherwise.

 

[dbuckley]

In terms of real effects, you dont want the tranny too close to the telly, otherwise the homeowner will winge about picture wobble, or hum from the casette deck.

 

[karl riley]

3 meters will reduce the magnetic field from transformers to below 1 milligauss (mG) and thus be out of the range of the reported health effects, particularly for children. It is also below the level which will cause CRTs to flicker.

So it seems a reasonable requirement. Because kids sometimes sit on them, etc. I hope someday a warning sign will be put on them (other than "high voltage") but the utility lawyers probably tell them this would open them up to an admission of a health hazard.

Schools usually put fences around them.

Karl

 

[karl riley]

3 meters will reduce the magnetic field to 1 mG (milligauss) or less, which puts it under the range of levels which have health effects. It also is below the level that affects CRTs, as was mentioned.

A utility will not specify this reason because of opening themselves up to health-related lawsuits. But as long as they keep the spacing, that's what counts.

What bothers me is seeing kids sitting on them. The field at that point is very high. It weakens basically with the cube of the distance, though for the first few feet it is more like the square, since the coil is large diameter.

Karl

 

[480sparky]

3m/10ft is a standard in my neck of the woods. Utility workers use hot sticks to work in transformers, even pad-mounted ones. They require the clearance so they can use those tools.