Post by: Art Welter on November 21, 2015, 05:47:33 PM
It is located in Madrid, a small town south of Santa Fe, New Mexico.Lightning is very frequent in NM.
The device appears to be more recent vintage than the transformer, anyone familiar with what it is, and why it was added?
It's logo looks like a stylized "S" followed by TE.
Art
Post by: Jim Rutherford on November 21, 2015, 08:05:24 PM
Post by: David Buckley on November 21, 2015, 11:41:55 PM
Having said that, the zone substation by my house has everything in the switchyard covered in some brownish stuff that insulates it, which I seem to recall was added to stop snow causing problems. Though I cant see that being much of a problem in Sante Fe :)
Post by: Jonathan Johnson on November 22, 2015, 12:31:48 AM
http://www.te.com/usa-en/product-337774-000.html
And here's a similar product in use in a utility substation:
http://www.cleveland.com/brunswick/index.ssf/2015/03/firstenergy_builds_brunswick_s.html
It's an insulating shroud to prevent outages and damage caused by squirrels and other wildlife.
Post by: Steve M Smith on November 22, 2015, 06:17:48 AM
This is the only picture I can find but those I saw were shiny and metallic. http://previews.123rf.com/images/neko92vl/neko92vl1206/neko92vl120600064/14190405-pylons-and-high-voltage-lines-France-Europe--Stock-Photo.jpg
Steve.
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on November 22, 2015, 10:21:15 AM
JR
Post by: Jonathan Johnson on November 22, 2015, 12:25:53 PM
The strangest thing I have seen on power distribution is metal spheres on the HV cable in France. I assumed they were some sort of lightning protection but don't know for sure.
This is the only picture I can find but those I saw were shiny and metallic. http://previews.123rf.com/images/neko92vl/neko92vl1206/neko92vl120600064/14190405-pylons-and-high-voltage-lines-France-Europe--Stock-Photo.jpg
Steve.
Those are aerial marker balls (http://www.obstacle-lights.com/day-marking-spheres.html) so airplane pilots can see where the wires are and not fly into them.
Around here, I see them on high-tension lines near airports, over rivers, and other places where there are long, high spans between towers (such as over canyons).
Video of installation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BPr-bwffsU)
Post by: Mike Sokol on November 22, 2015, 12:40:22 PM
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on November 22, 2015, 05:17:07 PM
My kids took one look and said it was for stopping squirrels and birds from getting fried. My dad had the power interrupted to his house when a squirrel jumped onto the transformer. That was one toasted squirrel.Squirrels are responsible for many power outages. If those work they sure to show up everywhere.
Right now my transformers just have bare fuses hanging out there....
JR
Post by: Art Welter on November 22, 2015, 06:47:49 PM
Found the product page:Jonathan,
http://www.te.com/usa-en/product-337774-000.html
It's an insulating shroud to prevent outages and damage caused by squirrels and other wildlife.
Thanks, that's the unit. It was added sometime in the last three years, (I wonder when) here is a picture from before:
Post by: Jim Rutherford on November 22, 2015, 08:03:41 PM
Is that a crashed UFO in the background?
Post by: Jonathan Johnson on November 22, 2015, 09:15:54 PM
Jonathan,
Thanks, that's the unit. It was added sometime in the last three years, (I wonder when) here is a picture from before:
That is one sad looking pole and transformer. The utility around here would have replaced at least the pole a long time ago.
Then again, it appears you live in a mighty dry climate, so an old, weathered pole is likely to still have plenty of life. Around here in the Pacific Northwest, once the volatiles disappear from the creosote and the pole starts cracking and checking, it will lose structural integrity rather quickly. The local utility (http://www.clarkpublicutilities.com/index.cfm/aboutus/fastfacts/) regularly inspects EVERY one of the 59,352 poles in its inventory. (I think it's every three or five years, but I don't remember for sure.) I've seen better-looking poles than that snap off (thankfully they weren't being used for power lines).
Post by: Tom Burgess on November 23, 2015, 10:57:51 AM
Let me guess againLooks like a UFO that is monitoring mine tailings.
Is that a crashed UFO in the background?
Post by: Art Welter on November 23, 2015, 04:53:04 PM
Looks like a UFO that is monitoring mine tailings.It is actually the remains of a retired electric trike, but that was the desired intent :).
http://www.maxmatic.com/threes/rtw_index.htm
Post by: Art Welter on November 23, 2015, 04:57:14 PM
That is one sad looking pole and transformer. The utility around here would have replaced at least the pole a long time ago.They snap off around here too, but you will love what PNM does to prevent that- pound in some galvanized steel and strap it to the pole!
Then again, it appears you live in a mighty dry climate, so an old, weathered pole is likely to still have plenty of life. Around here in the Pacific Northwest, once the volatiles disappear from the creosote and the pole starts cracking and checking, it will lose structural integrity rather quickly. The local utility (http://www.clarkpublicutilities.com/index.cfm/aboutus/fastfacts/) regularly inspects EVERY one of the 59,352 poles in its inventory. (I think it's every three or five years, but I don't remember for sure.) I've seen better-looking poles than that snap off (thankfully they weren't being used for power lines).
Post by: Jonathan Johnson on November 23, 2015, 05:07:53 PM
They snap off around here too, but you will love what PNM does to prevent that- pound in some galvanized steel and strap it to the pole!
Our poco has a bigger budget, but this isn't the place to discuss politics ;D