Special insulation needed on the conductors. Waterproofing the vaults and splices. Conduits. You get the idea - it's a whole 'nother world underground when high voltage is concerned.
In addition to Anon 8:36- when you put conductors into the air, you're not trenching miles for and miles, plus river and road crossings and the conduit and cement armor that encases high voltage primaries.
Air is an insulator. Not particularly good, but much better than moist soil, though arcing from those cables does happen. You need a LOT of insulation to run cables underground. And while the course of high-tension lines changes less frequently than regular neighborhood power lines, they do change.
I was on a "Backbolt" team that put up 750 Kw team in my early 20's back in the 80's. The backbolt team climbed the tower and torqued the bolts to spec from the top to the bottom. It was hard work.
Toxic masculinity, provided the world with our modern life. Just like the Romans did in their "modern life." As it has always been; until now. I ponder why? But we know why: the destruction of Western Civilization Bear in Indy
Doing this right now about 10 miles north of me. Not much different except for radios, hardhats, and safety belts. Look to be 200' high - much higher than the old 345 kV line nearby.
Great to watch. As a Linesman my Father worked for the North Eastern Electricity Board (UK) building the same. During hard winters he often worked 18 hour days away from home repairing storm damaged lines, catching up sleep in the cab of a long wheel base LandRover. Quite often he’d be away for five days at a time. A giant of a man with a strong work ethic, which he instilled in his children (three iron fighters, and one 24 year time served Bootneck.) The skinny latte drinking 'powder puffs' of today would suffer an attack of the vapours if they had to endure similar work.
Eww! Toxic masculinity!
ReplyDeleteI am a bit confused how putting the cables underground would be 10 times more expensive than up in the air.
ReplyDeleteSpecial insulation needed on the conductors. Waterproofing the vaults and splices. Conduits.
DeleteYou get the idea - it's a whole 'nother world underground when high voltage is concerned.
In addition to Anon 8:36- when you put conductors into the air, you're not trenching miles for and miles, plus river and road crossings and the conduit and cement armor that encases high voltage primaries.
DeleteAir is an insulator. Not particularly good, but much better than moist soil, though arcing from those cables does happen. You need a LOT of insulation to run cables underground. And while the course of high-tension lines changes less frequently than regular neighborhood power lines, they do change.
DeleteI was on a "Backbolt" team that put up 750 Kw team in my early 20's back in the 80's. The backbolt team climbed the tower and torqued the bolts to spec from the top to the bottom. It was hard work.
ReplyDeleteToxic masculinity, provided the world with our modern life.
DeleteJust like the Romans did in their "modern life."
As it has always been; until now.
I ponder why?
But we know why: the destruction of Western Civilization
Bear in Indy
Doing this right now about 10 miles north of me. Not much different except for radios, hardhats, and safety belts. Look to be 200' high - much higher than the old 345 kV line nearby.
ReplyDeleteUnderground utilities are a monster liability. Too many idiots just start digging.
ReplyDeleteIt sure simplified the “to ground” part of the short, though.
ReplyDeleteGreat to watch. As a Linesman my Father worked for the North Eastern Electricity Board (UK) building the same. During hard winters he often worked 18 hour days away from home repairing storm damaged lines, catching up sleep in the cab of a long wheel base LandRover. Quite often he’d be away for five days at a time. A giant of a man with a strong work ethic, which he instilled in his children (three iron fighters, and one 24 year time served Bootneck.) The skinny latte drinking 'powder puffs' of today would suffer an attack of the vapours if they had to endure similar work.
ReplyDelete