I find a distinct lack of of explorin' on high voltage lines. These seem like the least secure things in the world, especially out in the middle of nowhere. So what's up? As long as you don't touch a wire and you're capable of climbing a web of metal, it's 99.9% safe, right?
Man, this sounds like an awesome idea actually. I've heard they can give you cancer if you're too close, but what doesn't give you cancer? Less breaking, more entering -- *tells cop we're taking pictures* "OF WUUUUT?!"
I find power pylons to be beautiful, and I climb most things in sight, but that is not a good idea, as they can arc. Climbing around the lower parts is fine, but not too exciting. There are a few abandoned power pylons that i've seen that would certainly be do-able, though they aren't very tall. Better off sticking with cranes/radio//tv/cell towers. reckless thoughts abide; anachronistic and impulsive.
loosely jacketed against the cold and ten thousand worlds for the choosing.
Posted by aurelie I find power pylons to be beautiful, and I climb most things in sight, but that is not a good idea, as they can arc. Climbing around the lower parts is fine, but not too exciting. There are a few abandoned power pylons that i've seen that would certainly be do-able, though they aren't very tall. Better off sticking with cranes/radio//tv/cell towers.
As long as you don't get closer to the wires than any metal part of the structure itself, there shouldn't be too much concern for arcing, though, right? And don't touch the ground whilst touching the poles, too?
As long as you don't get closer to the wires than any metal part of the structure itself, there shouldn't be too much concern for arcing, though, right? And don't touch the ground whilst touching the poles, too?
As long as you don't get closer to the wires than any metal part of the structure itself, there shouldn't be too much concern for arcing, though, right? And don't touch the ground whilst touching the poles, too?
I don't know the exact radius, but I've heard that they can arc up to 35 feet. There are plenty of news articles about people being killed or burned from towers arcing, either from climbing one or climbing something near one.
From wiki: it should not be assumed that being insulated from earth guarantees that no current will flow to earth as grounding, or arcing to ground, can occur in unexpected ways, and high-frequency currents can cause burns even to an ungrounded person. reckless thoughts abide; anachronistic and impulsive.
loosely jacketed against the cold and ten thousand worlds for the choosing.
As long as you don't get closer to the wires than any metal part of the structure itself, there shouldn't be too much concern for arcing, though, right? And don't touch the ground whilst touching the poles, too?
If you're wrong, you'll probably be dead before you realise it. Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank
Posted by BostonUrbEx I find a distinct lack of of explorin' on high voltage lines. These seem like the least secure things in the world, especially out in the middle of nowhere. So what's up? As long as you don't touch a wire and you're capable of climbing a web of metal, it's 99.9% safe, right?
If you're asking high-voltage electrical questions on an internet chat board, please don't do it. Their security mostly involves killing people who read about it on the web. Most of the time it's a three-phase system with all three phases out of sync (meaning: do not touch two wires) and the structure acting as the grounding mechanism for when things go wrong (meaning: have a person you don't like test the structure first). The high voltage three-phase runs through transformers to come down to 120 volt through the wall stuff (think "ouch, not too bad") near the end and these can easily be confused with 277 volt transformers (instead of "ouch", think "what day is it and why am I sitting in urine?").
Re: Transmission Lines <Reply # 9 on 5/16/2011 12:55 AM >
Im with these guys, I personally would not mess with these things. If you want to explore them and photograph them - do so from afar.
Now I am not sure the numbers, but like one poster has said, 120v in the house, ouch that hurt - the regular lines will carry quite a bit of punch that can kill you. These lines are typically higher voltage because of the distances the power must travel.
Remember when you get shocked your muscles will contract causing you to hold onto whatever you are gripping until somthing stops the current.. breaker etc, these things dont have a breaker, these things will be relentless. you will not let go (hence the term death grip) whats going to stop the current is when you turn to poof.
Think going home in a box, not a pine, but small cardboard one...
Also the 35' rule would apply if these were regular poles, but with a high voltage one I would stay a bit further away.
Another quick thought - there is a reason the electric company uses bucket trucks and don't climb the pole and its not for convenience.
On a side note that arcing video freekin sweet! Whats that in the darkness?
Re: Transmission Lines <Reply # 10 on 5/16/2011 1:42 AM >
I'm curious as to why there's not much risk of a 3rd rail arcing compared with power lines. I'm assuming there's fewer volts in a 3rd rail, of course, but is that why? or is it a difference in amps? or is it because one is AC and the other DC?
Re: Transmission Lines <Reply # 11 on 5/16/2011 1:47 AM >
Posted by BostonUrbEx I'm curious as to why there's not much risk of a 3rd rail arcing compared with power lines. I'm assuming there's fewer volts in a 3rd rail, of course, but is that why? or is it a difference in amps? or is it because one is AC and the other DC?
DC/ vs. AC = big deal It's not the smokes makin' me sick, It's standing out in the cold to smoke em'
Re: Transmission Lines <Reply # 12 on 5/16/2011 2:30 AM >
Posted by BostonUrbEx I'm curious as to why there's not much risk of a 3rd rail arcing compared with power lines. I'm assuming there's fewer volts in a 3rd rail, of course, but is that why? or is it a difference in amps? or is it because one is AC and the other DC?
The NYC Metro is around 600 volts, DC. A train can eat several hundred amps starting up, but for arcing you're talking voltage. Alternating current is great for long-range transmission, but it's worse for your body. You could, probably, safely climb on one or two of these towers, but as mentioned, when they fail, it can put dangerous voltage on the structure. It's exciting to have a tower bite you when you grab it, but I don't suggest the experience. Also, staying down below the lines limits your options. Most of us don't climb it because of the risk to reward ratio.
PS: Imagine the key words in the ticket like infrastructure, vandalism, etc.
Transmission lines usually run around 130,000 volts or so, and in theory could jump (130000/600) 215 times further than the third rail. But it's 3-phase alternating current, meaning that if you provide a nice path between out-of-phase lines then they'll both bite you. Also, the current that will feed an arc is much higher. We're talking backbone of the national power grid here. Climb billboards, it's safer. Achievement Unlocked
Re: Transmission Lines <Reply # 13 on 5/16/2011 3:13 AM >
Posted by BostonUrbEx I find a distinct lack of of explorin' on high voltage lines.
got an ATV? they always have the best ATV trails near them.
you'll cook/explode as you're being electrocuted, however. (we have to take an electrical safety class where I work) High-voltage transmission lines are madness. If you get zapped by them, you can possibly explode, most certainly cook, definitely die.
[last edit 5/16/2011 3:15 AM by Samurai - edited 1 times]
Urbex: Keeping record of things most people have forgotten.
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Re: Transmission Lines <Reply # 15 on 5/16/2011 4:30 AM >
Posted by TheVicariousVadder There's also induced currents that will cause your muscles to flat out fail and you to fall a few hundred feet to a gruesome end.
There are better and taller things to climb.
Sneaking through the pylons right next to an active powerplant and listening to the wires humming and crackling above is as close as I need to get.
youtube has lots of these:
powerline safety:
thats one of the coolest sounds ive ever heard “It still amazes me how many millions goes to discovering another star in the galaxies when, for all we know, we are still sitting on top of another undiscovered world beneath our feet.”
Urbex: Keeping record of things most people have forgotten.
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Re: Transmission Lines <Reply # 16 on 5/16/2011 4:34 AM >
Posted by TheVicariousVadder
id love to see this from a safe zone “It still amazes me how many millions goes to discovering another star in the galaxies when, for all we know, we are still sitting on top of another undiscovered world beneath our feet.”
Posted by rescueme1060 how exactly does a powerline start to randomly arc?
For no apparent reason, the path to ground though your body and the air is lower resistance then going though the load, as one possibility, high frequency AC is essentially RF and as we know, RF propagates though the air. (thats a little over simplified but is the basic idea behind how a tesla coil sustains arcs that don't travel to ground and just sort of arc out into air)
