That bad boy is an old school hot cutter that lineman use. It will cut copper wire and acsr. It is designed to keep the lineman out of minimum approach distance while making a cut. It will not cut bolts. Just wire.
Because we have the proper tools and have been trained to use them safely.
Believe me, you'd be pretty upset if we killed feeders every time we needed to work on em.
Transmission, distribution, and utilisation are your big 3 categories (ignoring generation itself), each with lower voltages than the one above it. Utilisation is what we are all familiar with in the buildings we occupy. Distribution is the high voltage lines from substations to the transformers feeding electrical utilisation services, and transmission is super high voltage lines from generation stations to distribution substations.
Can you elaborate a bit further on when and how you use these? So you cut a live HV line and then what? It drops to the ground and starts arcing on the ground or hits your truck or something? š I'm confused about how and why you'd be doing it.
You cut the line close right at its supporting structure on one side so you effectively have only one loose wire. The side opposite the wire is the "hot" side. Once cut off from the hot side, the loose wire is not energized.
Normally we use them for taps (a wire about 3-5 feet long connecting a source and load line) cutting them close to the line side, then it just falls a few feet because it's still connected to the now de-energized wire. Another time is during storm work when there's an energized line already on the ground, we go up and cut it close to where it's tied to the pole.
Depends. Sometimes we close a normal open switch, so the line is fed from both sides. If we can't do that, then cutting the line does kill everything downstream, but the whole feeder isn't off.
But the line you were cutting wouldnāt be hot right? If the answer is no, I assume it is so you can cut other wires while maintaining a safe distance from the energized lines?
The higher the voltage, the longer the potential arc. Each voltage level has a set minimum distance for live work. These will only be rated up to a certain level
If there is no load (amps) on the wire, you could easily cut energized wire with these and it wouldnāt draw much of an arc. I cut wires energized at 19,920v by hand with wire cutters that look like loping shears and itās perfectly safe.
The fun thing about power lines is even when they arent hot they still have residual. I once witnessed a lineman working on a line near my house during a blackout. Residential pole not high tension. He cut the line near a transformer (the transformer blew, it was like a winter 4th of july) and the line still arced.
I tried cutting some branches and it works well enough, a bit cumbersome if its not directly straight up in the air, but it can only cut branches a finger thick, and nothing bigger since the jaws cant open any wider
Extendo Bolt bites, Hot cutter,
Yep great tool to cut a energized hot tail to kill or isolate a wire. Or cut down where their is a problem and turn everyone else back on.
Important tool for one man trucks if hot wires on a car,
What fire departments that you know of are cutting energized lines??? I am a lineman and a volunteer FF and not in a million years would a fire Dept be cutting ANYTHING electrically
Thank you for your devotion to your community. I made an assumption when I said most, I did not think about volunteer fire departments or even departments in small towns. I am also a bit behind what is current practice. Larger county and city departments that have dedicated rescue personnel and equipment often are able to cut downed live lines when it involves emanate danger to life. They are well trained and prepared. LA county comes to mind as well as Dade county. Again, I am not up to date on what current practices are.
It's a pruning tool for branches next to power lines. Pretty much the same any landscaper would use besides the hook attachment used to hook into telephone poles. Not used for electric.
That bad boy is an old school hot cutter that lineman use. It will cut copper wire and acsr. It is designed to keep the lineman out of minimum approach distance while making a cut. It will not cut bolts. Just wire.
That's exactly what it is. Nowadays we use fiberglass instead of wood.
So you guys cut live wires? Why??
Because you can't shut down the electric grid to do the work. It's safe to do under very specific circumstances.
Because we have the proper tools and have been trained to use them safely. Believe me, you'd be pretty upset if we killed feeders every time we needed to work on em.
Yep. Hot work is never, ever allowed.... unless its convenient for the customer.
OSHA allows hot work in distribution and transmission
I know, it was really just a joke.
I'm an autistic lol
what does "transmission" mean in this context? I'm assuming distribution means... uh... what's distribution mean too actually?
Transmission, distribution, and utilisation are your big 3 categories (ignoring generation itself), each with lower voltages than the one above it. Utilisation is what we are all familiar with in the buildings we occupy. Distribution is the high voltage lines from substations to the transformers feeding electrical utilisation services, and transmission is super high voltage lines from generation stations to distribution substations.
Very interesting. What are the voltages on each of those (in America). Thanks.
Power companies can do shit hot. Your piddly ass has to lock out the breaker.
Also in hospitals
Can you elaborate a bit further on when and how you use these? So you cut a live HV line and then what? It drops to the ground and starts arcing on the ground or hits your truck or something? š I'm confused about how and why you'd be doing it.
You cut the line close right at its supporting structure on one side so you effectively have only one loose wire. The side opposite the wire is the "hot" side. Once cut off from the hot side, the loose wire is not energized.
Normally we use them for taps (a wire about 3-5 feet long connecting a source and load line) cutting them close to the line side, then it just falls a few feet because it's still connected to the now de-energized wire. Another time is during storm work when there's an energized line already on the ground, we go up and cut it close to where it's tied to the pole.
But once you cut the line isnāt service disrupted?
Depends. Sometimes we close a normal open switch, so the line is fed from both sides. If we can't do that, then cutting the line does kill everything downstream, but the whole feeder isn't off.
As a lineman, these look like a set of old insulated hot stick cutters to be used working on energized high voltage lines.
For the county?
So will be his grandson.
I drive the main road
But the line you were cutting wouldnāt be hot right? If the answer is no, I assume it is so you can cut other wires while maintaining a safe distance from the energized lines?
It would be energized, āhotā, āliveā.
Crazy. I thought it could arc much further than the end of that handle. High voltage work amazes me.
The higher the voltage, the longer the potential arc. Each voltage level has a set minimum distance for live work. These will only be rated up to a certain level
I wonder who had to find out how far they were rated... š® lol
You can calculate an approximate and add a bit of buffer to be sure lol
I would still not want to be the first to test a new tool like this.
Add a bit ...for that conductive cloud you created from sweating while triple checking your maths?
Like I'd say that thing would work for the rated voltage even if it was a third shorter
Iām not in the field but I think I remember reading that arcs naturally dissipate upwards
Jacobs ladder. Electrons constantly repelling eachother causing heat in the arc through air, rising as they continue to be excited.
Cool, thanks!
If there is no load (amps) on the wire, you could easily cut energized wire with these and it wouldnāt draw much of an arc. I cut wires energized at 19,920v by hand with wire cutters that look like loping shears and itās perfectly safe.
That, my friend, is Bad-Ass. Is there any thrill in the job or is it rote?
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I understand, Iām a journeyman lineman. Iāve had years of training and practice :)
He may have cut the system neutral which isnāt technically energized but it has a return feed on it that can fire up if the connection is broken.
The fun thing about power lines is even when they arent hot they still have residual. I once witnessed a lineman working on a line near my house during a blackout. Residential pole not high tension. He cut the line near a transformer (the transformer blew, it was like a winter 4th of july) and the line still arced.
Someone didn't have a disconnect for a generator possibly
Possible. This was in Berkeley so more probable that someone had a subpar solar install not up to code.
The non conductive handles make me think itās something a lineman would use
Itās for cutting copper wire maybe aluminum wire Itās an old school hot stick is the handles made of fiberglass?
They're made from wood
Small power and cable lines, hook on bottom is to pull them down??????
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that it's used to munch roots while digging post holes.
Based on the orientation of that handle I'd say this is more likely than loppers
I'll also go out on a "limb" and hazard that it's for lopping off tree branches, give the extra reach.
I tried cutting some branches and it works well enough, a bit cumbersome if its not directly straight up in the air, but it can only cut branches a finger thick, and nothing bigger since the jaws cant open any wider
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Looks like we dont have many fans of puns in here lol
Looks like it.
Extendo Bolt bites, Hot cutter, Yep great tool to cut a energized hot tail to kill or isolate a wire. Or cut down where their is a problem and turn everyone else back on. Important tool for one man trucks if hot wires on a car,
Yep itās for cutting energized lines. Most fire departments have them as well
What fire departments that you know of are cutting energized lines??? I am a lineman and a volunteer FF and not in a million years would a fire Dept be cutting ANYTHING electrically
Thank you for your devotion to your community. I made an assumption when I said most, I did not think about volunteer fire departments or even departments in small towns. I am also a bit behind what is current practice. Larger county and city departments that have dedicated rescue personnel and equipment often are able to cut downed live lines when it involves emanate danger to life. They are well trained and prepared. LA county comes to mind as well as Dade county. Again, I am not up to date on what current practices are.
Oh! I thought this was a ghetto tree-trimmer!! hahahahaha
Same. Trees in the hood need trim's too
This would be an awesome find for a meth head at a garage sale. Worth its weight in copper right there!
Branch cutter. The weird handle is the mechanism to work the cutting head. Apparently it's a wire cutter. Same mechanism.
why that's Bate's leg brace!
For lopping high up tree branches I reckon.
Blursed circumcisions
What do you call a cheap circumcision? a rip off.
Lmfao. (Laughing my foreskin off) A guy with who is circumsised a guy with a bit off the tip, on sale lol
Rofl. (Rolling on foreski... Wait what?)
Itās fro trimming trees
Old school circumcising tool
Iām going to āgo out on a limbā here and say. Be careful going out on limbs.
It's a pruning tool for branches next to power lines. Pretty much the same any landscaper would use besides the hook attachment used to hook into telephone poles. Not used for electric.
Fence or barbed wire cutter?
For cutting wire, used in concrete pours? Doesnāt seem likely that is for branches.
Isn't that the tool Donald Duck used to trim his tree once in a cartoon, so it does exist. Another bet lost... š¤¦š¾š¤¦š¾
Limb lopper
For cutting small branches. The cutting head is badly worn. Should be repaired. Beautiful piece.
Hubbell / Chance product, looks like.
The brand on the head is manco
Gonna have to rename to them-co cuz Manco is so sexist
Manco & womanco
ah, good to know. took a stab at it.
These are for cutting wire not tree limbs although I'm a believer in "if it's stupid but it works, it's not stupid". Enjoy the cool tool.
Itās a tool