All day today
I worked with an open three phase 480 bus over my head, connected to a 400 amp circuit breaker.
Absentmindedly reach over my head for leverage in standing, or stand up the wrong way, and I become the worlds most unsavory hotdog in the worlds most ungainly Presto Hot Dogger
Thankfully, at least for today, I’m clear.
19 comments Og | Uncategorized
We can’t take you anywhere.
Stay away from the open bus way!
Saw one of those be shorted once by a guy with a work mate screw driver. Shot a bolt of light out and the whole plant went dark. All that was left of the screw drive was the handle.
Pretty impressive. Glad you did not rewire yourself.
Look up arc flash videos. You need PPE.
This is why we can’t have anything nice.
The circuit breaker would trip and you would be fine. Trust me, I am a total stranger on the internet.
yep. I’m sure. Really.
I remember working around stuff like that within arms’ length; it tends to make you keep your hands in close to your body.
Bob, if I could put them in my pockets and still work, I would.
Nothing focuses attention like the soft hum of a high voltage line … and the tingle at the nape of the neck.
What I don’t like about high voltage is that you don’t have to actually touch it to make it touch you. If you help make the arc-to-ground distance short enough, you can be used as an example in electrical work manuals. And like bomb disposal, no second chances.
Thankfully your good grounding in your field kept you from being earthed.
A number of years ago, I plugged a buss plug into a buss. All I remember is the flash and the lights going out.
I was “Sparky” til we closed the doors.
Still can’t figure it, but it’s made me cringe every time I plug another one in.
Why was the buss open?
Mehhh! 480. Buzzzzzzz…
Been there, done that, doesn’t warrant a T-shirt…
MC
(good to 500,000 volts)
Oh, and guys, “Buss” is a a brand of fuse, “buss” is a kiss, and “bus” is that thingie with all the electrons…
MC
MC: You haven’t done three phase, because you wouldn’t be typing.
in the 50s my great uncle was blown clear across a powerhouse room TWICE working for a local utility … They had to replumb him in later years with specialized tubing… 75kVA each time… though he was very safety conscious – stuff happens
Yeppers! done it both ways: Delta AND wye. And DC… OMG, DC at 22,000 volts (hipotting 5 kV contactors) and 30-something kV (Hipotting a couple of thousand feet of 15 kV cables with a defective test set.
Made me want to CRY.
But no arcs and a poor path, so I survived.
MC
MC: You got all three phases of 480 and live to tell it. You’re the first one I’ve ever heard of.