Mr Electricity is not always our friend

[WDWHound]

Follow this link for a short, but spectacular video of what happened one day when something didn't go quite right at a power substation in California.

http://oldcrows.net/~oldcrow/Lugo_SWR.mpg

What you are seeing is a ½ million volts arcing through the air from one switch to another. Here is a picture for those of you who dont have the bandwidth to watch the video

 

[Virgo10]

WOW! I'm glad there weren't any birdies flying over when that happened.

Roberta

 

[GeorgeG]

What's happening is three switches being opened at the same time (this is standard with all three "phases" being part of one feeder. These switches have "arc snuffers" that are supposed to prevent the arc from following the switches as they open until the blades are sufficiently open. The one closest to the camera apparently had a failed "snuffer." Luckily, switches at this voltage are operated from a safe distance by a remote control. Lower voltages (2400 - 35,000) are often done manually with a 10' insulated "hot stick." The arc isn't quite as big, but close up it has been known to cause some dirty laundry.

BTW, ordinary house voltage (120/240) kills just as many people as high voltage. Under the right (actually wrong) conditions, 30 volts at .1 amp can be fatal.

 

[mickeyfan1]

What George said!!!

I think it was probably really scary, but it is awesome to see, in a train wreck kinda way.

 

[Micca]

Isn't that pic from Young Frankenstein?