[ETS/PARC List] [QCWA] Kansas City Kansas Ham electrocuted today]

[Drew Moore]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Fw: [QCWA] Kansas City Kansas Ham electrocuted today
Date: 	Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:17:37 -0400
From: 	marvin bronstein <marvbrons at verizon.net>
To: 	drumor at optonline.net



Drew,
This is a distribution from QCWA. It is a very important message about
danger from electric transmission lines and antenna work.
I feel it deserves distribution among all our fellow hams.

Thanks,
Marvin



 KC0TIG and his son were electrocuted today while trying to put up an
 antenna.

 <http://tinyurl.com/6btuas>

 <http://www.kmbc.com/news/16871003/detail.html>

 <http://tinyurl.com/66988d>

 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

 THESE NEWS ITEMS MOTIVATED CHUCK KRALY, K0XM, TO WRITE THIS MESSAGE:

 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

 I just saw this one on the news, and had to write a this message to be
 passed on to the ham community, especially the newer hams.

 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

 We lost another ham today, and it is a very sad event. The parties
 involved, were installing a Comet FIBERGLASS antenna, that came in
 contact with a single 7620V power line. Now how do I know what the
 exact voltage is? I built and maintained the substation that fed this
 circuit. I spent 27 yrears as a substaion technician for the Board of
 Public Utilities. I am still in this field. So, I feel I have some
 experience in what I am passing along.

 In a nutshell, the location of the accident was a few blocks from the
 substation. The wires you see going thru the residential areas are AT
 MINUMUM 7200 volts from each wire to ground, and between any two of
 them is 13,800 volts. This is nothing to play with at any time. I have
 seen a fault TOTALLY vaporize 1" copper buss (which is solid). Imagine
 what it can do to a human.

 Each wire is fed from what is called a 3 phase line. From there, it
can
 be broken off and sent down a property line as a single wire.  Those
are
 called "laterals" Yes, you will see a device at the break  out point,
 and this is a fuse. BUT the caution needs to be conveyed.  These fuses
 are in the 60-100 amp range. This is at 7200 volts. On top  of that,
 anytime a tree falls across a line, or a pole gets hit, there  is a
 circuit on the "feeder" at the substaion that AUTOMATICALLY  closes
the
  fedder back in, and TRIES to restore the power to the area.  Some of
 these "reclosers" can operate 2-5 times, depending on how they  are
set.
 Now from the substaion end, the protective device is set for  the full
 fault capabilites of the line. In the case of BPU, this can  be set at
 600 AMPS, and multiples of that value. The protective  devices are set
 for what is called a "time" or and "instantaneous"  operation. Picture
a
 fast blow fuse and a slow blow, and you will  understand the
difference
 in the settings. These setting are at  multiple of the 600 amp value.
 So, if there is a direct short, then it will not trip until it reaches
a
 value at, oh lets say, 8 times that value. So we are looking at 4800
 amps. and this is at 7200 volts and lower. So, it trips, then it
 energizes it AGAIN. The possiblity of survival is slim and none.

 Now remember how I said they were installing a FIBERGLASS antenna?
Well
 guess what. It is metal inside. Yes, fiberglass does not radiate  as
we
 all know. Hence the metal. That is what caused the accident.  They got
 too close to the line (remember your 'magnetic lines of flux'  theory?
 If not, look it up on the web). There is a minimum approach  area that
 MUST be followed. This changes for ALL voltages. This  distance must
NOT
 be broken. If it is a flashover will happen, and it  is not pretty.
 Electricity will find the shortest path to ground. In  this case it
was
 a couple of men.

 Folks, this is nothing to take chances with. In my almost 30 yrs as a
 ham, and 27 yrs in the power utility field, I have seen way too many
 "accidents." Stop, look and if it is close or SEEMS that way- DON'T.
 Find another place. High voltage lines are NOT forgiving. Your life
 depends on it. You always hear "it is the amps not the volts" well I
 can tell you when you get at these levels, who is going to argue what
 killed the person who had the accident. PLEASE ,PLEASE follow the
 warnings. ANYWHERE close is too close.

 Stay safe, and I hope we can enjoy many more years of hamming.

 Thanks Guys,

 Chuck Kraly, K0XM