[KCDXC] KCK accident

Sun Jul 13 22:46:43 EDT 2008

I applaud Chuck Kraly's message.  I recently attended Boys Scout camp for
ten days and taught the Electricity and Radio merits badges to a dozen
Scouts.  Although both merit badges have reasonably extensive safety
requirements, this is the kind of "accident" that brings the safety message
down to earth.

If Chuck Kraly gets this message, I hope he will consider sending his
comments to the KC Star.  See the pages in the Local section where the "As I
See It" article and letters to the Editor appear.  Submitting an "As I See
It" article or a letter is very simple and can be done by email and the
instructions are given in that section of the paper.  This is an important
message Chuck and I hope you will consider submitting it to the KC Star.  It
would also be appropriate for QST magazine.

Ron Wood
K0BRO

Ronald R. (Ron) Wood
woodrr at att.net
816.786.2014

-----Original Message-----
From: kcdxc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:kcdxc-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Bob Roske
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 8:49 PM
To: Kansas City DX Club
Subject: Fw: [KCDXC] KCK accident

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alex, KU1CW" <ku1cw at yahoo.com>
To: "kcdxc" <kcdxc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 8:31 PM
Subject: [KCDXC] KCK accident

> Sad news. Anyone know details? What are the calls?
> 
> 
> http://www.kmbc.com/news/16871003/detail.html?rss=kc1&psp=news

> 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

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