[QCWA] Kansas City Kansas Ham electrocuted today

[Bob Roske]

It's the antenna raising time of year, be careful out there!

73,
Bob Roske, NØUF
PIO Crow River Area ARC
 PIO ARRL Minnesota Section
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: Larry Staples <lstaples at kc.rr.com>
>>> Date: July 13, 2008 8:19:25 PM CDT
>>> Subject: A ham and his son electrocuted?
>>>
>>>
>>> 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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