Using both the MFJ offering for the purpose (VHF) and a 0.5-Meter shielded
loop coupled to a small battery-operated radio tuned to the peak frequency
of the emissioin, a faulty lightning arrestor was isolated in the fields
north of Longmont, Colorado. Both technologies zeroed in on the same
pole. It's always good to use a couple of different search options to
increase the chances of truly isolating problems.
Dave - WØLEV
On Mon, Jan 11, 2021 at 8:41 PM K9MA <k9ma@sdellington.us> wrote:
> I've tracked line noise to lightning arrestors, though sometimes I've
> been able to hear ultrasonic noise. However, as others have pointed out,
> any two poorly bonded pieces of metal near the lines can cause noise,
> and it's quite possible the arc is behind something blocking the
> ultrasonic noise.
>
> Of course, it's always crucial to make absolutely sure you are tracking
> the right source by correlating its behavior with what's really
> bothering you back at the station. It sounds like you have already done
> this, though. My favorite method is to relay the noise from the station
> receiver so I can hear it when I'm standing by the pole with the VHF and
> ultrasonic trackers. There are almost always fluctuations in the noise,
> which will match when you have the right source.
>
> 73,
> Scott K9MA
>
>
>
> On 1/11/2021 1:20 PM, Charles Plunk wrote:
> > Long Story but will try to keep it to my point. I have triangulated my
> > power line arc to a pole. Fairly typical 3 phase old residential but
> > busy pole. Insulators, disconnects, lightning arresters, a
> > transformer, etc. Pole is a junction as the 3 phase goes off in 3
> > directions from that pole. Arc is not affected by rain. And I cannot
> > hear it with my ultrasonic dish. In the past I have pinpointed bad
> > hardware on other poles with the dish.
> >
> > I suspect the lightning arresters. There are 3 on there, one for each
> > phase and I assume very little way I could tell which one. Rural
> > utility, knows little about and/or is not concerned about arc rfi
> > other than past dealings with me and TVA (power distributor who does
> > have rfi location capabilities but is rather difficult to get them out
> > to do).
> >
> > And now the arc is intermittent. Today its pulsing about every second.
> > Next week it may get solid for a while or go away entirely. And of
> > course if TVA comes out, it will be gone.
> >
> > What hardware, other than lightning arresters (arcing internally)
> > would not be affected by rain and I could not hear with the dish?
> >
> > Would it be reasonable enough to ask the util to replace the lightning
> > arresters before bugging TVA?
> >
> > Any thoughts appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Chuck
> > AF4O
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > RFI mailing list
> > RFI@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>
>
> --
> Scott K9MA
>
> k9ma@sdellington.us
>
> _______________________________________________
> RFI mailing list
> RFI@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>
--
*Dave - WØLEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*
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