[RFI] Fwd: Thanks and RFI behind 637 Clifft Street (UPDATE)

[Charles Plunk]

Woops did not mean to send this to the list, moderator please delete but 
probably too late

Chuck

W4NBO


On 10/13/21 3:42 PM, Charles Plunk wrote:
> Good Afternoon Randy,
>
> Yesterday a 450mhz yagi portable directional antenna came in that I 
> ordered. 120hz arc RFI diminishes with frequency. Thus if you can hear 
> it at a higher frequency it makes more precise triangulation possible 
> once near the suspected source.
>
> Prior to now I had primarily been doing my triangulation's at 145mhz 
> and below.
>
> Today, I still am triangulating on the pole behind 637 Clifft Street 
> and at 450mhz this becomes very apparent. I get the strongest signal 
> at the top of the pole, no surprise there since that is the 7.2kv 
> area. Since I cannot hear it with ultrasonic, I am speculating that 
> one of the connections (transformer and lightning arrester) underneath 
> the critter guards is the cause, maybe loose. Or possible the 
> insulator or lightning arrester has a crack in it.
>
> At any rate, thought I would update you on my findings. I surveyed all 
> the nearby poles and they are all quiet at 450mhz.
>
> Its the pole behind the old wood shop building at 637 Clifft with 
> jungle like growth.
>
> Thanks,
> Chuck
>
>
>
>
>
>
> One more note; After doing 4 triangulation's on different days, I 
> still center on the pole behind 637 Clifft Street. However, the next 
> pole east I get about 2/3's the strength readings. Poles either side 
> of those 2 drops off drastically. So if nothing is found on the pole 
> behind 637 Clifft, then please check the next one east.
>
> Just wanted to add that.
>
> Appreciate very much,
>
> Chuck
>
>
>
> On 10/7/21 7:03 PM, Charles Plunk wrote:
>>
>> Good Evening Randy (or whomever is checking Randy's email while he is 
>> away),
>>
>> Thanks for the repairs today and finding the bad (cracked) 
>> disconnect. I am encouraged that will solve the RFI on that pole. The 
>> young man I spoke to was very courteous and confident he found the 
>> issue as well. I will monitor it over time.
>>
>>
>> The RFI on the pole behind 637 Clifft Street remains though. Just 
>> wanted to make sure you knew the disconnect did not fix this second 
>> issue in case you need to do another request. I triangulated it 
>> yesterday again for more than an hour, after I spoke to the crew, 
>> using increasingly higher frequencies and still centered on this pole 
>> behind 637 Clifft Street. Its just about got to be on the few pieces 
>> of single phase hardware on the 7.2kv side of the transformer. A 
>> instructor in RFI for Utilities advised this below;
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -------------
>> Going by your notes, a single phase pole with nothing but a pole top 
>> pin and a ground is probably one of two things.
>> Most common and most likely would be the staple and they shouldn't be 
>> hammered in they should be removed and replaced so the new staple is 
>> in fresh wood and will be tight for a long time.
>>
>> The second source will be one of the bolts holding the pole top pin. 
>> Commonly one is a through bolt that goes all the way through the pole 
>> with a nut and washer on the backside and often the second one is a 
>> lag which is no more than a very large wood screw that always comes 
>> loose.
>>
>> At any rate I would suggest they tighten both pole top pins and 
>> replace the Staples maybe the first three or four from the top. 
>> Sometimes hammering The staples in will work and sometimes only 
>> temporarily. Other times not at all. /
>> /
>>
>> It's unlikely to be a tie wire or the insulator unless it's been 
>> struck by lightning which is a possibility and frequently you can 
>> tell with binoculars that the top of the insulator is now White where 
>> the coating has been burned off of it by the lightning. If it's 
>> insulated conductor then that would be the most likely source that 
>> isn't detectable with ultrasound (/Note; I could not hear it with 
>> Ultrasound)/, because the arcing is through the rubber and on top of 
>> the insulator where it can't be seen.
>>
>> If it's a bare conductor and the tie wire is insulated then ask them 
>> to remove about 4 inches of the insulation from the tie wire and 
>> twist that end of the tie wire tightly on to the line and then that 
>> will solve that problem. I'd love to see a picture of that pole 
>> standing under the line looking straight up so you can see both sides 
>> of the pole.
>>
>> At any rate these items will definitely cover that pole and you're 
>> fortunate, if that is the source pole, to have such an easy pull to 
>> resolve an issue on.
>>
>> Best wishes and I look forward to hearing the result
>>
>> -----------
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Chuck
>>
>> 655 Clifft Street
>>
>>
>>
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