[TowerTalk] Power lines, hawks, and fire ignition (slightly off-topic)

[Peter Larsen]

>Could somebody please explain how a
>single high-tension AC wire can ignite a hawk? (Yuck.) Where does the
>current flow -- I mean, between what and what?

Depending on the pole used and the line voltage, all the hawk needs to
do is touch the pole and the wire. Big puff of flaming bird and fire.
End of story!!

OK if I may be permitted, once I was up a copper sulfate treated
pole and as a lark I hooked my volt meter from my spur to
the secondary line. Guess what, 120 volts no problem.
Now if you touch 25,000 volts with one wing and the pole with
the other...  Boom.

Any old lineman will quiver at that sound (and some of us younger guys too).

As a side note, a Richardson's Ground Squirrel climbed into the
capacitors in a local substation today. The smoke could be seen for miles.

Please keep all of your antennas and towers at least twice the height of
them
away from power lines.

Imagine if you were this gopher!!
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