[TowerTalk] Close call with death

[Randy]

I've told this story before, but, I'll do it again.

FPL needs to change something with their underground HV lines. They 
"locate" the line at
the designated point, and then do what they call "punching" the line-- 
they use a special
Porta-Power attachment to punch thru the outer insulation and the two 
"shields", as well
as what THEY call "semiconductor", all to insure that there's no live 
connection to the
center lead, or any capacitive charge between the various layers. The 
attachment to the
Porta-power is connected to a driven ground rod.

The Porta-power op assumes position, the FPL linemen hunker down behind 
their trucks...
and... all goes well. Until the Porta-power guy utters those words we 
all know, all too well:
"Oh, sh1t." Yep, that FPL HV line was really a telco 100 pair cable. The 
"locate" was apparently
done well... it was just that the telco line was in the same trench, 
above it. And the Porta Power
punched thru it quite nicely.

Randy
KZ4RV


On 1/15/2011 10:21 PM, Mickey Baker wrote:
> Drawings or not, as a ham, you should know where things cross your property
>
> and where the easements are before you dig. In most places, these
> call-before-you-dig services will come mark everything for free. Sketch it
> out for yourself or hire a surveyor to place it on a survey.
>
> Don't ever dig in the easement or pound ground rods unless you know the
> location of everything. . Most public utilities make a concerted effort not
>
> to use private property without a legal easement, except for your own
> services... but it happens, so be safe rather than sorry.
>
> If the orange is a communications fiber bundle, that's a big one and lot of
>
> people are happy you didn't cut it.
>
> If it were power, you are happy you didn't cut it.
>
> Be careful out there!
>
> Mickey N4MB
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 15, 2011 at 5:05 PM, Michael Hatzakis<lists at hatzakis.net>wrote:
>
>> Its my belief that as a ham, whether you're digging a base for a tower, or
>> driving ground rods, you need to go to city hall and get the surveying
>> drawings for your house.  Most houses have these as part of their
>> paperwork,
>> but if not, most cities and municipalities have these drawings easily
>> available.  Bad idea to do anything in backyard without this info.  When we
>> built our tower, we HAD to show these as part of our permit to build the
>> tower base.  I am sure there are plenty of people on TT with more info on
>> this.
>>
>> mh
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
>> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Alan NV8A
>> Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 1:55 PM
>> To: towertalk reflector
>> Cc: K2VI
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Close call with death
>>
>> On 01/15/11 04:34 pm, K2VI wrote:
>>
>>> Post hole digging to install the pipe in ground for the 43' zero five
>> vertical. I disregarded the 1.5 inch fence post and used the scedule 40
>> 1.25
>> I.D gavanized pipe. When digging i was about 38" down when i hit something
>> hard. Hit it a few times thinking it was a root. Well i realized it was
>> probably a rock and reached down and dug some dirt out to find out it was
>> an
>> orange heavy plastic pipe about 1" 1/8 . Also next to it was a 1" black
>> tube. Im not sure if it was a huge power line but glad i didn't bust
>> through. I just threw down some garden rocks and cemented the pipe in just
>> above the underground lines. So im sure this will hold up firm when the
>> cement cures. As far as grounding. I did drive an 8" ground rod next to the
>> pipe about 10" away. I know i have to connect the ground rod to the radial
>> plate but wondering about connection the antenna to the ground rod. If i
>> connect a wire from the UNUN box on the antenna side and run it to the
>> ground rod won't it couple to the
>>   ra
>>>    dial plate? Since both the radial plate and antenna connect to the
>> ground rod in essence they are now both coupled together. Im in the dark
>> here. Can someone please help me out here. I would greatly apreciate the
>> help. thank to all. 73
>>
>> Did you call "Miss Digg" first -- or whatever it's called around your way?
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Alan NV8A
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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>
>