I would like to draw the overhead power lines on a map somewhat reasonably but not necessarily exact.
I'm not familiar with the different capacities and line separations.
Anybody want to guess with what the separation would be on a pole like this?
I realize it varies depending on how much juice they are running through the line.
It looks pretty typical of most of the power lines feeding homes around here.
You could shoot the lines in reflectorless mode.
I'm certain there are National and possibly International standards on this situation. Not sure exactly how to tract that down at ANSI (American National Standards Institute).
Yes, I am in drafting mode now.
I tried a quick google, but thought I probably could get better help here.
Looks like a 12KV distribution line, 6' crossarm. It looks like the line is continuing past the house, I'd have to see if there is a transformer between the pole and the house or if the house is even on the line to verify if it's already stepped down for the service drop.
Looks like 12KV though.
That line runs for miles into the country serving dozens of homes. Each home gets a transformer.
I would assume the separation would probably be the same if it was stepped down (min. width)?
Here is a close up of the insulators
To correctly shown them where they are you would need to locate them first.
No pole is the same height, or straight or plumb and each run of wire does not have the same swag.
When I worked on transmission lines we had to get the height of everything when they crossed other power lines (with chain and transit).
😉
Looks like a 35 ft. or 40 ft. pole with a 8 ft. xarm. I have never seen 6' xarms.
With 6 bells on the insulator it's probably around 13.2KV, 2 wires single phase. Shoot the pole at the ground on one side or another and don't get anal about the xarms or trying to describe the width.
Pablo B-)
Around here 7.2kV is standard single phase. I don't think we've got any 13.5kV single phase. It does vary around the country.
Aloha,
Uncle Paden is probably correct on the voltage. I don't see any transformer either to step up or step down the voltage...so it is same voltage. It seems like the extra arm was installed in such away to accommodate the sharp angle of the powerline direction. The wires just spliced there.
To be sure good check with the local utility company.
> Looks like a 35 ft. or 40 ft. pole with a 8 ft. xarm. I have never seen 6' xarms.
> With 6 bells on the insulator it's probably around 13.2KV, 2 wires single phase. Shoot the pole at the ground on one side or another and don't get anal about the xarms or trying to describe the width.
>
> Pablo B-)
Yep, I misspoke on the 6'. I've only seen 6' on service drops, whereas this is a 12KV. The small bells on the connection point isn't quite as telling as the single bell on the top of the crossarm.
Give it 4' on each side of the pole, should be just fine. In shooting the pole I'd do a couple of offsets if using a GPS, or take a distance and turn the angle to the centerpoint though. Putting a GPS rover up against the pole, or taking a position next to the pole can raise some questions regarding deflection angles of the line.
Working for PG&E and PP&L we let the easement verbage cover the downguys (anchors) etc. and never worried about the leaning pole or xarms etc. Sometimes the downguys would go outside the limits of the easement but no big deal since the mere existence of the power line is a form of acceptance and the assumption it is appurtenant to the land owner. Turlock is near my old stompin grounds. Hope you all get some rain out there.
Pablo B-)
For the width, wait till midday and measure the shadow. I doubt the line itself would make a shadow but the insulators should.
James
I worked on locating the lines between poles over a residential lot in the Greenwood Village area of Denver as a part of a lawsuit. The lot owner, checking the depth of water in a backyard well with a long pole, was shocked by contacting or coming into close proximity with the overhead line. He was not killed but his hands were seriously injured. As I recall the line was 0.2' inside the easement, this was the early 1970's. I learned to pay attention to the crossmembers and the lean and I try to pass that along to others.
Surveyed many accident sites where there were victims. The xarm and location in reference to the easement lines were never questioned. The big question is the point of contact with the wire and was it was within the national electric code ground clearance standards per voltage. Still made no difference...insurance companies always paid when there is a fatality.
Pablo B-)
Thank you, all informative responses.
This information will be used on a utility map for a road project (showing existing and proposed utilities).
I mainly wanted to show the overhead lines on the map and figured I would learn something if I asked here.