Spacer Installation on 765,000 volt line
Why Hacker News recommends it
Cited as a striking example of live-line work and of potential equalization, with the air as the insulator.
What it is
Helmet-camera footage of linemen installing a spacer on an energized 765,000 volt transmission line, working from a helicopter. The crew bonds on and off the live wire as part of the job.
Recommended by 0 HN commenters across 0 different months, 2018 to 2022.
What Hacker News said
Cites small_mind · 2018-12 · on “I Was a Cable Guy. I Saw the Worst of America”
Mmmm, but sometimes I've contemplated the hypothetical worst case scenarios for having to support a copper/fiber plant deployment, and what that might actually look like, once you get out into the residential field. I'm not saying I'm casting a sympathetic eye toward conglomerate post-monopoly abominations like Verizon & AT&T. Far from it. What I am saying is that as nerds, we really only want to think it looks like this: [this video] [LINK] But actually, it's more often closer to waiting tables for no tips, in homes consumed by pet smells, infested by perverts, losers and arm chair quarterbacks, pissed off that they've elected to pay for systems that can still suffer outages, just like any vague
Cites nosianu · 2019-08 · on “Why we ground electrical systems (2015)”
Yes. That's why this is possible, here the insulation is the air between helicopter and ground: [this video] If that guy was connected to the earth he would get fried. Note that you still have to equalize whatever potential there is between you and the system, like they do in that video. Same reason why you should ground yourself and the hardware before working on your PC. Ever had a tiny spark hit you when you touched something (neither you or that "thing" being connected to the electrical grid, just static electricity e.g. from walking on the carpet)? But without connection to ground the only thing that happens is equalization of the potential between you and the target but no further flow. If
Cites ISL · 2022-04 · on “A helicopter will try to catch a rocket booster mid-air”
Power-line work on live transmission lines always seems incredibly bonkers. [this video] [LINK] Let's fly a massive chainsaw beside a powerline. That'll be safe: [LINK]