Reply With QuoteMy outfit had fault indicators installed on almost everthing . S.O.P was to try a fuse first . If it blew start checking fault indicators.
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trouble shooting underground
we run a one man touble crew when we get to the scene and the riser fuse is blown protocall is to go in about half way and pick a transformer or dogbox and install a fault inicator and also install the fiberoptic lead also so you dont have to take alot fo time opening the transformer . then go back to the riser and with dispatch's ok refuse and try . then if opens back up
call crew in and theywill thump the cable with the wizard and mark the spot dig up and repair..
My outfit had fault indicators installed on almost everthing . S.O.P was to try a fuse first . If it blew start checking fault indicators.
Never seen an indicator with a "fiber optic lead?" I take it's to hang under the door so ya don't have to open and close constantly????Originally Posted by Troubleman72
Some of the new ones we were getting right before I retired had a fiber link...drill a hole in the side of the door and the end slipped in it, so you could see it.............most of my troubleshooting them was sectionalize, and bust a cap until you found the bad run..........They're still doing that cause only the newest UG areas got the fault locaters
Old Lineman Never Die......We Just Don't Raise Our Booms As Often
URD Primary faults
Where I work URD Primary faults are generaly worked alone. It does not matter weather it is UG pole or switchgear. Go to first transformer and check for targets. If none use portable cable tester and test back to pole or switchgear. If you have a target tripped go to next transformer until faulted cable is found. Our cable tester shoots 12kv DC voltage through cable and will tell you most of the time when the cable is bad. On UG system will need at least two men to work manholes.
Live testing is usually last resort, if targets not working properly. Split loop in half and try fuse. If it blows open back up, close open point on other end and keep going backwards toward pole or gear.
UD trouble
We use fault indicators on the incoming cable in the tranx. They work well if they are reset after the trouble is isolated. Where I am it's very common for a troubleman to switch and isolate the trouble by himself. If the project feeds out if a cubicle we have flashing fault indicators and usually mechanical indicators on the cable itself. Our troublemen switch 3 phase and single phase alone all the time. Most underground faults are permanent so the troublemen know that it's a waste of time to just start busting fuses and trying to walk the trouble back to the normal open point. We are all pretty good about resetting the flags on our fault finders. There are times when we don't have a choice and we have to go through the whole project and reset all the indicators then run back to the pothead and bust a cap to see where we need to isolate but more often than not we can trust the flags. I would have to say that the troublemen where I work are some of the best at ud switching that I have ever been around.
We always use feed-thru's with our sticks when checking for bad cable.
back to the original question
Usually osha wont get involved unless theres a fatility,and i woudnt think they have anything to do as far as to shooting a loop or not.This i do know,if it blows or before getting on,anything you must get a urd switching order,that is one thing that will have to be shown if theres a serious accident.The decision to close or not is up to you,this is why you are working alone,you have that authority to make that decision.What happens next is also up to you,split the loop in half,pick up only the first span,or just pick up 3 or 4 pots.Everyone has a different approch,and theres alot of experienced urd guys on this website.A 12 kv loop has a greater chance of holding,while a 19.9 loop has a greater chance of blowing,use the method that you choose.Ive been there ,working alone on loops,sometimes couldnt get help due to the others were trying to get circuits on.Ive had lots of experienced though,gotten used to it all.But i can see that you are fairly new,due to the question of shooting or not,is the company your working for short on hands,or are they pushing the younger guys to work those positions?As far as fault indicaters go,ive never seen anyone install them on a loop that was out,sure when the loop is made up,ive seen that.Seen them installed on mostly loops that are hot.And havent ever seen a 1 man carry fault indicaters and told to install on a loop that is out due to trouble,most times he would locate and fix the fault,then get the lights on.
The problem with test-closing on half the loop is in our district it will sometimes bump the rest of the circuit, and the company don't like that.
Once our troubleman figures it to be a bad cable, others are called out to expedite getting the lights back on by testing, and switching/isolating the cable.
Our common practice is to energize the first piece of cable, and start our testing from there. Yes, we can still bump the circuit if the first piece is bad, but that's just the way we do it normally.
interesting
Thats interesting,that once he finds the bad cable,he just energizes the first span,still alot of work for a one man.I know different areas have different ways,and that is ok.We dont like operating the circuit either,but when closing a loop its just another common thing that might happen.Again it all depends on where and when the urd is out,sometimes we might have 5 loops out,sometimes 25 out and sometimes more.So basically they prefer us to give it a try after a storm.As for the troubleman,if he's alone,that makes his job more diffucult,Another guy working with you is a blessing ,ive heard dispatchers try to control the situation from their desk,and its a shame when a lineman will let them decide on what the lineman shall do or not do.
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