Copper to Ally

[bren guzzi]

Pulled the old copper out today.replacing it with aluminium .
35 mm copper out...50mm ally in.
Used old wire to pull in the " obviously". :D

[Lineman North Florida]

The copper you are taking out is probably twice as good as the aluminum you are replacing it with.

[bren guzzi]

The copper you are taking out is probably twice as good as the aluminum you are replacing it with.

I agree. I'm just a number. On jobs like this. " I'm paid from the neck down." :rolleyes:

[BigClive]

Hmm, it does seem like step in the wrong direction. Is the copper old and brittle? I don't really see it being an improvement in any way let alone current carrying capability. It's just going to open up that old can of worms regarding aluminiums tendency to have more issues with electrical joints.

[busman]

I'm sure I'm misunderstanding the measurements, but isn't 50mm about 2 inches? Is that some sort of cross-sectional measurement?

Also, I'm curious about why all the man-lifts shown in your photos have the attachment to the boom at the bottom of the bucket? Here in the US, they mostly seem to be mounted at the top rim (including my VersaLift). Any thoughts? It just looks unstable, although I'm sure it's a fine design.

Mark

[Rob]

I'm sure I'm misunderstanding the measurements, but isn't 50mm about 2 inches? Is that some sort of cross-sectional measurement?

Also, I'm curious about why all the man-lifts shown in your photos have the attachment to the boom at the bottom of the bucket? Here in the US, they mostly seem to be mounted at the top rim (including my VersaLift). Any thoughts? It just looks unstable, although I'm sure it's a fine design.

Mark

Tough to say looking at that picture but that looks like 3 stranded copper... We've replaced that in area's with 3/0 AL

[Hebrew]

I'm sure I'm misunderstanding the measurements, but isn't 50mm about 2 inches? Is that some sort of cross-sectional measurement?

Also, I'm curious about why all the man-lifts shown in your photos have the attachment to the boom at the bottom of the bucket? Here in the US, they mostly seem to be mounted at the top rim (including my VersaLift). Any thoughts? It just looks unstable, although I'm sure it's a fine design.

Mark

That would be area of the cross section 50mm squared.Conductor would be about 8mm in diameter,about half inch

[busman]

That would be area of the cross section 50mm squared.Conductor would be about 8mm in diameter,about half inch

Got it. I thought it might be an area measurement. Here it is in circular mils or MCM for 1,000 circular mils. Circular mil is the area of a circle with a diameter of 1 mil. It keeps PI out of the math.

Thanks,

Mark

[bren guzzi]

I'm sure I'm misunderstanding the measurements, but isn't 50mm about 2 inches? Is that some sort of cross-sectional measurement?

Also, I'm curious about why all the man-lifts shown in your photos have the attachment to the boom at the bottom of the bucket? Here in the US, they mostly seem to be mounted at the top rim (including my VersaLift). Any thoughts? It just looks unstable, although I'm sure it's a fine design.

Mark

We've a few different bucket trucks.. I think it's because our poles ain't so high that they are mounted this way.. They seem to mount them to suit the vehicle .. Mostly land rover or similar.
And " Hebrew" explained the conductor size perfectly The copper that we are changing is three strand.. Mind you the ally looks neat when complete.

[Lineman North Florida]

We've a few different bucket trucks.. I think it's because our poles ain't so high that they are mounted this way.. They seem to mount them to suit the vehicle .. Mostly land rover or similar.
And " Hebrew" explained the conductor size perfectly The copper that we are changing is three strand.. Mind you the ally looks neat when complete.

Out of curiousity why was the one jumper run underneath the arm and the other two run over the arm on jumper pins?

[bren guzzi]

Two over the top .... The middle always goes over the top . Also because its an angle there is a guy one side ..so that goes over the top. ( All for electrical clearence ) the inside angle goes underneath because it is clear of the pole and no guy wire to clear. If its a straight through section pole ..both outters go underneath.

[bren guzzi]

Today we started changing this pole.after finishing another pole change... The wire on top is going..
replaced with a UG cable. And fitting a single phase transformer.
the pole is rotten and full of woodpecker holes. Dropped centre phase on the line to the left to enable us to get new pole up ..with x arm etc already built on the ground.
I've one linesman and a new ( 53 year old ) digger driver " who has never put up a pole in his " long life " ...... And me ....trying to get the equipment and materials keep the man on the pole supplied with all the stuff he needs up there. Plumb the pole. Do all the ground work. And try and keep the " new man" from killing my only lineman.... Will finish it in the morning..HOPEFULLY.. :D

[Pootnaigle]

Today we started changing this pole.after finishing another pole change... The wire on top is going..
replaced with a UG cable. And fitting a single phase transformer.
the pole is rotten and full of woodpecker holes. Dropped centre phase on the line to the left to enable us to get new pole up ..with x arm etc already built on the ground.
I've one linesman and a new ( 53 year old ) digger driver " who has never put up a pole in his " long life " ...... And me ....trying to get the equipment and materials keep the man on the pole supplied with all the stuff he needs up there. Plumb the pole. Do all the ground work. And try and keep the " new man" from killing my only lineman.... Will finish it in the morning..HOPEFULLY.. :D
Umm peice of cake shud be dun before breakfast is served

[cedar stick]

Out of curiousity why was the one jumper run underneath the arm and the other two run over the arm on jumper pins?

Looks like to me the center phase is d.e. on the pole and needs a glass. perhaps an issue w/the guy attachment on the outside phase.

[Lineman North Florida]

Looks like to me the center phase is d.e. on the pole and needs a glass. perhaps an issue w/the guy attachment on the outside phase.

Yeah Bren explained it, I have seen some co-op's do it that way before as well, I have just always been used to building them all 3 across the top of the arms for working it hot, They have different work practices.

[bren guzzi]

Finished that pole today.. Took a bit longer than expected "POOT" the cable guys made the cable to short so we had to add the extra arm to carry the wire down to the cable. ( can't be more than around four feet " unsupported " ) plus that effected the position of every thing else. Hard work with only one linesman.. The last picture is of " Poots tranny wired by the other couple of linesmen. ( changed photo setting. Might help ) :D

[Pootnaigle]

Umm what no cable stretcher?

[bren guzzi]

Umm what no cable stretcher?

No Poot. It's his day off. .. :eek:

[neil macgregor]

much money did you get from the scrappy

[bren guzzi]

much money did you get from the scrappy

Nuffink...... Gotta be paid into a bank account now.. No cash for copper anymore .. :(

[SBatts]

This is what the big boys work with. I have been expecting the stainless steel clamps to break one night and kill Ruby and me with shrapnel.

[Pootnaigle]

Ummm what do the big boyz use to cut that stuff with?

[Hebrew]

This is what the big boys work with. I have been expecting the stainless steel clamps to break one night and kill Ruby and me with shrapnel.

Cheez,what is the kCMil(MCM) value of that conductor,what do you tension it with?Whew,I am exhausted just looking at that sample!

[bluestreak]

Looks like 2156 Bluebird, the Co. ran a bunch of that in the sixties on 345 kv single then they ran 1272 bundled. The only place I've seen 2156 bundled is at a nuke plant from the station to the switchyard, Never ran any personally but worked it changing ins. and repairing bullet holes even pulled a hunting arrow out once, late eighties did a lot of splice replacements after the Co. started to infared the lines found a few hundred hot.

[SBatts]

60586059
Looks like 2156 Bluebird, the Co. ran a bunch of that in the sixties on 345 kv single then they ran 1272 bundled. The only place I've seen 2156 bundled is at a nuke plant from the station to the switchyard, Never ran any personally but worked it changing ins. and repairing bullet holes even pulled a hunting arrow out once, late eighties did a lot of splice replacements after the Co. started to infared the lines found a few hundred hot.

Sorry bluestreak, this isn't 2156 Bluebird, This wire is 3.5 million which weights 5.712 PER FOOT 80 STRANDS OF STEEL CORE ABOUT 148 STRANDS OF ALUM OR 5,712 PER 1,000 FT When I say about hard to count them all, after cuting it with a chop saw.
BLUEBIRD IS 84 x 0.1602 19 x 0.0961 STRAND 1,000 FT WEIGHTS 2508 LBS. I don’t know if the deadend bells were special order, but if I remember they were 15 or 20,000 lb bells and 4 strings hooked into X plates, and Wolfie wanted a picture of the 6’ turn buckle and it took three of us to stand it on end. After he said he had it we let go and it almost fell and killed him. There is no call for this wire any place except long spans like this one over the Mississippi River. There were only 5 spans of this wire before it deadended again in a switching/substation, transferring to bundle conductor. We planned every move in advance, only because one slipup screwed the pooch and there was no replacing anything. The three of us in the picture was paid Kansas scale, transportation, both ways, living expenses, and 12 hours a day for 10 hours work. We had to be classified lineman to be in the air, but was paid General Foreman wages. Union contracts tell the least amount a contractor pays. When they want the right people that is another story. That is what it took Donovan Line Construction, to get The Wolfman, Rollie Ellis (Rest in Peace) and me to come to Saint Francisville Louisiana in the summer time. I didn’t take many pictures, because Wolfie and a $600 35mm Camera snapping away. The dummy left it in his van in Baton Rouge Louisiana after all this was done, and sure enough it was stolen. Two of those towers was a nice climb every morning. Including the 35’ or 40’ footers the static was at the 800’ level.

POOT There was no Chain hoist that would dead this wire. It took a 6 ton and 3 ton hoist to pick it out of the traveler and clip it in. They even concreted in 4 anchor to secure the sagging rig. The wire came with a factory pressed pulling eye for each phase, and the wire was sagged, marked, and, caught off on tower with two ¾” 150’ cables and two 16 bolt pocket book grips furnished by ALCOA. The end of the conductor was lowered to the ground and cut with a chop saw, and the deadend still core was pressed and the body was filled with hot zinc, cooled and then pressed. All with New ALCOA 100 ton press and dies, with the ALCOA Representative standing there telling us every move. (Yes it is hard to take with as many deadends that the three of us had cut) Each deadend took about six hours to press and cool to press the second press. Then the 88 bells, plates, turn buckles, and shackles was all raised with the sagging rig loosening the grips and then a fairy boat ride to the black ***** house for a beer. Which is a whole other story.
This Bridge Replaced the Saint Francisville Ferry. You can look north ans see the towers and Cajun II Powerplant. You can also google up to the power plant on Cajun Road.
Latitude: 30°43'11.82"N Longitude: 91°21'10.92"W

[bobbo]

I love that little circular platform with the guy in the white hat. And the second picture how did you get there, I figure you had to clip it and you couldn't coon the bells. And what was the tension at for that big stuff? That job I would be proud of for the rest of my life. In fact I would take my kids and wife on vacation and point to those structures and say I built that! Your a real lineman!