doubles for cutout arms

[Arc Blast]

I am just curious all you utility lineman out there how many utilities out there hang a set of double arms for hanging cut outs and arrestors for banks.its one of those specs that we have that drive me crazy because its more work and material than is necessary and we make a perfect place for ravens and hawks to make nests which cause outages. We then spend a ridiculous amount of time patrolling knocking down nests to try to prevent these outages. I take it back its not our see spec buts its how they want it done. All they use the 2nd arm for is the ground wire for arrestors.

[reppy007]

Your not kidding R u:nightmare:....I wouldnt think anyone was still doing it that way...........it is 2014 u know.:nightmare:

[Pootnaigle]

Umm yeah that was also our spec on any xfmr bank even thou a cutout on each end of a single arm worked just fine

[lewy]

Sounds like a lot of work for nothing and I would think it would look like crap. This is what we do.

[Pootnaigle]

Sounds like a lot of work for nothing and I would think it would look like crap. This is what we do.

Umm that shonuff looks like crap

[bluestreak]

I am a firm believer in spreading things out to make it safer to work live, back in the late 60's the Co. went crazy for armless "chicken wings and ridge pin, all steel" built at 4.8 kv then converted to 23 kv tough to work around and still maintain safe distances. Everything now is 6pin arms 8pins for banks or fuse locations. as far as having to clean nests and stuff that is usually done dead after it kicks out the line because maintenance doesn't happen here anymore

[Lineman North Florida]

Umm that shonuff looks like crap I was thinking the same thing.

[Hebrew]

Waste of good material,if you ask me!

[SBatts]

I am just curious all you utility lineman out there how many utilities out there hang a set of double arms for hanging cut outs and arrestors for banks.its one of those specs that we have that drive me crazy because its more work and material than is necessary and we make a perfect place for ravens and hawks to make nests which cause outages. We then spend a ridiculous amount of time patrolling knocking down nests to try to prevent these outages. I take it back its not our see spec buts its how they want it done. All they use the 2nd arm for is the ground wire for arrestors.

Sounds like specs still used in hundreds if utilities nation wide. I can look out the window and see it here.

[Orgnizdlbr]

Umm that shonuff looks like crap

Yup!!!!!!!!!

[lewy]

I was probably a little over the top on saying double arms to hang cut outs looks like crap, but in my opinion armless construction looks better than cross arm construction. As most of our poles are accessible by a truck it is much easier to work live with our armless construction compared to arms. Our standards have changed a bit since that pic was taken, now all arrestors go on the can and we have a 3 phase switch bracket that looks very similar except it only requires 2 bolts. The things I look for in any transformer hook up and especially banks is how easy is it to operate after it is installed. With our setup it is easy to install and remove the leads as well as the fuses with everything being on the other side and facing 1 direction and you are away from the cans if something goes wrong. Finally I put something out there if you don't like it tell me what and why you don't like it and show us how you do it.

[US & CA Tramp]

What bothers me the most is that no body seems to believe in climbing space anymore. Bucket trucks or not I still like to work with climbing space on a pole.

[rob8210]

I have never had to build a power bank like the one in Lewy's picture. Every where I have worked the switches are mounted on a 3 phase cluster above the cans on the same side of the pole , some have the switch bracket angled just a bit to align the switches up with the primary bushing. Older installations have switches on the x-arm. A fella could easily climb up the back side of anything I have been involved in building, even though we rarely climb. I have no problem using an x-arm for the switches , either. Since I am a contractor I build to whatever the standards are. I would even build Lewy's bank , just because its their standard. Not my idea of smart , but I don't get to choose.

[lewy]

I have never had to build a power bank like the one in Lewy's picture. Every where I have worked the switches are mounted on a 3 phase cluster above the cans on the same side of the pole , some have the switch bracket angled just a bit to align the switches up with the primary bushing. Older installations have switches on the x-arm. A fella could easily climb up the back side of anything I have been involved in building, even though we rarely climb. I have no problem using an x-arm for the switches , either. Since I am a contractor I build to whatever the standards are. I would even build Lewy's bank , just because its their standard. Not my idea of smart , but I don't get to choose.
I guess you have not read or used Hydro Ones standards because they have been building it that way for a long time, as well as most of the province, there standards as well as ours call for the switch facing the other side of the pole as well as the lead being on the other side be it single or 3 phase. As far as hanging the switch over the bank it might be slightly easier to build but much more difficult to operate especially off the hooks and if the transformer were to have a major catastrophe I would rather be on the other side of the pole not directly under it or facing it.

[rob8210]

Well I can take pictures of lots of can poles that are not framed as you have shown. Yes I refer to standards books everyday!

[lewy]

Well I can take pictures of lots of can poles that are not framed as you have shown. Yes I refer to standards books everyday!
I can show pictures in our area that are not framed that way as well, but to say that you have never had to build a bank like that or that you don't think it is a smart way to build it, when that has been the standard for most of our province for sometime. I am curious to see your smarter way to build it in our province and still follow standards.

[Sigeline]

We hang our cutouts and arresters on fiberglass 3 phase equipment bracket on opposite side of bank. Why would you want to hang them directly above the pots on the same side. Just makes changing a pot out that much harder. Make room and clearance for the guys behind you. Distance and air is your friend.

[barehander]

What bothers me the most is that no body seems to believe in climbing space anymore. Bucket trucks or not I still like to work with climbing space on a pole.

Most of these guys don't understand climbing space!

[rob8210]

Nothing wrong with switches over top of the cans , you just need to leave enough room to hang the cans! And lots of climbing space on the back side!

[bobbo]

When the pole deteriorates and splits. And the your through bolt gets all loose. The guy that gets to close it while your 6 feet under has a little stiffer structure to close it. He would thank you.

[lewy]

Nothing wrong with switches over top of the cans , you just need to leave enough room to hang the cans! And lots of climbing space on the back side!
If the bank is at a dead end, otherwise it is so much easier with the switches on the other side. 1 easier to climb to get to the switches and operate them. 2 easier to change the whole bank or transformers without having the switches above. 3 and most importantly safer to operate if something goes wrong.