Hotsticking and climbing

[terry52]

In the process of researching an article, looking for feedback on the art of climbing and trade practice.
Does your organization perform hotstick operations? If so, what voltage level determines whether you glove hand or stick? Thoughts and feelings on working different voltages via both.
As far as climbing, there are some who believe that climbing is a thing of the past, that it is too dangerous. Thoughts? What voltage level can be climbed and worked live?
Without getting too specific, please reference a part of the country (or world) that you work in.
Thanks.

[T-Man]

Climbing is not totally dead, there are too many poles set on private property. A bucket can't get to those. Now there are private property buckets, but they have limits too. Sometimes we have to get an outage with grounds to work those poles. So what voltages can we work from a pole?

my utility only gloved live up to 4800/8320 one phase at a time from the pole.

We could stick 7620/13.200 from the pole. Or glove from an insulated bucket.

We work 14.400/24.900 with hot sticks or gloved from insulated buckets. Or we got a hold off clearance and grounds to work it de-energized.

[bluestreak]

Gloving off pole 5KV. out of tested bucket 23KV. anything else sticks, the company was doing 345 barehand but stopped it because of some problems with someone taking shortcuts the program was put on hold a couple of years ago.

[reppy007]

Climbing is here to stay,at least in this area,lots and lots of poles that are not truck accessible....I do see someone inventing a portable lift that lineman will use.Ive seen places....towns and cities that have those ally-ways all over .We have some but ,so few that its not worth it to mention it....mostly in the real old areas.As far as hot sticking goes this area they hotstick only 34.5 or 12kv if your transfering primary from a pole.....The utility hotsticks 34.5 from buckets.....all the time....no...but thats the rule....Contractors are susposed to hotstick 34.5 but ,often they wont.I understand the rule and all,but if the bucket is rated for he higher voltage and your equipped with rubber gloves that are rated for higher voltage I see nothing wrong with gloving.....Thats as long as the lineman is experienced......Ive seen guys ok with 12kv and terrified with 34.5......until they have worked around it for a period of time.

[lewy]

In most places you can only rubber glove up to 5kv phase to phase off the pole. For us up to 15kv phase to phase can be rubber gloved off the pole on a insulated board and any voltage above 35kv phase to phase has to worked with sticks or bare hand. You can use sticks on any voltage off the pole, sometimes we will combine techniques.

[bren guzzi]

Spent all day today on spikes. .. We never work live although some specialist crews do. We are mainly involved in new builds ( off line )
we have to use a bucket " if we can " but not always possible due to terrain.
I'm 52 this year..been up several poles today IN THE RAIN ....
good night !!!!!...

Ps got a new phone with better camera.. Waiting on case for it. As soon as ... I will be posting more pics.

[Old Line Dog]

Glovin over 5KV off the pole.

Honestly, I think this is WAY overblown. I've gloved 7.62 off the pole, quite a few times, with 35KV tested gloves. And honestly?
I would rate the "Safety Factor" right at 100%.

I'm not sayin this was, or is a Daily occurance,.....
but I do believe, with, correct Cover up material, and appropriate safety equipment...Yes, on occasion, gloving 7.62, or 7.2 off the pole is acceptable, and completely Safe.

I honestly can't count how many 3 phase straight line poles I've changed out crossarms on that were 7.2 KV. Off the pole.

Does anybody use "Hot Arms" Anymore???
BTW...there is No 5KV. What you're talkin about is glovin 4.16KV off the pole.

Again...I'm glad I'm retired.
You don't need Linemen with my thinkin nowdays....

Nice to still be able to speak my piece though.

[Rob]

[QUOTE=bren guzzi;140951]Spent all day today on spikes. .. We never work live although some specialist crews do. We are mainly involved in new builds ( off line )
we have to use a bucket " if we can " but not always possible due to terrain.
I'm 52 this year..been up several poles today IN THE RAIN ....
good night !!!!!...



Bren... These " Specialist Crews"... Is there training different than yours? This is the first time I've heard you mention these crews, other than the engineers.

[bren guzzi]

[QUOTE=Rob;140963]

Spent all day today on spikes. .. We never work live although some specialist crews do. We are mainly involved in new builds ( off line )
we have to use a bucket " if we can " but not always possible due to terrain.
I'm 52 this year..been up several poles today IN THE RAIN ....
good night !!!!!...



Bren... These " Specialist Crews"... Is there training different than yours? This is the first time I've heard you mention these crews, other than the engineers.

they receive different training.. And obviously their trucks are kitted out for the tasks they are doing.
i used to work on transmission " towers" live for the national grid.
400;000 volts. Out of the helicopter. The grid had two teams when I was with them.
Because we are "ONLY CONTRACTORS" the live line will always be done " in house" ...
we work for Scotish power... And they will only use their own employees to do live line...and make them " switching engineers..


Scotish power are the utility ....we are the contractors working for the utility ... I've worked for utility's and contracted...
I prefer contracting.

[Rob]

Understood... I've worked for both to. Currently working for a Utility but that could change at any time. We have several different contractors working on the property.