Operating 345 000 Volt switches!

Hey Everyone!
Hope you're all having a great summer! It's been a crazy busy first week back, not that I expected any different.
While off on vacation, the guys switched out this 345kv line. I was driving home near the end of the day when I got a phone call to head to the 345kv switch yard. It's not often I work or even touch this equipment anymore, so I figured I'd get a few shots of the switching process.
Cheers all!
** These video's are NOT intended for training or D.I.Y. Only properly trained and authorized personal are allowed to work on this equipment. Always adhere to work methods and procedures particular to the company you are working for. **
Be safe Everyone. Cheers! 🥂
Don't forget to drop a 👊 along with where you're watching
➡ / bobsdecline
#Bobsdecline, #Beingalineman, #Lineman

[@Bobsdecline]

I apologize guys :( Kept saying 347KV at the start of the video, it's actually 345 KV! In my defense, I had just finished up troubleshooting a 347v service 😅 and tbh, a voltage check would probably show numbers closer to 347kv than 345kv 😇! It's not often us distribution guys work on this stuff, but man do I ever miss it sometimes... especially tower work!💪💪 Have a great weekend all!🍻👊

[@TrafficBuster]

Hi Brother can i get the SF6 circuit Breaker current rating and make of the SF6 please...

[@neur303]

Is there a technical reason for 345 vs 347 kV considering this difference is not even a percent or is this a legacy thing?

[@matthewbeasley7765]

@@neur303 345kV is the standard voltage on the preferred North American list: 69kV, 115kV, 138kV, 230kV, 345kV & 500kV. There are others out there but those are the preferred ones. 347V (not kV) is the line to neutral voltage for low voltage industrial / commercial services in Canada.

[@j2o3sh]

We all do that with other technical stuff lol

[@neur303]

@Mattew Beasley Thank you a lot for the clarification. I assumed kV instead of V. My mistake. So I looked it up. Interesting fact to me is that Canada seems to have 3 voltage levels for 3 phase mains. In Europe we almost only have 230/400V. I assume 120/208V is inconvenient to handle industrially, so 347/600V makes a lot of sense. Thanks again.

[@miketrissel5494]

I loved how you so calmly said, "This little strap will take the BRUNT of the voltage if something goes wrong" I was working as an industrial electrician at a company in North Canton, Ohio 30 years ago. When I arrived at the switchgear (69KV), I was told it was off and locked out by the electrical engineer and the head electrician at this plant location. I was rather young and new, but as I looked at the bars, they appeared to be fully closed. I argued for some time, to no avail and then grabbed a JLG, to cautiously, from a distance, go up high enough to have a better look. I got about 25' away from the down lines, and the low voltage volt pen in my shirt pocket, went berserk, beeping like it was going to explode. I wrote the company president, after I changed my shorts, and we finally got a training program.🙄

[@nofbi8582]

Oh, that's.. yeah that's bad

[@Smedley1947]

So it caused you to generate some "trouser chili"?

[@Sven745]

Where I'm from the rule is: if head electrician or anyone on that matter is allowing you to work, you can demand he first touches the cables / bars he has stated are offline.

[@-falcon2029]

​@@Sven745 holy that's smart

[@DaylightRobberyCA]

@@Sven745makes a lot of sense… that said, are there any other methods for ZEV that don’t involve direct touch?

[@alainmulaire9471]

This guy's a huge asset to NBPower and a credit to his profession. It's great to see and try to get some understanding of the intricacies of the power grid. It's a complicated, tedious, and dangerous job, but it's great to see the dedication and professionalism of these people.

[@Bobsdecline]

Appreciate the comments very much! 🙏🤝

[@linehandibew6205]

Now we know what company he works for. Guy dropped the ball eh

[@apollorobb]

@@linehandibew6205 I've known what company he works for for years it isn't a big deal people knowing he just doesn't advertise it . He works on the east coast of Canada it isn't hard to figure out lol

[@linehandibew6205]

@@apollorobb it’s messing around because he blurs it out in every video

[@Mister_Brown]

@@linehandibew6205 the issue isn't knowing what company he works for the issue is showing the logo in a video of something terrible happening and people associating the two

[@MCLIcpfan000]

The noise alone makes the hair on my neck rise. Thank you to you and all of the linemen that keep everything powered on.

[@whiteknightcat]

And that was just the static charge on the de-energized line!

[@geniusmarcsays2434]

hair of the neck? ....first time i hear that

[@Delibro]

I love that noise, it sounds so powerful and regular.

[@jayslater3964]

I never got used to that noise in the switchyards or on the transformers, or on just about any of our equipment over 480v. I was an operator at the Wolf Creek Generating Station in Ks. I got to the plant one evening when basically we weren't doing anything but baby setting. We started in heavily bringing systems online about a year later. Anyway, a 13.8 kv line suffered a phase to phase short just about 15 minutes before I got there and it was the 345 kv plant feed breaker that finally tripped to isolate the fault. But it ate up 2 13.8 kv breakers in the process. It was a mess. Major fried equipment. Delayed us getting online for 6 months. We were only running 4 man shifts when this happened. Everyone was rotating in & out of training I had to spend about an hour in the switchyard that night and the coronas just always made me nervous. But I do miss those days.

[@asn413]

the hum has always fascinated me. an invisible sleeping monster "i am here, i am dangerous, come no closer."

[@gummy1204]

"Everything sounds like it's energized" That statement alone is frankly terrifying.

[@jeffgriffith7003]

That arcing when the switches were not quite closed yet was pretty freaking sweet!

[@Bobsdecline]

That's only picking up line load! Aka: energizing the lines... Actually load would be devestating to the equipment 😟

[@wayneschroeder4586]

@@Bobsdecline I was going to bring that up. What was the arcing for? Is it literally just the lines leading up to the breakers coming up to the same potential, like, hey, welcome to the club?

[@Bobsdecline]

Yessir that's exactly it

[@jeffgriffith7003]

Interesting! I had no idea! Very cool

[@joshuapk9808]

@@Bobsdecline Some of the clips in this video appear to be de-energizing loaded lines... kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKO8kJ6VpcmfedU

[@peterthomas2139]

It's workers like you that keep us powered up and watching KZbin! Stay safe and keep up the awesome work. In our world of uncertainty, at least we can count on individuals like you to ensure our daily lives. Love the videos.

[@golf-n-guns]

Thanks for your service. I wouldn't get anywhere near that area. 345,000 volts is a scary concept!

[@ghalgren]

I worked 115kv substation air break switches for 45 years. Each open was memory! You tend get used to the display and sound but are always on alert for something unusual.

[@mikeclarke3005]

Love the fact her say bonded and not just grounded like I hear from so many which is a more correct term in the industry. Really appreciate the videos, just residential electrician but love learning how all the electrical systems work also. Have a friend that was a line man so have even more appreciation what he did too!

[@BI-km6dl]

Amen. Bonding and grounding are not the same thing!

[@harryv6147]

Very nice! Good to see all the safety and check-off lists! Thanks for showing this operation! Stay safe!

[@TheWittyGeek]

it's so cool seeing that stuff be remotely operated. I mean I know it's just some pretty basic PLCs but dang is it cool to see it all come together and operate.

[@K-Rivs]

Electrician here. Very cool to see what goes on in the daily life of a lineman. Appreciate the attention to detail and dedication to your trade!

[@alan.macrae]

Good to see there are so many safety mechanisms in place. Thanks for sharing Aaron! 👊👊

[@John-ru5ud]

In designing anything like a power system, you need to make sure that there are redundant safety mechanisms and that there is no potential "single point of failure".

[@paulsccna2964]

Always been fascinated by electrical infrastructure, enjoy the first person information, now, when I look at those places, I sorta understand what is happening there.

[@BI-km6dl]

Wannabe apprentice here heading to West Texas to work on construction and maintenance of these yards. I consider all of these videos as training. Thanks so much for them.

[@emcsquare62]

This was freaking cool. I had no idea they did "remote" switching like that. Sounds more safer. Thanks for sharing!

[@scoobysteven]

I love these substation videos, keep ‘em coming champ

[@dividendjourney]

Thank you, Aaron for showcasing us this! Good info for a future Lineman! 😎👍👊

[@idontneedaname85]

Hey man! Look at the traction you are getting on your channel. I love this channel and want to get you to a million subs. Love the content.

[@james94582]

This is awesome to see... I've always had an interest in infrastructure and how it all works... So to see this type stuff, that otherwise I'd never have the opportunity to see is awesome

[@estevaness]

That’s so cool… very fascinated on all strict procedures and safety you guys follow 👏

[@Kyp031]

I build the meters in those types of systems. always interesting seeing what goes on inside the substation.

[@charleshiggs7536]

This is very fascinating! As a church organist I have always been fascinated by many controls, knobs and levers, especially with electricity! Thank you to you and all the linemen for all you do!

[@kd5byb]

Love these videos! Awesome to see this stuff working. Several jobs ago in a land far far away I got to participate in some laboratory testing on a 500 kV / 4,000 amp disconnect switch. It was three or four stories tall. Fun stuff! :)

[@tjairicciardi9747]

excellent video, really appreciate learning about what we all take for granted every day

[@beliasphyre3497]

That is so freak'n awesome! I recently was hired as a substation drafter, and seeing the real thing I've been making doodles of is neat.

[@robertcookjr6100]

Always interesting , thank you for bringing us along

[@mikel9567]

Here where I live, our local PUD is installing a second high voltage transmission line to our island for redundancy. We get a lot of windstorms here in the PNW and we will often have whole island power outages so it's nice to see them doing this. They have never been involved with construction though as they have always contracted it out so it's interesting to see how excited the crews are about doing this. They built a brand new substation in town and will build a new substation here on the island at the end of the project. Looking forward to watching as the work progresses. Seems to be pretty interesting.

[@RichTheEngineer]

If you have windstorms, why aren't they installing an underwater line?

[@1984xlx]

Thanks, great view from the inside of a switch yard!

[@cyndicorinne]

Interesting informative video as usual, and my what a satisfying sound of the electrical connection being made at the end there. It brings home the notion of the level of voltage with which you and your colleagues work, and the importance of safeguards such as the ones you illustrated leading up to the big connection.

[@heatherkohlwey8379]

Very cool! Thank you for sharing that! I hope your vacation was a great one. Stay safe and God bless.

[@allenshepard7992]

One hears about static during energizing but it was wild to here how much static there was before the airbreaker closed and took up the load. As always thank you sir

[@davidthomas6874]

i like the vids and i just want to say thanks for what you all do to keep power in our homes....something i would not do and it means so much at what you do thanks so much for you all risking your lives messing with so much power my hat is off to all of you

[@joeystrains.9316]

Excellent video, did this with 138kv on the refinery I worked at. Linemen don't get half of the honor they deserve for keeping the grid operating. Thank you!

[@AKSoapy29]

Super cool stuff! I love how everything is well labeled and there are procedures and maps and resources say your disposal to get the job done

[@mattdobeck6970]

Really appreceiate the HV videos as well as your attention to procedure. Stay safe

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks Matt! Cheers!

[@JasonsLabVideos]

Love watching these videos ! Sweet content !

[@99kevin99]

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing.

[@accumulator5734]

Awesome video, all of these systems are so fascinating!

[@LikeOnATree]

I love watching these videos, thanks for making them!!

[@braeburnhilliard8340]

That was really cool, thanks for sharing!

[@carlubambi5541]

Fantastic !347V the shaker !Came across that once or twice .345kv not at all .150kv ,27600 13.8 old 4160 .I'm just a sparky don't play with big toys but on occasion I get to see some crazy work !Brave men and women!

[@TerrySanderson]

Love seeing equipment from companies I have worked at in use. ABB and Cegelec

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

Thanks for sharing buddy there’s a power line like that close to where I grew up I remember walking under it during the summer and it buzzed like a huge swarm of bees lol my hat is off to you guys who work on power lines high voltage scares the crap out of me lol

[@stephenrowley4171]

Recently had a old exploded bomb(it was just some random scrap) scare on one for subs and the bomb disposal guy said he wouldn't work in subs too dangerous shortly before jumping into the hold with said possible bomb and poking it with screwdriver.

[@cheeseburgerbeefcake]

Really interesting to see this happen, shame the camera ran out of space for more! Thank you for bringing this to the internet.

[@redactedlogic]

That was an enjoyable video. Thanks for sharing.

[@radiogentic_nuclide]

Love you're videos Bob I'm learning a lot

[@masaharumorimoto4761]

Shocked myself again just changing a cracked light switch cover... I'm glad people like you are out there doing this work, I'll stick to baking cookies and pies, I'm good at that :)

[@richardred15]

Just do what he does, turn power off to the device before you mess with it.

[@stephenrowley4171]

@@richardred15 there's quite a few ways to get a fetal belt in a substation even on kit thats off

[@Lumpio2]

@@stephenrowley4171 Given that they got a shock changing a switch cover, I sure hope they don't go messing around in a substation.

[@TerrisLeonis]

I've gotten a shock off a 240V circuit that was supposed to be deenergised after flipping a main breaker and pulling the main fuse. However there is a semi-detached granny flat on that property that the landlord had gotten a separate meter installed in, to rent it separately. It was still energised, and some of its cabling apparently runs through the same steel conduit as this circuit. Two parallel wires and a ferromagnetic core… that's a transformer. Creating a full 240V potential to earth even though there was no physical connection. I was treating everything like it was still live, wearing rubber gloves, but even then I made a mistake and my bare arm brushed up against the wire… fortunately limited current due to the coupling… if I'd used a multimeter first I would have known! There's a reason all those procedures exist.

[@richardred15]

Just do what he does, verify that the line is deenergized.

[@georgelincolnrockwell14]

Love that HV buzz! very cool video

[@jeffreykornspan9053]

Hi Aaron and thanks for your video. Nothing like getting your daily dose of EMF! That's a very cool sequence closing that switch. Would've loved to been there when it was opened. As you said that it was something you don't do everyday. But we all know that opening and closing switches is good for maintaining good equipment operations. It's also good when utilities can drop a distribution feeder without interrupting normal operations to customers. Thanks, jk

[@Suburp212]

Cool. Well done.

[@richardmerriam7044]

Unitil in Concord NH USA is upgrading the residential feed from 2300 volts to about 7800 volts. New poles, transformers, and of course wire and insulators. Fun to watch them work. Great video.

[@Hartsock2009]

Hey LB thanks for enlighting us how absolutely terrifying electricity is but also educating us. It's people like you that I thank so very much for keeping the lights on and getting the job done. for without you the world would be a dark place. Thanks a mill from South Africa

[@clariececrudup4603]

Great video! I truly enjoyed this!

[@elwood.downey]

My first visit, looks very interesting, will subscribe. Of course some times you do this during a storm -- must be extra fun!

[@daniellynch9841]

Dued luv the content u show us alot it's cool to c it up close hands on like that .keep up the good work n show us more

[@compton2966]

Earned my subscription, glad I found his channel, thanks for sharing

[@samchapple6363]

Great to wander where I never will go 😅. Very interesting stuff

[@GamingGuy256636]

@Bobdecline - Lineman blogger I enjoyed watching this type of video as it shows what a lineman would sometimes do when maintenance has been finished on a HV line outside of the station.

[@aubreyroche5080]

That was cool ! Most people don't think of "Motors" being in the Stations..

[@dennisboisvert3143]

You can never be too careful ! Thank you now I understand The blackout was concentrated in San Diego, and San Diego Gas & Electric, which supplies power to most of the region, said it was still examining how the failure had spread so widely. But the initial cause, it said, appeared to be human error in Arizona that took down a line that provides power to the San Diego area.

[@funnyweirdovideos]

Super interesting.

[@greg778123]

That’s pretty cool 😎

[@j2o3sh]

That sir… was cool!

[@TheRobertralph]

Super cool. I like your channel and it is fun to watch. It gives me insight into what is behind electricity service that is "always on".

[@lucaslealviana]

Good job 👏👏👏👏

[@RichardOlsonar15]

This is a great channel you have! Just recently found it and have done some binge watching at night. In one of your previous videos, you asked folks to comment where from they are watching. Manchester, New Hampshire.

[@moondogdieselworks3883]

That’s pretty awesome

[@Big.Ron1]

Way cool. Thank you.

[@Daleeather1975]

I used to like being a line man’s aid getting stuff for the job and did go into big substation’s . And getting to work and hearing the frying egg sound as the morning dew settle on the high voltage power lines.

[@D.Hozzie]

Thanks for this.

[@joelhunter4082]

Awesome video.

[@eddieslittlestack7919]

Cool stuff brother !

[@ImproveHumanity]

Going to Lineman school right now and these videos help me feel more comfrotable moving forward. Even tho I don't know what much of this means, it's nice to see your work flow and what you deal with.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

having worked on high voltage, you must work on such equipment without being tired, and generate a check off list so mistakes are avoided.in this work you have got to work with safety in mind ,due to the fact you will not get a second chance. with that potential ( 345 kv) you will be vaporized ( strike zone is 10 feet). never get to a point where you get lazy, or operate with out safety in mind ,otherwise you will get killed. with that potential you do not have to find it, it will find you. I am not saying this to scare you ,I just want to see you go home at the end of your shift, and not become another statistic. never assume that a line is de- energized, there is static charges on the line, this can include induced voltages from another line set that is active ,that is why you always ground the line set before working on it. I myself hated working on live lines, there is too much that can go wrong!!!!!. I wish you all the best ,and stick with it, do not give up on it.

[@johnpenniston8543]

Which school you going?

[@potatolew4495]

@@gregoryclemen1870 great advice.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@potatolew4495 , we need people in this industry ,it is drying up fast. for those that do get into this line of work, they will never be without a job, or have to deal with starvation wages. thanks for the reply!!!!( retired "IBEW" member)

[@justins8802]

@@gregoryclemen1870 Exactly. This video shows why that is. With the stakes this high, even the remotely operated switches require hands-on work on a regular basis. And I think we know electricity demand isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

[@theamerican7080]

My new favorite channel!

[@tigertiger1699]

Very cool.., absolutely no pressure to get that stuff right.. eh🤯 Stay safe dude..🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@christophersnyder5812]

Welcome back brother. Vacation for me seems to pass faster every year. Hope you and the family had a wonderful time together. Also, great informative video as always 👊👊 Christopher Snyder A-Lineman, Local 1300 Baltimore Md

[@jamesflanagan1753]

Very good video ✅☘️🇨🇮

[@DouglasPFresh]

Ground switches are often used to lower the potential when an adjacent line is still energized. The adjacent line might induce voltage on to the open line.

[@legominimovieproductions]

And in case somebody for whatever reason switches the line back in, the short circuit will trip the circuit breakers and probably safe the personnel. Edit: Typing

[@DouglasPFresh]

@@legominimovieproductions still should test and ground both sides of work area and never rely on ground switches!

[@williampommeranz6821]

Induction is ceryainly a big concern, but so is static charge. Wind blowing over a floating line segment can build leathel level of charge.

[@wilsjane]

Few people realise or fully understand the importance of keeping one phase bonded to ground at so many points. I always explain it by saying that if all the phases were floating and a fault took a phase to ground, nothing would happen. Then if another phase grounded 1,000 miles away, you would see the world's largest firework display.

[@paanglin]

-Outstanding shipmate. Press on. USS Kitty Hawk CV-63. Jan 1980 to July 1983.

[@ultralaggerREV1]

Electrical engineers and electrical technicians really do like working together. ETs helping EEs in keeping their stuff in operation

[@richardfrancher1585]

Just a note, that the breaker is an Sf6 breaker and not an air breaker. But great videos I'm glad to see someone explain what happens when the power go out, and what it takes to keep the on.

[@CogenMan3]

Nice video mate. Worked as a power engineer for 45 years. Last place we dealt with 245kv and 115kv equipment.

[@DarrenBoxhall]

These places scare the absolute shit out of me. I used to have nightmares as a kid of being in a car accident and the car flips in the air into one of these sub stations into all the wires hahah. Still have them every now and then lol

[@gordonhard2663]

Incomprehensible

[@CrimFerret]

With that much voltage and current, you really don't have any room for mistakes. I'm sure this is all pretty routine for you, but getting to see it all work is pretty cool.

[@TheAngryOnion]

This was fun to watch. I am working on becoming a manufacturing technician at my job and am teaching myself electronics, starting with hobbyist like arduino. Learning about calculating resistances for components. Cant imagine how strict your discipline must be because one false move and really bad things can happen.

[@user-nt4np8sw2b]

I hope u stay safe your family waiting for you

[@johnmarks714]

I'm always curious about how different professionals do their jobs. Thanks.

[@rohnkd4hct260]

Used to listen to the local power company on the radio. Really enjoyed it. Now days almost everything is MDT, little said on radio any more.

[@MrMjym]

hi bob i work on some of those sub with nb power in 83 to 85 built sub at jalbert in st basile and sub at st andré and keswick ridge near fredericton and after that i was doing sub maintenance all over the province untill i went to work for the city of edmundston be safe and keep up the good work

[@65gtotrips]

You can just feel the juice just watching the arms close !

[@Kevthebish]

The braid will take the brunt of it 😅🤣. I'll believe the engineer when he stands right next to me

[@scottmarshall6766]

Not your basic 3 phase disconnect. It's gotta make you take pause when it's time to close it in. It would me, and I've been in industrial controls over 40 years. Thanks for bringing us along!

[@DJvvAZZ]

We have a new substation being built near where I life in New Zealand... Would love to see it power on, and those huge disconnects being closed!

[@MattManProductions]

Hope your vacation was good... And see when you leave all hell "breaks" loose 😂

[@tigertiger1699]

You/ linesmen.. remind me of my old man.. he drove heavy freight locos…, he checked everything twice +.., & made sure he got thing right… Lol he used to say “everything is ok.. while it’s ok” & “you can be dead right..”

[@michaelheal3600]

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