Using the 25kv Loadbuster

Hope everyone is doing well!
I made this quick follow up video (for opening a capacitor bank • Opening a Capacitor bank ) in response to the many comments asking to see the cutout actually being opened.
Other videos with a closer look at operating and refusing cutouts:
➡ • Lineman Tip #6 - Fusin...
➡ • Lineman Tip #1 - Refus...
Keep in mind, my videos are to be used as a guideline only.
Please always adhere to all policies and procedures particular to the company you work for.
#bobsdecline #lineman #beingalineman
audio courtesy of:
All good in the wood by Audinautix
KZbin audio

[@Bobsdecline]

**EDIT** Just posted this a couple hours ago ... it hit 5k views then crashed :( The video was showing an error and wouldn't play anymore ... lost every single comment! Had a few really good ones where some viewers explained exactly how SF6 gas worked. I'm going to keep working at trying to get the first post back and retrieve those comments, but it isn't looking very promising :( ********* Hope everyone had a great weekend! I create these videos for 2 reasons - to give the general public a more in depth look at our trade and how the power grid functions. - to help educate and exchange ideas with those within the trade that are properly trained and authorized to work on powerlines and related equipment. After seeing a few discussions I just want to clarify that these are NOT d.i.y videos for Mr. Fixxer upper! Cheers all! 🍻

[@the_townleys]

Applications are opening soon... Does anybody know how exciting that is?

[@the_townleys]

Gettin in shape! Gettin healthy! The Losers are gone for good! What more could a guy ask for? Shoooot! Lol Linework! Yahoo!

[@the_townleys]

Aaron, Ive watched this video 10 times this morning...

[@timm8311]

I would doubt SF6 would be used, as you would need pressure gauges to ensure its filled. As far as I know, SF6 is only used in switchgear primarily to save space. SF6 is a great insulator whitch is not only use when trying to limit the arc but also used to minimize dimensions and the shrink the switch gear. I'm actually surprised it's still being used and developed in the USA, as Europe is now getting away from it because of its environmental effects. I personally used it in France and Germany and it was a b**** to get on site as it could not be flown .

[@apollorobb]

Well Dang i had a hand full of wire nuts and was gonna rewire my 25KVA 2 pot system DOH !!!

[@bud5041]

One safety habit I've used over the years when closing or opening switches is to #1 look over the switch for problems and then line up your shot to close it. #2 ..Put your chin on your chest (this allows the brim of your hard hat to cover and protect your face and neck protecting vital arteries in your neck). #3.. Take a big breath and hold it ( what this does is keep you from sucking an arc into your lungs God forbid something should go wrong because if an arc or explosion does occur it will startle you and cause you to breath in suddenly). #4 Send it home firmly using enough power to close it and not break it. I like your videos "bump, bump"

[@lekiki1000]

I'm gonna start work with load buster in 2 weeks, thanks for your advice

[@alanbean8222]

I'm not a lineman but I enjoy your videos. I'm from Independence MO

[@jeremiahabbott5277]

Where were these videos twenty years ago? This information would be great for Apprentice Lineman. You can definitely tell you know your stuff and you have such a natural ability to explain things in an easy way for everyone to understand. Thanks for Sharing, Love your channel as always.

[@inothome]

Not sure the comments made before on SF6, but SF6 breaker internals are pretty cool. There are interrupters inside and the way it works is when the movable contact pulls from the stationary contact it creates a void inside the interrupter, sometimes called a puffer, and this creates a low pressure area that is then filled by the SF6 gas through ports and helps to blow, or "puff" out the arc. The entire inside is of course filled with SF6, but the interrupter creates this lower pressure area inside the interrupter portion. Oil filled breakers do the same thing, but instead of using a gas to cool and quench the arc, it of course uses oil. But the same principle with an interrupter and a void when the movable contact pulls from the stationary contact in the interrupter. In fact, the SF6 breaker interrupters were designed following the interrupters found in oil breakers, since the oil breakers of course pre-date the gas filled breakers. In a vacuum breaker you don't have any of this going on. In a vacuum breaker it's just the absence of air that prevents the arc from ionizing in the first place. But vacuum breakers are only viable up to a certain voltage class, which is about 35kV I believe. Also in a vacuum breaker, as I am sure you know, the distance between the contacts when open in a 25kV vacuum breaker bottle is less than 1/2 inch! That is why you never trust a breaker for an open and always use a physical visible open. And I am sure you know the tripping time on most breakers is in the order of three cycles or less! At 16.6 milliseconds per cycle at 60Hz, that's less than 50 miliseconds to open and quench an arc. Amazing some of the higher voltage class breakers can move that quick and some of the 500kV class breakers are even faster. I love working in substations, so much interesting equipment and technologies that most people don't realize goes on in there. I've been enjoying the videos, keep up the good content and work safe.

[@WarpFactor999]

Excellent description! I worked at a Nuke Power Plant for 11 years. The switch yard used 4 cyclone 500KV line breakers that used high pressure SF6 gas jets to quench the arc as the flying contact rotated 230 degrees inside the enclosed breaker (which looked a lot like a donut without a hole). The breakers each had a compressor to recover the SF6 gas after each cycle. The flying lead rotated around the center axis on an insulated arm driven by an enormous high tension spring. I don't remember the opening time, but it was very fast. These were unique breakers made for the nuke plant that were nuke safety rated. They were $$$$$$ each and were only rated for 4 loaded opening cycles, one of which was used during acceptance testing. I asked if they could be rebuilt and no, after 4 cycles the insides were burned too badly to be reused. And yes, they had to have a full set of spare breakers in the warehouse on-site. We also had one of the primary 500KV transformers blow up. It was in a 3 sided concrete blast shield and luckily no one got hurt. The transformer was caring 1150MW at the time. Understand that the primary transformer is huge and weighs around 1,000,000 pounds. What happened is not frequent, but not rare. What happens is the cooling oil inside the transformer casing gets contaminated with too much moisture causing an arc, and once it arc's, kaboom! (It was heard about 2 miles away.) Normally, the oil circulation system removes water and contaminants from the cooling oil. The identified cause was the oil cooling system from the time of installation over cooled the oil, allowing moisture to be absorbed. Where does the water come from? Amazingly, through the transformer's steel tank walls! Over 4 years, the steel was porous enough to allow enough moisture to be introduced into the oil (it doesn't take much). The company's own on-site engineers didn't bother to pay attention to the manufacture's recommendations and figured more oil flow through the cooling system was more better. The oil was supposed to run hot to drive off moisture...go figure... Same thing can happen to pole pigs if they get moisture inside due to leaky tanks or damaged connectors.

[@j5jackson878]

These are the kind of videos I love! The ones that actually show how mechanisms operate, and how particular operations of jobs are actually performed. Nice video!

[@redsquirrelftw]

I recently just found this channel, always been fascinated with electricity since I was a kid, and it's cool to see the high voltage side of things.

[@trialsted]

Anyone else getting the 'slap chop' advert. Love this guy.

[@Willster451]

We cant do this all day

[@rclark641]

I like seeing the tools of the line man! Great video.

[@rossthompson1635]

Watching from the UK; really enjoying your videos. Total respect to you and your colleagues worldwide for doing this skilled and risky job to keep our power on!

[@robertlane6675]

Great video, I wasn't sure how a load buster worked but it makes perfect sense now.

[@infodb1]

Hi! I'm watching from Buenos Aires, Argentina! Thanks for all this information!

[@Bobsdecline]

Too cool! First time hearing from Buenos Aires! 👊👊

[@joelwilson3480]

Brissy Australia here. Very cool to see this gear in action. Many years ago I used to work for a company (T-mac) that made a lot of the gear you show including Hot sticks. Though I was in the section that made test lamps and the likes.

[@davedwyre2719]

I recently started watching your videos. That’s a nice video, up close to see how it’s done. Watching from Eastern Ontario. Cheers dude stay safe

[@BrianMDPhD]

Very cool! I love seeing all the things that go into power transmission. Greetings from Boise, Idaho, USA!

[@m.rotteveel3159]

Thanks for your great videos! great to see how this kind of systems are beiing maintaned. Watching from the Netherlands! (Amsterdam)

[@alvisstalwart925]

I love demonstrations of equipment and work like this. Really demystifies stuff and makes it more approachable. Cheers

[@runningoec]

I'm watching from Detroit! I love your helpful teaching attitude! Thanks for helping the average Joe understand this stuff! 👊👊

[@jamestroy9625]

Home and commercial electrician, I fine your Chanel very educational. Thankyou for your time. Keep em comming. Colorado.

[@elizabethcherry920]

I am watching from Dundalk Md US, I am new to watching videos about being a lineman, I have always wanted to know what you guys do, thanks for doing these videos, I find them so far being very educating , stay safe

[@alan.macrae]

Another great vid, Aaron! Thank you from NH

[@sxfngrs22]

Good job Bob! Keep up the good videos really enjoy! Resting my bones in Gallatin TN.

[@Chaddydaddy2.0]

I'm a 1st step apprentice here in California and your videos have been very informative! Thank you for passing the knowledge

[@nicke1903]

Hi from North Carolina USA, interesting work for sure, when I was a Firefighter I got to see the power company quite a bit. I admire the safety and personal accountability that's taken by them, 2nd to none, doing a ultra hazardous job. From Trees on lines to Structure Fires it was common to see Power Co, got to know the fellas in the area pretty good. Your vids were in my Recommended I watched and subbed, stay safe thanks for the videos

[@mikes9939]

One of the greatest sites on KZbin without a doubt. After looking at these devices up on poles for your entire life wondering what they do and then along comes this marvelous site dedicated to solving these pressing questions. I work on Xray equipment and we have some pretty lethal voltages but now I know what's up there and how it works. Many thanks for solving this crisis.

[@Jewe1]

watching from Finland. Good stuff, interesting for people who don't know anything about lineman working

[@insanereindeer4081]

Thanks for the video. As a previous distribution engineer, it's nice to see how these things come into play in the field. It's hard to get a grasp of how everything comes together behind the computer screen.

[@marth6271]

Greetings from cedar hill texas. Well done videos. Thanks! Retired from Bell Telephone, always admired the guys in the big trucks, standing in the rain, opening switches, wondering about all the techniques and equipments they used. Your videos are very informative. I will skip the lame jokes about I didnt have the potential to be a power company lineman......be safe always and see you on the channel.

[@christheother9088]

I'm just a retired handyman but I love this type of content.

[@DJPhilTBCollins]

🤜🤛 Greetings from Nebraska! Thanks for the videos. Really helps when young folks can see what the trades are like.

[@Bobsdecline]

Greetings! 👊👊

[@kylesnyder7251]

DUDE! Your channel is blowing up! Keep up the good work man, look forward to your videos all the time

[@horatiobeaker]

Great channel. Thanks for the close up tutorial.

[@robertr3470]

Thanks for educating the public on how our infrastructure works and how much skill is needed to operate and maintain it.

[@cianquigley6495]

Sending support all the way from Dublin Ireland !

[@TupmaniaTurning]

Love these vids here in Devon, England. Top stuff! 👊👊

[@rone8123]

Loving these videos from Salt Lake City, Utah! I never ever thought about being a lineman; actually hate working with electricity but find it fascinating. You make this trade look, for lack of a better word, interesting. I know you post these videos mostly for other linemen, but thank you for the explanations in terms that everyone, lineman or not, can understand. Stay safe!

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks Ron! I try my best to share information that's useful for everyone! Cheers!

[@keithv708]

✊ I am in ofallon, Illinois USA. I am not a line men but love to watch your channel

[@Psyclone129]

nice finally a closer up video of one

[@rebelyank6361]

Very interesting videos. I am no electrician, 35 years as an auto mechanic but growing up my dad had 36 years with Public Service of N.H. Interesting to see what he went through on those long stormy nights he was gone.

[@billm6171]

Hey Missouri from USA here, really enjoy the videos. I'm not an electrician or anything I just enjoy your videos. Explaining what a door was was very helpful, I I've heard you speak of them but I never knew what they were thank you keep up the good work

[@adamroberts8208]

Watching from the uk, good and interesting content there

[@TheChipmunk2008]

new subscriber from the UK... awesome channel. Learning how you guys do stuff over there. I'm an LV guy so we don't do much over 415v (see a bit of 480 sometimes on split phase supplies but they're rare). but it's interesting to see 'how the other half' live. Interesting thing about work here is that our fault currents on the LV network tend to be larger due to larger and fewer transformers (a typical unit here is 750kVA continuous rated 3ph 11,000 to 415/240v, close to the substation the LV side can have fault currents into the tens of kA. Kudos to you ... stay safe

[@_onfijitime]

🤜 Kia Ora, subscribed and watching from Auckland, NZ. Great video, we use load busters alot on our network where we can and isolate the circuit if we can't use a load buster to open cut outs. Interesting how you say people asking why you look away, here in NZ, we are trained to look away when operating switches etc for exactly the reasons you explain. Stay safe out there everyone 😊

[@BroCoby]

Went over this today in line school today with my teacher ; thank you bob !

[@Bobsdecline]

Awesome! 👊

[@PhilosopherKing73]

Worked for a few years with Pacific Gas &Electric in San Francisco. I worked in the underground...manholes in downtown. Lots of lead cable back then...everything you find on a pole, but in a hole...lol...stay safe!

[@shahriarshakill5169]

You are a real lineman sir..........

[@DeathCubeKX]

👊 Watching from BC. Not a lineman but I love the technical information on how our infrastructure works and what it takes to keep it safe and reliable. Great videos, keep up the great work on the job and the videos man!

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks man ! ,🇨🇦👊

[@DarrenSteele-mx3ks]

Great content!

[@BlueFlyer83]

Frig'n awesome demo! I always wondered what the door and tube looks like up close.

[@RaithUK]

Watching from the UK, cool to see another countries systems cheers.

[@Bobsdecline]

Cheers!

[@highvoltage1979]

Hey,I just found you channel a couple of days ago and have been watching nonstop.great information your putting out.

[@Bobsdecline]

Hey! Thanks for taking the time write some feedback! 👊

[@linehandibew6205]

Best lineman page out there. Most Informative and best content

[@tonemaven]

from Katy, Texas USA ~ thanks 4 the way cool videos Bob!

[@dominicdj369]

Fairly new apprentice. It's been pretty difficult to get a grasp on things but I've made a lot of happy journeyman because of your helpful videos, I appreciate all the time and info you put into the video on and off the camera. From a young apprentice thanks brother. Stay safe👍🇺🇲

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks Dominic! 👊🇨🇦🇺🇲

[@martinambrosecchia2991]

Scranton, Pennsylvania really like your videos. Sorry to say here in Pennsylvania the major power company, Pennsylvania power and light (pp&l) would most certainly fire someone for doing what you are doing. It's nice to see you have the support of your employer, must be good people! Thanks again!

[@NSaw1]

This is so cool! I've never heard of a load buster until I saw you'r cap bank video. I'm watching from the us in Idaho!

[@Bobsdecline]

Cheers Idaho! 👊

[@linehandibew6205]

Udaho

[@HappyDiscoDeath]

@@Bobsdecline Same, watching in Idaho

[@leastcoast5606]

Load busters in my time were only good for a certain amount of operations. I always had that in mind when I opened a fuse under load. Never had one to fail.

[@joseantoniopanizoollero8352]

Hello, greetings from Spain. I am a professor of network development and transformation centers. Congratulations for your excellent work and for providing what in a classroom is impossible to teach (for space and money). Best regards.

[@patmcnally6]

I learned alot 👊👊 now I know what Con Ed Does on my POLE. Cortlandt Manor NY, USA

[@yegfreethinker]

I hear a slight Newfie Accent. I was born in Newfoundland--in Alberta atm. Love your channel. I've been giving serious thought to going for journeyman electrician.

[@Scarborough5512]

Awe Aaron you got a haircut man hahah!!! Just had a cut out break on me the other day luckily it was a clear break and nothing flashed so dodged it thank goodness! Great video as always and always stay safe! From your friend from Kansas man!!

[@Bobsdecline]

Hahha it was getting soo long! ... And this weather was way too hot for long hair 🤣. Glad you didn't get a flash! Stay safe my friend!

[@patdbean]

Congratulations on getting over 1 million total channel views. Keep up the good work.

[@shaunmaxwell1825]

Watching from Australia,!! Love the videos

[@Fitz710]

Great content man! Watching from Philadelphia PA 👊🏻

[@gamemeister27]

Watching from St. Louis right now, visiting my sister.

[@2642f17751fa66906552]

Dope content dude, super interesting. 👊

[@NotSexualAtAll]

Northern California. *bump* Love the channel.

[@Bobsdecline]

👊👊🍻 Cheers to Northern California!

[@Willster451]

Great videos. Keep it up! UK

[@johntarbell5252]

Great Videos, I'd never use one of these as a DIY guide, as I'm pretty skittish around high voltage. I love anything and everything electricity related, and I've always been curious about alot of what I see on power lines and in sub stations. Keep the videos up! I'm sure you'll keep gaining subs.

[@alanmontague5705]

Watching from Lima - Peru (South America), so far best explanaition on the web, keep it up with the good work

[@Bobsdecline]

First time I've noticed a comment from Lima, very cool. Cheers!

[@alanmontague5705]

@@Bobsdecline cheers mate

[@jeffisme1972]

Greetings from Nisula, Michigan 👊 Thanks to your videos I can look on power poles and understand what's there, like the transformer I was wondering why was there when there's no houses for a few miles around it is actually a voltage regulator.

[@MaltaMcMurchy]

Thank you for the insightful video. I am watching from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks! I love Toronto ✌️👊

[@sheepdog271]

Awesome info!👊

[@Bobsdecline]

👊👊

[@gregsutherlin3501]

Greetings from Indy. We use load busters often. Not for just dropping load. But also to handle the amperage difference when separating mainline circuits. Great tool! Thanks for the vids on trouble work. Working on a one man truck can be challenging at times. Keep up the good work👊

[@Bobsdecline]

Challenges keeps ya on your toes! Yes we do the same (when breaking parallels) it's a very good practice... Thanks Greg! 👊👊

[@linehandibew6205]

Difference in load can draw an arc. We do the same here in New York.

[@nouhishak3541]

Good job 💪💪

[@creativefun2024]

Muy bien explicado , gracias por compartir tu experiencia, Saludos desde Nicaragua , soy ingeniero electrico y la explicacion me parece genial!!

[@MEK-sf9zp]

🤜🏽 watching from western Massachusetts. Love your videos, super interesting! Thanks for what you do!

[@Bobsdecline]

Thank you so much! ✌️👊

[@apollorobb]

Load buster sounds like a strip club lol. Great video Aaron

[@Bobsdecline]

Haha I actually had a hilarious comment on the original video where buddy said this isn't what he expected when he clicked on the title

[@apollorobb]

@@Bobsdecline Would have made a great click bait title for sure lol

[@PastorManning1]

Thank you for that that was effing awesome exclamation point

[@JDMetz27]

👊 Excellent as Always.

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks Jessie! 👊

[@silvermica]

This is a really interesting channel!

[@howardcollettjr.1245]

Watching from Reno, Nevada.

[@mriddell6510]

I enjoy your videos. Not a linesman but interesting. Watching from Milverton Ontario.

[@richardsawtell256]

Great video , watching from Taranaki , New Zealand

[@Bobsdecline]

Nice! 👊

[@brendanmichaelwelsh6260]

Watching from Brisbane, Australia.

[@bryanchevytruck87]

Watching from south florida.

[@DJBJ24]

Watching from Sydney NSW Australia!

[@jonpilgrim7398]

I really like watching your videos your videos are very interesting I like watching this I'm from San Antonio

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks Jon! 👊👊 I did see a comment from yea earlier, must have been on the original post that crashed? Thanks for taking the time to write again!

[@mrodriguez4829]

SA transplant in Austin now.

[@robertlapointe4093]

Watching from sunny Syracuse, NY. Been curious about power distribution since a little arc-flash incident at work (Michigan, 1990's), where a couple cubic inches of copper (section of a 480v buss-bar) turned into plasma - a real attention getter.

[@JasonFMallet]

Great videos very informative. Watching from Moncton NB 👊

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks Jason! 👊👊✌️🇨🇦

[@beatsbypher]

woah, 18k subs, the channel is blowing up! nice work cousin! keep up the great work!

[@dangruner5926]

👊 Watching from the UK. Love your channel..! :)

[@Bobsdecline]

👊👊

[@billmurray8739]

like the tool reviews, I'm from Va. and layed up your videos keep me occupied

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks! Sorry to hear your layed up tho, get well soon !💯🍻

[@RM.....]

Guess I should have gone to work for the power company years back. Very interesting.

[@linehandibew6205]

👊🏻🤙🏼 from my couch!!!!! Great video man.

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks Brian! 👊🤙

[@danparker8254]

I used to live with an electrician his answer to almost any of my questions was “a little knowledge will get you killed.”

[@jagdtigger]

Greetings from Hungary! You have some interesting stuff on your channel, i work on the opposite end of the spectrum. (Im car elecftrician, EV's going to be a real pain in the rear because of the high voltage DC circuits.....)

[@airline575]

Thanks for this informative video! Load busters are pretty cool from below. haha

[@cripticgatekeep]

Watching from California 👊

[@Garylee17]

Very nice video!!

[@Bobsdecline]

Thanks Gary! ✌️

[@Garylee17]

@@Bobsdecline your welcome

[@shanonedser1]

🤛 Love your videos mate! Watching from Brisbane, Australia 🇦🇺 🦘