Limb on wires

[tree MDS]

This is pretty cool, I got a dead Sugar Maple on the wires in front of the shop, I'm looking out my window at it from my desk. Its not too big but its got one of the bare 3 phaze bent down 12' or so and the tips are 3' above the road so I coned it off and called the power company-I cant wait to see if its someone I know and just how they go about it, I'm really just a residential guy. Its kind of ironic that its in front of three tree trucks, the embarrassing thing is its my tree that I've been thinking of cutting down soon cuz the top is totally dead-lol. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[John464]

can you snap some pics? Is it making noises?

 

[tree MDS]

Sorry John, I'm not that technologically advanced. No its not making noise, its pretty dry, the thing that bothers me is the tention on that old tarnished wire, funny thing the limb could be cut and held if it were not on the wires.

 

[tree MDS]

Its kind of like a wishbone shape, I think I would trim the half that would interfere with the others when it rised fully, then hook the remainder with an insulated pole and lift upper boom. We'll see, it should be a real quick one.

 

[tree MDS]

Oh, sorry, its just a limb to clarify, my starter thread was a little confusing.

 

[Dadatwins]

This is pretty cool, I got a dead Sugar Maple on the wires in front of the shop, I'm looking out my window at it from my desk. Its not too big but its got one of the bare 3 phaze bent down 12' or so and the tips are 3' above the road so I coned it off and called the power company-I cant wait to see if its someone I know and just how they go about it, I'm really just a residential guy. Its kind of ironic that its in front of three tree trucks, the embarrassing thing is its my tree that I've been thinking of cutting down soon cuz the top is totally dead-lol. I'll let you know how it goes.

Kudos for you for realizing your limitations and calling the proper people to take care of it. While they are there see if they can cut enough away from the wires to allow you cut the remainder down. Nothing to be embarassed about, would be worse if someone got hurt from your company.

 

[joesawer]

The power company trimmers are not supposed to cut it if it is on a hot wire. I am not saying that it is never done, just that they are not supposed to.
They will most likely kill the power and then treat it like any other tree.

 

[tree MDS]

Kudos for you for realizing your limitations and calling the proper people to take care of it. While they are there see if they can cut enough away from the wires to allow you cut the remainder down. Nothing to be embarassed about, would be worse if someone got hurt from your company.

Sorry guys, had to go out and missed the conclusion, by the time I got back they were two houses ahead-but yes there was a power co. truck ahead of the tree trimmers that are in town doing the lines. Its not that I could'nt have done it, its just that I hate wires and sinse I pay my power bill why bother, i've got nothing to prove.

 

[minny]

Lucky for you the tree was dead and wouldn't conduct. Normally, a live tree will conduct and burn. Seriously, burn with blue and orange flame. It's weird.
Crossing a 3-phase is called a deadshort and will kick out the relay. Then, after a few seconds the relay will send the voltage/amperage back into the lines. They will try this a few times. This is why power outages sometimes only last long enough to screw-up your digital clock.

 

[Dadatwins]

Lucky for you the tree was dead and wouldn't conduct. Normally, a live tree will conduct and burn. Seriously, burn with blue and orange flame.

Not sure where you got this info from but it is wrong to make an assumption like that about trees and wires. Please get better educated on the subject before getting yourself hurt or killed. Until then stick to deliving pizza.

 

[clearance]

Lines have to be grounded, before any treework takes place. This has to be done by linemen, thats all there is to it.

Unless you are qualified and do the work (and not just a ISA "utility specialist") stay well back and call the power co. Secure the area, do not let any one near, at least 33' for distribution lines.

 

[minny]

Not sure where you got this info from but it is wrong to make an assumption like that about trees and wires. Please get better educated on the subject before getting yourself hurt or killed. Until then stick to deliving pizza.

I am educated and experienced in line clearance. You, my friend, are the problem. Ignorance is the locomotive on the train of consequences.
I was simply trying to help a guy out. Stay out of it unless you want to help.

 

[clearance]

I am educated and experienced in line clearance. You, my friend, are the problem. Ignorance is the locomotive on the train of consequences.
I was simply trying to help a guy out. Stay out of it unless you want to help.

Electricity takes all paths to ground, unless the line has been grounded, and the treework is OKed by a lineman who is in contact with the control center, stay back. Dead trees conduct, so do broom handles (another myth), fact, unless it has a valid dielectric test sticker, it is conductive.

So, are you a lineman or what?

 

[safeT1st]

Electricity takes all paths to ground, unless the line has been grounded, and the treework is OKed by a lineman who is in contact with the control center, stay back. Dead trees conduct, so do broom handles (another myth), fact, unless it has a valid dielectric test sticker, it is conductive.

So, are you a lineman or what?

Not that a man of your caliber needs it but ............+1 .

 

[clearance]

Not that a man of your caliber needs it but ............+1 .

Thank you, but I am not the man, I am just repeating what I was taught by instructors when I took the utilty course. Some of them were retired linemen who had seen it and done it all, I listened to them. There are no second chances with electricity. Like they say, its called power for a reason.

 

[Dadatwins]

I am educated and experienced in line clearance. You, my friend, are the problem. Ignorance is the locomotive on the train of consequences.
I was simply trying to help a guy out. Stay out of it unless you want to help.

Please define your line clearance education and experience. If you have been taught that dead trees does not conduct you have been mis-lead. Clearance has stated the proper way to approach line work, since this is what he does every day. This is a public forum and read by people from homeowners to professionals, they should not be lead into a false sense of security that dead trees do not conduct electricity, they can and will. As for helping the guy out, I did, as for you, go deliver a pizza.

 

[tree MDS]

Lines have to be grounded, before any treework takes place. This has to be done by linemen, thats all there is to it.

Unless you are qualified and do the work (and not just a ISA "utility specialist") stay well back and call the power co. Secure the area, do not let any one near, at least 33' for distribution lines.

Yep, thats why I did'nt bother, I've never been properly trained for lines, as Clint would sa "a man has got to know his limitations". This is what I know about wires: dont hit them with anything and dont touch them-well a little more but not enough so I keep it at that.

 

[lxt]

Clearance did the utility show you guys how to "bond on" this is a little bit more involved than Line clearance & requires special training, but helps in alot of situations regarding just such a scenario.

I still have the gloves.....rated for 20kv

LXT...........

 

[capetrees]

If any of my limbs are less that 10 feet to a phase line, I call the power co. No way I want to cook in a tree. I HATE electricity. Matter of fact I just shorted a 220 v air conditioner the other day trying to remove the panel from a wall. Crossed the live wire to the ground and BAM!!!! :censored:


That sucked.

 

[clearance]

Clearance did the utility show you guys how to "bond on" this is a little bit more involved than Line clearance & requires special training, but helps in alot of situations regarding just such a scenario.

I still have the gloves.....rated for 20kv

LXT...........

We are not allowed to touch live lines, we are not qualified for live line work. That is for lineman, or in the approved p.c.-powerline technicians. I know about the gloves, we can get close to the wires with the proper dielectric tested tools (pruners, trimsaws) but that is it. Touching the line, like say to bash off a branch with a trimsaw is a safety violation. Among other things.