500 kv switch

[kymbolino]

This switch would never be used under load. The only reason why there is arcing (and apparent closed circuit) is due to capacitance in the section of line being energized. Once this switch is closed they can operate the circuit breaker to provide supply.

If a circuit breaker fails, you don't use its adjacent to disconnector to break the load. The circuit breaker upstream, possibly at another site, would be operated.

[FACP07]

@mattpro05 May be old, but it works well and get the job done!

[FHomeBrew]

This opens and closes every day in chuck norris bathroom when he turns on his electric razor.

[JoeA320Pilot]

LICK IT!

[GlowRaver800]

well that was anti climatic

[wolfpat]

I've opened and closed 230 KV disconnects. It's a thrill every time.

One of my coworkers was opening a set once, and when he had just gotten a start, the fire ants started biting. As some of you know, once you start, you can't quit until you're done. Poor Gary.

[ubuntupokemoninc]

no way in hell is that 500kv, the arc would start at like 6 fett away!!

[gennaman2bit]

@ubuntupokemoninc u're wrong, it's at the opening where u see what u say, at the closing it's what u see.

[ubuntupokemoninc]

@gennaman2bit

no I'm sorry you're wrong, its voltage that starts the arc and amperage that keeps it going after it's starting !

[gennaman2bit]

@ubuntupokemoninc u're right, I misunderstod what u said sry :o

I meant arc is bigger at the opening, but indeed 500kV should produce arc at 1.5mt in dry air.

Sry for my mistake and i thumbed up your comment :)

[ubuntupokemoninc]

@gennaman2bit thanks, what is it with 2 round metel balls the arc will start 1 inch per 25kv.

[Sublime111192]

wow that was boring



[authmaax]

bad design

[FreezEntertainment]

this is obviously not in america

[JGatz83]

lame and boring

[vitorix24]

500kV??? I this its 50 kV. i didn't sow the eletric arc.

[JetMechMA]

What kind of mechanism is driving this switch? It doesn't look like there is any mechanism at all....just a pivot point. When I look at equipment like this it looks like space alien technology. How big is the ball on the end of the rod? How bout the movie "Forbidden Planet"? The movie maker gave a nod to you guys when he depicted the Krell Technology in it's infinite power. Is the arc in the video just from static charge on the line?

[peterrippe]

@JetMechMA - there is a piston connected at the bottom, you can see it has an angle down to the left, it does not have to move much.

the arc is from the high voltage jumping, but not static.

[jasonl75]

the sub and equipment was built and installed in the mid 90's

[OLTCITKA]

These switces all look so Frankesteinish... yet they look so cool!

[BigSteve02]

comment to Rexcars, you can if you want,

if you do, will you come back to this videoclip's comments section and tell us if it tastes like a Vindaloo curry, Chicken Jalfrezi or as someone told 16 Johnson16, Spare Ribs in Spicy Sauce.

[greg5566]

What year is this, 1912? That's some sophisticated equipment our power grid is running on!

[erjohnson227]

Haha i thought that too, but then i realized, with how much that electricity can do, how else is it gonna get switched on and off? I mean ive seen 300kv jump twenty feet in the right conditions.

[myuncker]

The high tech stuff is in the relaying that protects this equipment and the breakers the really do the work disconnects just isolate this equipment mostly for maintenance. Our breakers are required to open in 3 milliseconds your thinking ya ya what ever but keep in mind that these breakers are the size of cars and interrupt thousands of amps at hundreds of thousand volts! We use special gasses inside of these breakers to help extinguish the ark.

[erjohnson227]

Exactly, i dont think that most people know what kind of a massive switch is required to interrupt the kind of power that is sent through the high tension lines. Even this somewhat simple looking switch , now if im correct the vaccuum breakers failed on this disconnect right? they are supposed to cut of the power before the switch opens?

[jasonl75]

the breaker is a HVB breaker (the switch is a line side disconnect for the breaker), it's actually three seperate poles bigger than a truck. The equipment isn't all that old, we did a 10 year PM on the unit last year

[KOMARpce]

lol haha

[gamesman12]

That looks like a flimsy bit of equipment! i wouldnt want it bouncing like that as it goes into the contact if i was switching it.

[amfan12]

The bouncing has a purpose, notice the small arcs? That is to let the two sides reach the same voltage potential. If the switch just immediately slammed closed, the sudden surge of power could cause damage.

[gamesman12]

I cant really see how it could cause damage. Those types of disconnectors cant break fault or load current .

No burning of contacts is going to happen when making the disconnector become the same potential as the rest of the bus bar. Theres no amps to cause damage. You will get a very weak arc like you see here

I know in the UK 90% of our disconnectors engage fully first time. Having it bouncing or holding off is only going to encourage the arc to burn longer.

[jasonl75]

you are right, the arc in the video is just charging current

[2010ENDZ]

@jasonl75

id say its just induction from the over head line

[myuncker]

Who told you that? That has no logic behind it, the breakers are open and what you are seeing is slack in the linkage and the motor operator catching up because gravity was pulling the blades down!

[jasonl75]

the bouncing is due to the slack in the mechanism and gravity, the switch arm is about 15 feet long, the breaker has grading resistors in them to limit inrush current.

[rexcars27]

can i put my tongue on it?

[16johnson16]

some one told me it tast like ribs

[jasonl75]

taste like chicken

[mikeshepherd]

@rexcars27 Sure...wait 'til I get my camera...

[leandeganis]

@rexcars27 it will tickle 

[FHomeBrew]

@rexcars27 Only once.

[myfirst100]

@rexcars27 Sure buddy ! Please do

[Berni0707]

@rexcars27 Go ahead and see what happens... xD

[mcgmanuel]

no creo que sea un patio de 500Kv mas bien parece uno de 110 o 220 Kv