34 to 13kv Flash Incident

[chesterlott821]

This video is a favorite on Sweden

[fairyheli2]

3:32, are they power lines only 6 feet above the ground? who installed the lines there?

[lokeycmos]

that is AWESOME! i witnessed a 7200v line arcing to the ground for a couple minutes, but this must have been AMAZING in person!

[mpwelk]

Burn your lens out... AND get a tan! haha

[mrfirewolf]

and yet the attention whores of youtube strike again... having fun looking stupid there skate?? and blinx... trust me.. it aint worth it... its like trying to wash a car in a junk yard.. useless! lol

[koyangi3]

I've been doing line work for 15 years and I know equipment can and does fail

and because the guys I work with are new I had them watch your video so they can see what can happen with an electric arc and not to trust their lives with any equipment.

Thank You for posting this,

John

[kittycatkea]

It must be Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. and there Tec. guys at the sub station wondering why the recloser  keeps opening

[mike4ty4]

If some people's shotty designs, choices, whatever led to this then they should have been held responsible and made to pay ALL damages.

[Ascholten]

In a case like this, get out of the house and just let it burn. That is why you have homeowners insurance. There is really nothing you can do in a case like this to protect yourself. at 34kv that arc is going to go through everything. A standard receptacle will flash over at about 5 kv, so this is well beyond what that can handle. No your surge supressors and stuff is NOT going to help you.

I wonder why the line didn't clear itself, or the dispatcher didnt kill it upline of the fault.

[robertgift]

"Flash incident"?

Too difficult for you to name and explain what happened?

Open your main circuit breaker at your panel.

34kV won't gethrough the circuit breaker handle insulation.

[utubesnamepolsux]

The power was cycling because automatic clearing devices were dropping the line in an attempt to reset it.

[TheMrBlinx]

When you post a video, at least give it a better name! "Flash Incident"? It's called a "Power Surge". Harford County Power Surge to be exact, caused by tree trimmers dropping a limb. A "Flash Incident" is when a streaker runs by.

[skatecubed]

@TheMrBlinx What the hell do you think all those pretty bright lights were? Any incident that causes arking like that is, by definition, an "ark flash incident". Therefore the title of the video is quite correct.

[TheMrBlinx]

@skatecubed So why didn't you put "ARK flash incident", asshole? The title merely "flash incident" is NOT right, either. It could have been a "flasher" for all we know (you certainly don't know).

[skatecubed]

@TheMrBlinx Because it is not my video, but i will refrain from calling you names......buddy!

[TheMrBlinx]

@skatecubed You need to refrain from being so contradictory and downright Ignorant. Work on that for a while. While you're at it, learn to read.

[skatecubed]

@TheMrBlinx Contradictory? I simply told you why the title was not wrong, and why I had not titled it the way you demanded, because it was not my video! Ignorant? I was not the one that came out of the gate calling people asshole! I think you should maybe take some of you own advice there buddy! I am quite capable of reading, and writing for that matter, get over yourself buddy!

[TheMrBlinx]

@skatecubed No, you are the one who came out of the gate BEING an asshole, asshole, so figure it out. And, if the video isn't yours, why are YOU making a big stink about it? I merely exercised my right to address yet another YouTube LIAR, of which there are too many. Are you a liar, too? You sure are eager to defend them. Is it that time of month or what? Take some Midol.

[skatecubed]

@TheMrBlinx How the hell is the man who posted this video a LIAR as you put it? I simply addressed your ignorant statement that his title was wrong, the one you made with so much class, or did I bruise your seemingly fragile ego with the question "What the hell do you think all those pretty bright lights were?" to which you replied, again with no class, "So why didn't you put "ARK flash incident", asshole?" where you called me an asshole for correcting you, wow, you have a thin skin buddy!

[TheMrBlinx]

@skatecubed Shit, you are too stupid to even READ properly, aren't you, asshole?! Duhhh! READ the title, pig, and you will see that it is grossly incomplete unto being a lie. Are YOU such a liar that you can't see a lie if it bit you, dumb ass?

[skatecubed]

@TheMrBlinx yes, I have read the title, it is common to use Flash and not "flash ark" when referring to something like this, I forgive you for not knowing this, you clearly are not familiar with this type of incident, so we should not expect much...Asshole!

Go waste your trolling time somewhere else....

[mrsfuss101906]

@skatecubed and @TheMrBlinx

*arc

You're both dumbasses.

[resaebiunne]

Holy hell!

[fernblatt]

Where did this occur?

[metermatch]

17 minutes into this and nobody can make a call and get to the power dispatcher, and get the line dropped? A call from the fire department in the City of LA would get that line dropped in 5 to 30 seconds. And yes, stay the heck away from it. Nothing you can do in the field.

[TSM8088]

Anyone know what would happen if it started raining really hard? Would the current jump through the air?

[TSM8088]

Wouldn't the main safety breaker to that house be "tripped" to off at the first surge? It looks like power is flowing through every outlet in the house...

[TSM8088]

@TSM8088 ...I see my comment already addressed below. I guess if this is happening outside your home, it's best not to try to shut off your home's main breaker?

[bed928]

Not to insult all volunteers.

[johnmason2354]

There is NO way this could interfere with radio transmissions..

Hell, they could drive a couple of blocks away and call if it did.

[resaebiunne]

@johnmason2354 WRONG!

[KNaBisco]

Johnmason - There's nothing they can do.

[johnmason2354]

@KNaBisco

Yes, they can radio in and cut the substation in a few minutes..

OR, they can open the OCB's or the disconnects at the first disconnect point.

[bmecher]

The EMI coming off those sparks would purely ruin radio transmission as well. Drive down the road to get a message out, by phone.  Looks like the firemen aren't doing much aside from trying to keep the people safe. Don't blame them.

Someone lost a job, and there was a Whole bunch of insurance claims to process.........

[0099f]

I guess no one has ever heard of step potential. everyone walking around while the metal guttering was lighting up the house. I am very suprised no one got killed. Just very lucky that the earth had just enough resistance.

[johnmason2354]

BTW

These fireman must be Union!

LOL

[cmazzac]

Yeah they should spray water on it huh dude... lolololololol..... your a dumbass. You must be non-union

[johnmason2354]

@cmazzac

No, that is your UNION was, you piece of socialist garbage..

Fuck the union and you slimey "brothers"...

You stink like shit because you ARE.

BTW little dickhead...

My father was with the power company dating back to the 1930's and I have been since the 1970's...

Now, back to your "union" laziness..

[cmazzac]

Really dont care about you or your dads resumes. Its too bad your such an arrogant asshole, because I usually respect my elders. P.S I would work circles around you at your best. Not to mention I am a consevative, obviously your wisdom isnt all giving, huh?

[johnmason2354]

@cmazzac

Only thing you "union" morons could work around is the head of your stewards wienie.....

LMFAO

Now, back to your sociialist union hall and your pathetic "union"...

ha ha ha ha ha

You idiots are nothing but lazy bastards that use the union to further your laziness...

[cmazzac]

I am not speaking for my "Union Brothers" I am speaking for myself. Keep "laughing your ass off" asshole while we keep gaining market share. All our local city power, is union. They wouldn't hire your wormy ass reguardless of what your daddy did. Keep slobbing your way to the top it would be pretty pathetic if you werent already there considering the "many" years your old ass has invested in it.....

[mike4ty4]

@cmazzac "P.S I would work circles around you at your best." <--- This is not arrogance, right? (if it is, then you shouldn't be complaining about someone else's.) Finally, do you know him or are familiar with his work (as otherwise I am perplexed as to how you'd obtain the necessary information to determine this)?

[mike4ty4]

@johnmason2354 , @cmazzac: all you can do is just talk garbage and hate each other. Go ahead, make more war. There's not enough of it in this world.

[bed928]

@johnmason2354 yeah the union fireman know enough to stay away from 34,000 volts. you must be a hero stem whacking volly

[johnmason2354]

That is what the power company gets for removing the OCR's/OCB's and using overfusing.

[MsMaxpro]

У-У-У-У БЛЯЯЯЯЯ!!!!!!!!!!

[KC8YOQ]

Did the tower fall?

[redsquirrelftw]

Wow that's some scary stuff. Crazy that it's even effecting the houses. Wonder if turning off the breaker would have done anything... not that it would be safe to go inside near the breaker panel at that point...

[cambriacity]

Very Angry electric. Very Angry!

[rawtorque]

@cambriacity Angry? Just out of control.

[dusty344]

Seriously, was it really that hard to call the power cie and tell them to cut the power off?

[scoter1]

Not that easy to shut stuff down unfortunately.

[joejeckle]

yea when that house started arcing it freaked me out, the tree service is goin to have to pay the owners for getting there house rewired

[chickenwing562]

2:14 is the service (Weather head) to that house smoking?

[Pujc]

Why in a hell nobody turn down the  elektricity?? 5/5

[Darthane]

Because, when you have that much juice arcing around the power lines, you walk away from anything metal find a nice comfy spot and just watch the show. (as the camera op did)

Yeah, going over to your switch board to turn the power off and grabbing a 33kv to the arm will not save your home, it just ain't worth it, its just junk :)

[therealromster]

It would be stupid but cutting the power cable off the house and move it away would be the only way to of saved that house. while you got those dangerous voltages that can jump, problem is removing the cable removes the earth off the neutral so the next house cops more damage.

[johnmason2354]

@Darthane

Agreed, but most companies have remote controlled ocb's that they can control from a control room. At least, they could have removed the susbstation from the grid and put a stop to this situation.

[ARR016a]

is that good thing or a bad thing?

[aurora990]

any electrical arc on a power line causes power surge and that will lead to damage to wires, electric meters and electrical equipment. this is one of the reasons to have a surge protector device for electronics.

[johnmason2354]

@aurora990

Surge protector would have done absolutely no good on this entry of HV into the home. It would have melted them down in an instant.

The apparent overfusing of this line is the cause that it did not cut off. Many companies are removing the oil circuit breakerand oil circuit reclosers and replacing them with one time fuses and they overfuse to prevent outages when a surge hits the line.

[aurora990]

@johnmason2354 wow. usually people expect the power to shut off when there is an electric arc or any power surge. the video proves that it is not always true. now I learned surge protectors can be destroyed faster than previously thought.

[Peter4101]

I belive this is wht happends when elctricity is uncontroled.

[fnsmyd]

I believe THIS is what happens when education systems are underfunded.

[torontomapleleafer]

Man, ya should have seen the electric panels inside the houses afterward, nothing left to the except for some charred boxes and melted wiring. Actually blew the meter boxes right off the houses and into pieces, and blew out windows, some pretty crazy stuff.

[Shalinar45]

And who paid for all the repairs to the houses and their contents?

[jhSparky]

wow... utility overcurrents are set high but i didnt think that high... you would think a recloser wouldve kicked out sooner and held it open at some point. apparently not. But the house that caught fire was pretty cool to watch. I would think that if sparks were coming from my gutters I would get the hell away from that house. There's gotta be some voltage leaking to ground and you're standing right in it.

[rawtorque]

The reclosers had been taken out for testing, per another posting. The Tree trimmer company had to pay for this since they started this mess.

[aurora990]

someone has to be responsible for starting an electrical disaster while trimming trees. let us hope the tree trimmer company have enough money to pay for the damage caused by electrical arcs from improper tree trimming near power lines.

[fullrangechris]

Damn the lines usually cutout in like a minute... if that. mustve been awesome to see..

[Beenizz]

they should spray it, with water :?)

[elpepio81]

you should never spray it with water it will track over so fast you won't know what hit you thats what we always tell the fire dept. stay away I am a Journeyman Lineman In Laredo, Texas over 10 years

[youknuckle]

Looks like a horror movie...

[evolesel]

Wow. I have done many assesments of this kind of incident. I can't believe the line did not burn free up-stream before causing this much damage. Oh well, it looked like such a nie day otherwise. Isnt that always the case.

[rawtorque]

Do search for Harford County Power Surge Part 2, and look at more damage this did!

[PLCJockey]

Looks like a ratty grid anyways..... Where was the line protection? There is definitely a fault there somewhere. L-L or L-G, can't imagine a recloser keeping it on there.... Pathetic engineering

[quantumbits]

Gees! HA!CSomebody just didn't get the word!

TURN OFF THE F---N GRID!

[Jpressman8]

It's called induction......

[Jpressman8]

You don't know what electromagnetic energy is?

Electrical arcs of that size send out electromagnetic energy and can sometimes damage small electronics 100ft or so away from the arc.

[Jpressman8]

Holy S*** that is unbelievable... I could only imagine the electromagnetic evil in the air. WOW!!!!!

[nonomt]

Electromagnetic evil.... umm What?

[boz260]

Electromagnetic evil in the air? You been smokin to much shit, not enough air! Have you any idea how stupid you sound?

[toojsneej74]

Boy I bet the smell of ozone in that neighborhood was overwhelming.

[cooldude76pl]

Bloody hell! This is terrible!

[dquiroz21]

Amazing how long this arc went on.Surprised the cables lasted so long.Makes you wonder about the rest of the electrical grid and the type of protection it has.

[NewtonicProductions]

don't see that everyday!lol

[konabiker9]

hmm i wonder if that would do eye damage cuz of uv rays but idk

[BenHutchinson1]

I'm surprised that there was NOT more than just smoke in this video. By the sparking houses, I was sure that every house on the block would catch fire, go up in flames, and the whole block would become one BIG fire storm. And where's the fire trucks? Shouldn't there be more than a few fire men walking around just looking at what's going on?

[bigboy071]

Last year, during strong winter storm (not only the snow, but much rather the very high winds), a block near my apartment went into fire because of similar problem. 5KV got to touch the low voltage (120V) of that block a few times (or a metalic portion of the building)?

Every electric appliances in that block went into smoke, but I remember seeing, 3 times, sparks all along the metal frame of the roof. Very white and bright sparks, exactly like those white cracking fireworks at pyro show.

[VideyoJunkei]

That house got more than 330...with arcing, maybe the whole 33KV??

[mima14031985]

Oh my GOD!!! The short circuit on the high voltage power line is blowing everything which is connected to, even in houses! Looks like a phase to phase short circuit. Why the HV fuse at the transformers doesn't blow?

[tifius]

Why isn't a fuse blowing?

[berndpfe]

Just looks like all those "inhouse" 110V lines are partially charged with a factor 3 of this ? (330V - or more?). Really, such will fry almost everything of the appliances and wires in- and outside of the houses.

A very expensive lawsuit will follow after this incident...

[pirata3pe]

please, be careful with the electricity

[risjnet]

Wooow... unbelieve video!!! amazing!!! :o

[rawtorque]

More about this can be found under Harford County on YouTube. 11,000 lost their power from this. The nearby homes had fried wiring & appliances.

[ARR016a]

harford county MD??!!??

[Darkheartsuffering]

yep

[Remi762]

why did all the service heads catch on fire???

[monte0007]

I wonder if the surge protector saved their computer? LMFAO!

[rawtorque]

The average surge protector would be a smoldering, molten chunk of metals & plastics after that!

[kmeyer453]

I saw this vid in a relaying class and the explanation the instructor gave is this. A substation crew pulled out all three protective relays for testing, a tree trimming crew dropped a tree limb on the primary and since there were no relays the ckt couldnt trip.

[Mariencho]

It probably didn't trip the circuit because it wasn't seeing it as a fault it was seeing it as more load so it just kept on burnin! lol thats some crazy shit!

[RyuDarragh]

Clear case of the stupids. The lineman should have called the grid operator and had that whole damn part of the grid disonnected. Someone is getting (gotten) so damn fired over that. Can you say multimillion dollar law suits ? :P

[hossdogg2]

been doing linework 35 years havent seen shit like that nor do I want to

[thordaddy9]

i dont understand why it didnt knock the recloser out...im a lineman and usually its a 3 shot on the recloser which means it will flash 3 times then knock the recloser out killin the line

[missmurder990]

yeah, it sounds like it automatically reclosed a couple of times, why did'nt they dump the circuit....unfuckin' believable!!

[peumnokchick]

I cant believe that circuit stayed closed through all that... Unbelievable, they couldnt have turned off the recloser before the work? Problably fried the radio on the truck, it does not seem like a good idea to use a telephone in someones house at that point....

[rawtorque]

Wow, this IS amazing! I thought the substation burn up in Florida was a mean video. Yep, it sounds like 34kv shorted to the wrong circuit, but not enough draw to blow the breaker.

I don't know why the power crew didn't haul butt to the nearest switch.

[stonerj0e]

where is this from?

[gcorp19512]

from looking at the poles, it would be Baltimore Gas and Electric.

[rgsgww]

lol i just keep going back to this....those linesman are in some deep shit

[rgsgww]

lol i just keep going back to this....those linesman are in some deep shit

[stonerj0e]

priceless!

[rgsgww]

oh...look at that one house...the 39 or 13kv must have either shorted to the lower voltage service or damaged the transformers...hopefully that house just suffered extensive damage instead of house fire

[Atomic101Heli]

Ho,y Fuck thats alot of shit arcing man!

[Atomic101Heli]

Idont get its arcing from the pole to the truck?

[shadowscraper]

Only 13kV?

That looks and sounds like more than 13kV..

[rgsgww]

its 39...maybe 39kv shorting to the 13kv phases?

[drewhastheinternet]

looks like the arc found it's way to the low side of a pole transformer and energized thoes houses with high voltage. THis must have destroyed the ground wire for that house's service entrance, eventually finding another path to ground through the metal eaves. That whole house would have to be demolished, Wood turned to charcoal, every last bit of wire, destroyed. THat was fucking amazing!

[ononotpaul]

wow

[rhett99rebel]

lol

[weegerri1sm]

drewhastheinternet, I was thinking that.. the damage to the house must have been emmense! o.o

[mike4ty4]

"That whole house would have to be demolished, Wood turned to charcoal, every last bit of wire, destroyed. "

You mean in those few minutes so much structure was turned into charcoal it would have been too weak/expensive to repair? Wow.

[codemsan]

electricity will burn wood internally in seconds!!! it is very easy for electricity to destroy whatever gets in its way

[mike4ty4]

"electricity will burn wood internally in seconds!!! it is very easy for electricity to destroy whatever gets in its way "

Oh, so it actually burns the wood by attempting to conduct through it, not simply by burning it from the outside due to the heat from the hot wires?

[codemsan]

yes, it will use the moisture in the wood to conduct, and there doesnt have to be a lot of moisutre either!

[mike4ty4]

Ah.

[VideyoJunkei]

How in the hell did the power 'get on' the metal gutters?!

[drewhastheinternet]

looks like the arc found it's way to the low side of a pole transformer and energized thoes houses with high voltage. THis must have destroyed the ground wire for that house's service entrance, eventually finding another path to ground through the metal eaves. That whole house would have to be demolished, Wood turned to charcoal, every last bit of wire, destroyed. THat was fucking amazing!

[ricksbulbs]

insane! never saw a failure like that before!

[hansi789654123]

Wow! The best arc video I ever saw. The scene with the house at the end is unbelievable!!!

[Scitech101]

SWEETNESS! ALL FIVE!

[luisdenunes]

It doesn't smell like something is burning.

Smells like a law sue...

[tall32guy]

This video is on here, the full version. Apparently it was in 1988, not sure where though.

[elz118]

that power company wants there asses kicked!

[dc10man06]

sue

[idosound]

I've been a television transmission engineer for the past 25 years. This video gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "power surge" as well as a renewed respect for the amount of energy the power distribution system can deliver.

[ronfake1]

I guess I should have cut the red wire instead. Oops!

[asayler35]

This is one of the most wicked distribution power accidents I've found on the web, second only to the famous substation fireball. What is the whole story?