Throw the Switch!!!

[jhende3]

Seen something similar when opening up a 19000 lateral switch, the arc seems to last longer when your standing under it.

[av8tor17b]

Bet it makes great hot dogs.

[chicchitammuottocifa]

that's scary



[bed928]

Nevada

[Tornento]

anyone of you know where this power plants is at?

[Fuzzyscribble]

They knew that was going to happen when they opened the switch...the interrupter was dead. (Sorry...in the industry...seen that one a MILLION times.)

[carlocardillo]

why does it happen....

[Fuzzyscribble]

Inside the interrupter..there's a six gap nozzle system insulated with an inert gas. When all of the gaps open at once...it actually takes what would be a large arc...and breaks it up into six sections.

This happened because the switch opened when the interrupter wasn't working properly. Instead of breaking the circuit...the plasma arc shown was created. It was filmed for a training video.

[kirbyman1kanden7pf]

WOAH about how well would that cook you?

well done?

[rysheck]

Maybe install a load break switch?

[killawhattt]

The way they are supposed to work is the interrupters both trip, grading capacitors or resistors cause the open circuit voltage to split evenly across the two interrupters, the switch blades open with no current flow, and the interrupters close as the switch reaches the full open position. I originally titled this very BIG capacitor because that is what unloaded transmission line looks like. The parallel wires have a huge capacitive effect between ground and each other.

[carlocardillo]

why does the power not continue to flow if its able to bridge the gap so easily.

[blackflamed88]

Thats what happens when you break under load

[thedkuke]

thats a lot of electricity!