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Pole top fires (Perth power)
So, anyone on here been affected?
We haven't, luckily, I can imagine it's VERY Annoying, and much worse if you have a business! Still don't get this whole pole top fire thing. Someone said it's because of the dust and ash on top of the poles, and because of the humidity/rain this causes friction and a fire starts?? Apparently at the moment mainly Mandurah, Rockingham and another suburb are affected. Around 2,500 homes. |
Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by Simone
Still don't get this whole pole top fire thing. Someone said it's because of the dust and ash on top of the poles, and because of the humidity/rain this causes friction and a fire starts??
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Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Thanks! :)
So, what's 'arcing'? :D Sounds like something like friction... Anyway, there's lots to it, obviously. Flashovers occur mainly on transmission lines when, in combination with condensation or light rain, ash or dust build-up can cause arcing across insulators and dips and spikes in power supplies. This weakens the insulators and repeated arcing can cause the shut down of the power line. Pole top fires occur mainly on distribution lines when airborne material such as ash from bush fires, sea breeze salt or dust from the Wheatbelt settles on insulators on power line cross-arms. Condensation or drizzle absorbed by the build up of pollution can break down the effectiveness of the insulators. In light rain or drizzle the electric current can leak from the conductors, track through the damp pollution build up onto the wooden cross-arms and into the timber. The current heats up the timber which can, in some instances, result in a pole top fire. |
Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by Simone
Thanks! :)
So, what's 'arcing'? :D Sounds like something like friction... It's where electricity "jumps" across an insulating gap. Often this is because the air (normally a fairly good insulator) is humid enough that it becomes a conductor. It's still a very poor conductor, true, but good enough for the large voltages (several tens of thousands of volts) carried by power cables to be able to cross the gap. Lightning is an extreme form of arcing. Physics is wonderful. |
Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by MarkMyWords
Really? Not to English ears.
It's where electricity "jumps" across an insulating gap. Often this is because the air (normally a fairly good insulator) is humid enough that it becomes a conductor. It's still a very poor conductor, true, but good enough for the large voltages (several tens of thousands of volts) carried by power cables to be able to cross the gap. Lightning is an extreme form of arcing. Physics is wonderful. Great, get it now! It's like water is a conductor, because of all the elements in it. I was quite good at chemistry in High school, not physics though, and certainly not in English :D And I have a pretty bad memory... |
Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by Simone
Aha, thanks!
Great, get it now! It's like water is a conductor, because of all the elements in it. I was quite good at chemistry in High school, not physics though, and certainly not in English :D And I have a pretty bad memory... Early Sunday morning it went out for about half an hour, which was annoying as the kettle was half way through heating up when it happened. |
Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by MarkMyWords
Really? Not to English ears.
It's where electricity "jumps" across an insulating gap. Often this is because the air (normally a fairly good insulator) is humid enough that it becomes a conductor. |
Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by renth
Our power went out at about 8.15 Saturday night for just over an hour, which was annoying as I was watching a docco about the Spanish Armada.
I saw that docco to, your ok the English won. :D Its actually a very good series that with Peter Snow. I take it that its his son thats on it to. (Sorry for going off subject Simone) |
Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by steve99
How do they cope in more tropical locations where the humidity is constantly higher than the last couple of days in Perth? No overhead Powerlines ? :confused:
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Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by MarkMyWords
Good question. Larger insuation gaps? Lower overhead voltages? Still, the particular problem in WA is because the combination of ash and humidity causes persistent build-up of conducting gunge on the pole-tops. High humidity in itself is not such a problem, I think.
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Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by MarkMyWords
Good question. Larger insulation gaps? Lower overhead voltages? Still, the particular problem in WA is because the combination of ash and humidity causes persistent build-up of conducting gunge on the pole-tops. High humidity in itself is not such a problem, I think.
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Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by renth
Our power went out at about 8.15 Saturday night for just over an hour, which was annoying as I was watching a docco about the Spanish Armada.
Early Sunday morning it went out for about half an hour, which was annoying as the kettle was half way through heating up when it happened. Same here in Kinross........bit odd though as I could see accross Marmion Ave, and the 'power cut' appeared to be in patches. |
Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by renth
which was annoying as I was watching a docco about the Spanish Armada.
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Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
Originally Posted by Simone
So, anyone on here been affected?
We haven't, luckily, I can imagine it's VERY Annoying, and much worse if you have a business! Still don't get this whole pole top fire thing. Someone said it's because of the dust and ash on top of the poles, and because of the humidity/rain this causes friction and a fire starts?? Apparently at the moment mainly Mandurah, Rockingham and another suburb are affected. Around 2,500 homes. Perhaps someone was pole dancing!! causing the friction :D |
Re: Pole top fires (Perth power)
In a way it shows how in some areas that Australia is still quite primitive when it has to rely on its national power to be carried by dead trees.
I can only remember in the UK that these are in the countryside areas and not in cities. When will they put electric underground? |
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