supersurgilator
Well-known member
What would cause something like this to occur, and how often do you suppose it happens?
Electric Transformer
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toggleswitch2
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Overload, stressed metal, compromised insulators.
I've seen transformetrs pop in Provinctown Massachusetts were the poulation swells for the summer and the electrical system can't handle it.
I've seen transformetrs pop in Provinctown Massachusetts were the poulation swells for the summer and the electrical system can't handle it.
Heat.
Perhaps the transformer has aged and the dielectric (oil) has broken down. With high load perhaps a short occurs at some point, creating an arc. The oil (or other dielectric, like tar) inside is flammable, and what you see is basically an oil explosion.
It may be wise to steer clear of older exploding transformers, even after the fire has died out. The oil may contain PCB's which are carcinogenic. I understand that utility companies have been replacing the PCB laden transformers but I don't know if it's 100% done.
Perhaps the transformer has aged and the dielectric (oil) has broken down. With high load perhaps a short occurs at some point, creating an arc. The oil (or other dielectric, like tar) inside is flammable, and what you see is basically an oil explosion.
It may be wise to steer clear of older exploding transformers, even after the fire has died out. The oil may contain PCB's which are carcinogenic. I understand that utility companies have been replacing the PCB laden transformers but I don't know if it's 100% done.
redcarpetdrew
Well-known member
This could happen outside Kevin's House...
In his case, it's caused by having too many lit consoles on at the same time. It was only a matter of time... LOL!!!
RCD
In his case, it's caused by having too many lit consoles on at the same time. It was only a matter of time... LOL!!!
RCD
toploader55
Well-known member
OMG Drew...
I just had a sip of wine shoot out through my nose reading your post. You are too funny !!!
Do you really think it could happen ?
I just had a sip of wine shoot out through my nose reading your post. You are too funny !!!
Do you really think it could happen ?
Very interesting!
I was at a traffic light once during an electrical storm and a transformer blew to the left of me. Besides the huge boom metal flew everywhere. I almost crapped my pants!
There was an interesting video on youtube awhile back and I can't find it to post! Darn! In the video a tree company is doing tree work cutting limbs that were about to touch the high power lines. The company accidentally (of course) hit the high power lines with the boom. This causes the expected flashes. The issue was that the "line breakers" did not trip. Within 5 minutes of the video (that I think a resident on the street was filming) you see smoke start to come out of the attics of most of the homes on the block. My guess is that since the transformers blew and the "breakers" did not trip the homes were getting raw full power.
Such a scary thing.
I will keep searching and if I find the video will post here.
It really makes you think and respect electricity!
Great thread!
Brent
I was at a traffic light once during an electrical storm and a transformer blew to the left of me. Besides the huge boom metal flew everywhere. I almost crapped my pants!
There was an interesting video on youtube awhile back and I can't find it to post! Darn! In the video a tree company is doing tree work cutting limbs that were about to touch the high power lines. The company accidentally (of course) hit the high power lines with the boom. This causes the expected flashes. The issue was that the "line breakers" did not trip. Within 5 minutes of the video (that I think a resident on the street was filming) you see smoke start to come out of the attics of most of the homes on the block. My guess is that since the transformers blew and the "breakers" did not trip the homes were getting raw full power.
Such a scary thing.
I will keep searching and if I find the video will post here.
It really makes you think and respect electricity!
Great thread!
Brent
supersurgilator
Well-known member
I hope you can find that link, I cannot believe that would happen. So did basically all of the houses have electrical fires then as a result?
All the homes should have had main breakers mounted on the OUTSIDE of the homes, which should have tripped to prevent the "raw full power" from getting inside the structures.
Theoretically, that is.
I once lived in a town nearby that had terrible electric service. It seemed like every time there was a winter storm, the power would go out. The home was a rental and had only fuses with ungrounded outlets. Needless to say, I lost a fair amount of electronic equipment due to this situation (several VCR's, a TV, etc...).
One winter night there was a fierce storm and I woke up to a blinding white flash coming through my second story bedroom windows (which looked out on the street) and the sound of the transformer down the block exploding. Or something. There was no fire, that I recall. But the power went out of course.
I finally moved to this town where the electrical service is much more reliable. Even has grounded outlets, mostly.
Theoretically, that is.
I once lived in a town nearby that had terrible electric service. It seemed like every time there was a winter storm, the power would go out. The home was a rental and had only fuses with ungrounded outlets. Needless to say, I lost a fair amount of electronic equipment due to this situation (several VCR's, a TV, etc...).
One winter night there was a fierce storm and I woke up to a blinding white flash coming through my second story bedroom windows (which looked out on the street) and the sound of the transformer down the block exploding. Or something. There was no fire, that I recall. But the power went out of course.
I finally moved to this town where the electrical service is much more reliable. Even has grounded outlets, mostly.
I found the Video!
This is terrible, but it does happen Bruce. More than you would like to think.
Brent
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This is terrible, but it does happen Bruce. More than you would like to think.
Brent
<object width=425 height=344><param name=movie value=></param><param name=allowFullScreen value=true></param><param name=allowscriptaccess value=always></param><embed src= type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowscriptaccess=alwaysallowfullscreen=true width=425 height=344></embed></object>
Transformer failers like what was filmed is rare-but spectacular.At my workplace I am sorrounded by various transformers in the building in in the transmitters and their transformer vaults.Most of the ones we have here have pressure ratings and limits on their tanks-5Psi and 15 Psi as I have read on them-and their is a guage to tell what the pressure is-and venting to let off the gas and oil in case of overpressure.These have been tested.In one of our transmitters the transformers have Buchholtz protection-a two level gas pressure sensor that responds to minor arcs in a transformer case-warning-to major-trips off the primary power to the transformer.Power companies have that too on substation trasnformers.And transfromers have expansion tanks-a tank above the main transformer tank that holds expanded gas and oil.also serves as a reserve for when the transformer is cold and warming up.Substation transforemrs have these-the transformers provided by the power co out here have them.The transformers for our site step down 115Kv to 4160V-10Mva.A very powerful feeder.The 4160v current per phase can go up to 1400A!SCARY!!
Underground lines covered with a grate? Also new for me. I have only seen cables buried in soil. To avoid damage by digging a tough plastic strip of about one foot wide is laid over the cable. This serves as a warning that further digging can damage the cable. The strips are colour coded: red for electricity, blue for telephone, yellow for gas, green for cable tv.
toggleswitch2
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~in our urban areas lines are underground usually covered with a grate to allow air ciculation.
And when the salt gets in there (that the streets are treated/coated with), it rots and rusts everything and that causes problems also. *KABOOM* We had a massive transformer fire not long ago in NYC due to salt and snow.
Not to metninon salt makes water mor conductive.........
And when the salt gets in there (that the streets are treated/coated with), it rots and rusts everything and that causes problems also. *KABOOM* We had a massive transformer fire not long ago in NYC due to salt and snow.
Not to metninon salt makes water mor conductive.........
whirlcool
Well-known member
They really had a mess on their hands with that last transformer. I was putting out some real noise!
supersurgilator
Well-known member
Thanks for posting that link. That is absolutely unbelieveable. Like others have said why didn't these people's breakers trip? Would that have even been strong enough to protect against that mass amount of energy going into the homes?
