Our buckets are tested every year so we dont use liners in them. Our HV glover are changed out each month and tested and our sleeves are changed every 3 months of course with that said we are responsible for testing them before each use with a glove inflator! Regarding pricing we do get discounted rates on fixtures and things like that! Like tony said it would take longer to try to repair it on the pole with gloves on and if you have to take it down you might as well replace it! now there are times where the fixture is in good condition and I will take it down to make the repairs properly then reinstall it but that never involves replacing the ballast! Of course if replacing a starter or capacitor will fix the problem then that is done but that also depends on the condition of the fixture! If I'm going to end up back there as soon as I leave then I'm gonna change the fixture! When working I'm not focused on trying to save everything I'm there to get the light burning and seeing how I know the fixtures are no where what some have been quoted it's cheaper! Also keep in mind there is no way you would catch me trying to Reba last a 327 on a pole w/ 17Kv gloves on! I think anyone here who has worked in them will agree with me!
Well I don't see the need for 17kV gloves when doing streetlighting for starters, I am NOT talking about repairing every fixture when they die but it is very wasteful to replace 1kW floods or shoeboxes if they die, they are easy to repair anyways, and I know they are pretty expensive. Electricians reballast fixtures everyday and they still have to do it quickly...
The thing is Niall, is that we're in the proximity of high voltage lines. That is why we must wear 17kv gloves, incase the primary comes intact with the fixture your working on.
Okay, I wasn't thinking about that because many of our lights are on their own poles, far away from any utility lines. I think some of the safety rules are a bit silly to put it mildly, what is the real likely hood of the fixture "contacting the primary line" I know you have to follow the rules and procedures the company makes but some seem plain stupid...
If you get caught not wearing 17KV gloves when working on powerline poles with high voltage lines, then you will get fired or be banned from fixing streetlights and be demoted!!! If the floods aren't on a high voltage poles, then that is a different story. Niall do you remember those?! THAT IS THE REASON! It could happen any time!
About 80% of the lights I work on are one a utility pole in the proximity of HV lines. Only the springfield area is on their own aluminum poles. Those we are allowed to use our 1kv gloves which are a but easier to use but still a pain.
Lets see, he said there where high winds in the area at the time, I don't believe they would be allowed to work if the winds where high enough to cause that damage. What I find funny is they still allow linemen to climb poles (which is much more dangerous than using 1000 volt gloves while fixing a light) but insist on them doing little things like this that will get in their way.
When they climb on the poles they must wear those high voltage sleeves see here
you are honestly getting into my nerves...if you are gonna have this attitude there is likely you will never become a lineman because to be a lineman you must cooperate and understand the jobs. They wouldn't hire someone who would get hurt or killed. I know someone who worked with me at school who's friend got KILLED working on a streetlight before I was born! He was simply changing a lightbulb in the streetlight and he got killed from an electrical shock!
Well equipment can also fail out of nowhere as well. An old timer I work with told me a story about a time they were doing a transformer change out and the next pole down ended up having the cross arm break bringing the primary into the pole. Thank goodness for "HOT LINE TAG" on the local recloser which prevented the line from re energizing into a fault.
Well Jace I honestly have no plans to be a lineman, I would much rather be an electrician where you actually have job freedom to a certain extent, anyways I'm not going to say anymore on this topic, so I will not post another comment on this picture unless it is totally unrelated.
I was an electrician before I was a linemen Niall and its just as strict. Electricity is a dangerous thing that's all and we need to respect it. I'm not trying to start a world war over this, I'm just giving my experiences from working in the field.
Even being an electrician there are some rules, although not as tough as being a lineman.....also if they ask you to replace the whole fixtures, you must do it! If they tell you can't keep the old ballasts, then you must follow that! Every jobs has rules. You must follow the OSHA rules, which are also included in electrical jobs? Why? I have read an electrician got killed replacing a ballast with 277 volts. Because even electrician, accidents happen. So don't go thinking that way either on any electrical jobs, even plumbing and carpentry, safety glasses are required!
And I expect you to reply, because you have gotten yourself into this...and you are starting to act like a know it all. Nobody likes a know it all without having experience!
Tony, I thank you for your help BIG time, this helps educate others to be aware of what is INVOLVED!!! Same goes for Gmercury2000!
I've seen stories to jace where electricians get burned from explosions from working in AC panels. I don't want to ever see anybody ever get hurt or killed from electricity. On the same note, I also don't want to scare people from the trade. It's a great field with alot of knowledge and it's always changing.
I also don't want Niall to feel like he's being attacked, I just want to share my knowledge with him. I hope someday he will pursue the electrical field.
Yes exactly, those scary stories will happen in split seconds! My electrical professor has told us scary actual scary stories. Even the people THEY knew who died from simple electrical jobs. Carelessness, and not taking precautions or ignoring the rules and thinking it's stupid and decide to not follow rules has lead to death!!!
Well Jace (I define this as a different topic) it's not like I'm not willing to follow safety rules, it is far from that. If it is explained I am more than happy to use whatever PPE is needed, ex. I never really though about the possibility of a primary line falling on the mast arm, now that that has been explained I would be more than happy to wear the gloves if I was in that situation. Some is just common sense as well, I always use safety glasses when drilling cutting ect. I also use gloves if necessary plus steel toed boots if needed and I wear safety vest for night time events. OSHA is not applicable here but I do know about many of the safety rules for Ontario.
Please be sure to read the other comments, Tony has explained he was an electrician before lineman, and the rules are just as strict, he is right because I have certification from electrical college.
I did read the other comments, it may be just as strict but in different ways. I know three master electricians and sure they are safety concerned, so am I, but not to the extent it gets in their way. Plus quite a bit of residential/commercial work you can de-energize the circuit, in that case it can be a lot safer. Don't worry, none of this is pushing me away from the trade, but Jace is starting to push me away from this site...
The whole point of this conversation is to simply explain the basis for not repairing every fixture from several members who deal with them on a daily basis with a lot more I depth knowledge as to what's involved! Everyone has their opinion however when it is explained as to the reasons for things to be done the way they are with proof of them that should be enough to convince one! I'm not saying there are not times your point may be valid but once you have done the work and worked in the conditions then you should really stop pushing the issue! It's not a matter of right or wrong! It's a matter of simple fact and that has nothing to do with PPE! To me that is second nature to me as well as to Tony as I am sure! It's what has to be done and it's what we do and do not question policies! Nobody is trying to upset anybody but in reality one has to stop ant look at a utilities point of view! Customer focus! It by far makes more sense to replace over reballast! Regarding the procedures for an electrician I can't say anything for I have not been one! But from a linemans stand point I can speak and I am talking from proof that I have seen. So when someone with expirence speaks please don't act as though we don't know what we are talking about. That's why this topic is dragging out the way it is! There are lineman who may deal with a light once a month as to where it's what I do on a daily basis!
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you are honestly getting into my nerves...if you are gonna have this attitude there is likely you will never become a lineman because to be a lineman you must cooperate and understand the jobs. They wouldn't hire someone who would get hurt or killed. I know someone who worked with me at school who's friend got KILLED working on a streetlight before I was born! He was simply changing a lightbulb in the streetlight and he got killed from an electrical shock!
And I expect you to reply, because you have gotten yourself into this...and you are starting to act like a know it all. Nobody likes a know it all without having experience!
Tony, I thank you for your help BIG time, this helps educate others to be aware of what is INVOLVED!!! Same goes for Gmercury2000!
I also don't want Niall to feel like he's being attacked, I just want to share my knowledge with him. I hope someday he will pursue the electrical field.
Electricity is not a toy!