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50 KV R. Thomas and Sons tie top insulator. The top of this insulator says "Thomas 56" The "Thomas" tells the brand but what's the 56?? ---- They are working on the powerlines between Coma and Fairplay, Colorado, Replacing them all and upgrading the voltage from 50 KV to 120 KV. They have lots of the new ones up already. They built a whole new set of 120 KV power lines from that feeded from another string of powerlines between Hartsel and Fairplay CO on State Highway C-9 (They built a power station where the new power lines feeded electricity from) to Fairplay to where the 50 KV power lines ended, and after they put power in the new set of power lines, (which are giving electricity to fairplay while the others are being worked on) they disconnected the older 50 KV powerlines and now they are working on them. They plan to work o the whole string of power lines all the way from Fairplay to Aspen Park, upgrading the voltage from 50 KV to 120 KV. The string of power lines they will replace happens to go close to my house, I can see the string of power lines they are going to work on outside my front yard, but when they get to working on the lines where I live I will probably be moved out and living in the Denver area. Anyway, I saw them putting the wires on the new poles that were set up and said hi, asked where the insulators replaced were they asked if I wanted a couple, they happened to have one in their work yard in a bucket truck, so they drove over there and took the gate down and let me in and got this insulator for me, how nice of them! Anyway how is it? Here is one of the poweline poles this came off of. (50 KV) (Not the exact one but all of them had this design.) [img]http://www.galleryoflights.org/streetview.png[/img] And here are what the new ones will look like. (No wires on this picture these were recently just put up. these will be 120 KV) [img]http://www.galleryoflights.org/newlines.jpg[/img] Keywords: Miscellaneous

50 KV R. Thomas and Sons tie top insulator.

The top of this insulator says "Thomas 56" The "Thomas" tells the brand but what's the 56??
----

They are working on the powerlines between Coma and Fairplay, Colorado, Replacing them all and upgrading the voltage from 50 KV to 120 KV. They have lots of the new ones up already.

They built a whole new set of 120 KV power lines from that feeded from another string of powerlines between Hartsel and Fairplay CO on State Highway C-9 (They built a power station where the new power lines feeded electricity from) to Fairplay to where the 50 KV power lines ended, and after they put power in the new set of power lines, (which are giving electricity to fairplay while the others are being worked on) they disconnected the older 50 KV powerlines and now they are working on them.

They plan to work o the whole string of power lines all the way from Fairplay to Aspen Park, upgrading the voltage from 50 KV to 120 KV. The string of power lines they will replace happens to go close to my house, I can see the string of power lines they are going to work on outside my front yard, but when they get to working on the lines where I live I will probably be moved out and living in the Denver area.

Anyway, I saw them putting the wires on the new poles that were set up and said hi, asked where the insulators replaced were they asked if I wanted a couple, they happened to have one in their work yard in a bucket truck, so they drove over there and took the gate down and let me in and got this insulator for me, how nice of them!

Anyway how is it?

Here is one of the poweline poles this came off of. (50 KV) (Not the exact one but all of them had this design.)


And here are what the new ones will look like. (No wires on this picture these were recently just put up. these will be 120 KV)
DSC04846_CGE_150W_Photographic_Lamp.JPG 5760NEG0009.jpg DSCN4596.jpg I-195_today1.jpg Lamp2.jpg
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Filename:DSCN4596.jpg
Album name:Lil'Cinnamon / Random Pics.
Keywords:Miscellaneous
Filesize:212 KiB
Date added:Sep 13, 2011
Dimensions:1000 x 882 pixels
Displayed:76 times
Color Space:sRGB
Contrast:0
DateTime Original:2011:09:14 06:36:17
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Exposure Time:1/30 sec
FNumber:f/3.4
Flash:Compulsory Flash
Focal length:7.9 mm
ISO:100
Light Source:Unknown: 0
Make:Nikon
Max Aperture:f/3.2
Model:COOLPIX S51
URL:http://www.galleryoflights.org/mb/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=8402
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Comment 1 to 19 of 19
Page: 1

LilCinnamon   [Sep 14, 2011 at 03:24 AM]
This thing is huge. I wonder why wooden poles would need insulators though..
joe_347V   [Sep 14, 2011 at 03:27 AM]
Nice of them to give you this, what's the dimensions of this thing?
LilCinnamon   [Sep 14, 2011 at 03:45 AM]
Dunno. Anyway I updated the picture info with pictures of the new and old powerlines.
gailgrove   [Sep 14, 2011 at 08:12 PM]
Maybe the 56 is the year it was made. And the reason wood poles need insulators is because wood conducts electricity! Not well, but when you are in the kV range it will catch fire!
LilCinnamon   [Sep 14, 2011 at 08:13 PM]
My guess wood doesn't need as much of insulation as metal poles? Or about the same?
SeanB~1   [Sep 14, 2011 at 08:18 PM]
Wood needs the same insulation, if it is wet or humid it is a pretty good conductor, especially at 50kV or more, it will do a spectacular fireworks display. Look at lightning hit trees.
LilCinnamon   [Sep 14, 2011 at 08:27 PM]
Anyway, This insulator looks smaller than the suspension insulators used on this string of power lines. I saw something though with the suspension, when the suspension insulators are suspending horizontal, (Starting the tension of the wire, or something) There is five porcelain disc suspension insulators, when it's suspending diagonal, for turning the wire at an obtuse angle, there are four porcelain disc suspension insulators, then when it's suspending downward just to hold the wire straight, there are three porcelain disc suspension insulators, I don't get that.
SeanB~1   [Sep 14, 2011 at 09:00 PM]
All to do with creepage distance across wet insulators. Only the bottom section of the insulator keeps its insulating properties when wet, so if it is horizontal you need more than if it is diagonal or vertical.
LilCinnamon   [Sep 15, 2011 at 01:07 AM]
I wonder if this insulator was made for 50 KV Maybe that's what the "56" might of been, It was rated for 56 KV. There are also some markings on this thing at the top.
gailgrove   [Sep 15, 2011 at 01:47 AM]
Hey Ian can you post a picture of this with something else so we can see how big it actually is?
Antstar85   [Sep 15, 2011 at 01:57 AM]
That "56" is the year the insulator was made. All our substation insulators have year marking on them. Were also in the process of removing all brown glass out of our system since is now becoming frail.
LilCinnamon   [Sep 15, 2011 at 02:04 AM]
Why aren't insulators made with brown glaze anymore? I only see grey glazed insulators go up now a days.
streetlight98   [Sep 15, 2011 at 02:14 AM]
Isn't this painted ceramic?
LilCinnamon   [Sep 15, 2011 at 02:15 AM]
Nope this is glazed, if it was painted the paint would be long gine by now since this probably has been in service for about 50 or 60 years.
streetlight98   [Sep 15, 2011 at 02:16 AM]
Okay, i see what you mean. How come the new ones are gray and not brown?
LilCinnamon   [Sep 15, 2011 at 02:19 AM]
Tony, you work on power line stuff right? Not exactly working ON them, but you work in the industry?
Antstar85   [Sep 15, 2011 at 04:21 PM]
Yes, I am a substation electrician for Northeast Utilities. I pretty much maintain and install everything in substations, even the lighting! Wink
LilCinnamon   [Sep 15, 2011 at 04:47 PM]
At a substation close to where I live (on a back road on the string of 50 KV power lines they WILL be working on) There are some insulators INSIDE the fenced in area that aren't in use... I wonder if I should contact IREA to see if I can snag some... A couple are like what are in this picture (But grey glazed instead) and some suspension.

Anyway, Are you able to get insulators I could have or something?
Form109   [Sep 17, 2011 at 06:32 AM]
lol @ the comment asking why wooden poles need insulators.

Comment 1 to 19 of 19
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