Thoughts on this method?

[u/bodhiAP]

[u/Vagus_M]

I’ll be that guy today:

1) Yes, that is the correct way to do that.

2) Electrocution isn’t the right term

3) The real concern is arc flash, which is a fancy term for explosion. Long list of reasons why, but it happens sometimes.

Basically, you’re looking at a controlled lightning bolt worth of energy. If shit goes sideways, it’s going to melt the shit out of something, and that something is now a superheated gas that takes up a large amount of space in a too-short amount of time (explosion). So you have superheated gas with bits of metal flying around, because fuck you, yes you, in particular, that’s why.

That’s why you have to wear a bomb suit and have absolutely no exposed skin.

TBH if money/ efficiency wasn’t a concern, it’s something that you’d do with robots in an argon-flooded room. Check back in 20-30 years.

Edit: The guy with the hook doesn’t have to have a bomb suit because he’s outside the calculated blast distance. His job is to be nimble and be able to notice things because he’s not wearing a giant-ass suit. Probably should still have a face shield though.

[u/beast4daeast → u/Vagus_M]

This is correct answer.

[u/rhagnarius → u/Vagus_M]

I think a chicken switch/RAD would be safer personally. But I assume they did a JHA.

Also, it looks like a 40+ cal suit. So I wouldn’t put money that the hook man is actually outside the arc flash boundary. That or they are just over-prepared.

[u/Vagus_M → u/rhagnarius]

I want people to know that you’re right.

I’m assuming that the video is just for training/ demonstration purposes, there is a camera after all.

Tell me if I’m wrong, but I would expect the arc flash zone to be something like 25 ft.

[u/tater_terd → u/Vagus_M]

I really don’t understand why there aren’t any remote controlled MOV circuit breaker/valves for this procedure.

[u/padimus → u/Vagus_M]

The two times I've been the hook guy (we called em hookers bc we're immature) we still had to wear rated faceshield, ear plugs, FR pants, and shirt at a minimum. I wore my FR coat too bc I was pretty nervous. IIRC the shirt/pants were only rated at like 12 cal/cm2 and the coat was 25 cal/cm2.

Glad I don't have to do that anymore. The folks who do got bigger cajones than me.

[u/HavSomLov4YoBrothr → u/Vagus_M]

I’m a residential/commercial sparky, thanks for this explanation.

I learned about this stuff obviously but never had a demonstration and this concise description like this, love the robots idea.

Come to think of it, why DONT we use robots?

I mean obviously they’d be expensive and potentially fail as all things can, I guess a settlement every so often is cheaper? Damn

[u/Vagus_M → u/HavSomLov4YoBrothr]

When I took a class on it, we got the usual explanation about how arc flashes can happen because of the ionization of the air, if I’m remembering correctly. So I asked, why don’t we flood the room with a noble gas, that can’t ionize? Crickets.

Maybe I’m wrong, but maybe it’s just something that’s always been done that way and no-one has tried differently. I hope the kids do better.

[u/HavSomLov4YoBrothr → u/Vagus_M]

Damn straight. I suppose it’d be expensive to totally seal the room, have the gas inert and safe till it’s needed, supply the robots and those operating them, etc.

But yea, that kind of outta the box thinking is what the world needs. You should pursue or at least publish this idea. I bet plenty of utility companies would at least consider the idea, could save some lives.

I’d do it but I’m neck deep in doing the takeoff on a custom home and am broke, so I don’t have “save some lives” kinda time on my hands lol

[u/Vagus_M → u/HavSomLov4YoBrothr]

To be honest, a low-oxygen area would still be quite dangerous to any people, similar to a halon fire suppression system.

I’m still surprised that they don’t do it to protect the equipment, can’t exactly order replacement parts from Uline for this stuff.

[u/aimsteadyfire → u/Vagus_M]

Good thing the matuhmitition calculated the blast radius less than 10ft

[u/ReddtitsACesspool]

Wouldn't the issue being an arc blast?

[u/Vagus_M → u/ReddtitsACesspool]

Correct

[u/PomegranateOld7836]

Electrocution isn't the risk and that guy in the back that would be blind from an arc flash will be too slow. It's all up to the suit, but it gives you some peace of mind that someone will snatch you away.

When I did live work with an actual electrocution risk, my buddy would always grab a 2x4.

[u/Odd-Knee-9985 → u/PomegranateOld7836]

Speaking of suits, my guys work around/with cabinets that are legally required to say “There is no suitable PPE to operate this equipment while opened”

I work in data centers and the boxes are 480V

[u/EDJ1144 → u/Odd-Knee-9985]

I’ve seen generators with arc flash ratings of over 120cal. Probably the same thing you’re talking about.

[u/aimsteadyfire → u/PomegranateOld7836]

A 2x4? So he could beat your dumbass?

[u/PomegranateOld7836 → u/aimsteadyfire]

He always looked really excited to use it... Ancient government gear that couldn't be shut down. Luckily, insulated tools and PPE existed, even back then.

[u/soul_motor]

I'm sure that is the standard method taught to electricians. Whether you actually see it in the field is a different question.

[u/Internal-Challenge97]

What’s wrong? That’s the correct way to do it

[u/Soakitincider]

What’s the question? He’s got an arc flash suit on which is much more than most people do. He’s also got a way out but when that takes place it’s going to be really hot. Vaporizing metal hot not just melting it.

[u/r2k-in-the-vortex]

Honestly, it makes no sense. There is no good reason why this shouldn't simply be remote operated.

It's just flipping a lever. This is trivial to make a mechanism for, and then you dont have to hope the bomb suit is enough.

[u/InigoMontoya313 → u/r2k-in-the-vortex]

We have both dedicated robots and portable devices with the dubiously chosen name of “Chicken Switch”. Unfortunately even these options are not universal enough for all switch gear out there.

[u/r2k-in-the-vortex → u/InigoMontoya313]

Sound like:

"I dont have the correct tool for the job so instead I risk life and limb"

[u/TheAverageDark → u/r2k-in-the-vortex]

Why buy a pricy robot when you can just have some expendable serf- I mean “valued team member” do it.

[u/BE805]

The incident energy isn’t that high if the guy with the stick is outside of the arc blast radius. The problem with incredibly high energy is the arc blast which is equivalent to multiple sticks of dynamite.

[u/No-Performance4989]

What do YOU think is the issue here?

[u/Due-Improvement7247]

‘Electrocution’ infers death, by definition.

[u/Annual_Ad6999]

And they say the Sandman didn't have a real job.

[u/TrashOrganic]

Two types of electricians: 1) those that follow Arc Flash procedures and wear correct AF PPE; 2) those that wish they had.

[u/i_Praseru]

What’s the problem? This is better than the chair method.

[u/Cold-Card4587]

Get the hook guy some arc flash gear. Theres osha and nfpa standards to help with this. The current image shows a serious osha violate and somebody that will have serious burns.

[u/No-Individual-3329]

I didn't have a puller off guy when I did this. 😲

[u/ResolutionMaterial81]

BTDT.....Pucker Factor is sky high!

Glad I am no longer "that guy"!

[u/Fckem_in_the_neck]

We use a chicken switch to close high voltage breakers from behind a brick wall

[u/Stoked004]

This is why I love the mimic board

[u/ThatGuy_OverThere_01]

Installed chicken switches on all of our HV cabinets at the plant I used to work at… our maintenance electricians actually thanked us for it.