PG&E Power Pole Replacement

Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль

The end-of-the-line wooden residential power pole from 1962 that feeds my house and 2 of my neighbors has been leaning over for at least 25-30 years. Finally, a contractor from PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric) came out on May 25, 2022 to swap it with a brand new 50 foot pole and transformer. This is a video of that work.
Pole-arity ensues.

Пікірлер: 110

  • @Lynmun2010
    @Lynmun2010 Жыл бұрын

    soooo... based on your knowledge, experience and training, they didn't need the hotsticks. Sometimes, instead of speculating, you might stick to spectating. This was a well done job, by IBEW linemen. It appears that all safety protocols were observed, and work practices were nice. Well done job on the pole.

  • @linehandibew6205

    @linehandibew6205

    Жыл бұрын

    God he doesn’t shut up. Ibew done well done job brothers

  • @Longboard2311

    @Longboard2311

    Жыл бұрын

    This portion of commentary made my blood boil 😂 An individual with 0 hours in the trade, making remarks about, how a ticket carrying Journeyman Linemen should do his job! Hope this boys got double bubble for dealing with this one😂

  • @culbyj3665

    @culbyj3665

    5 ай бұрын

    yeahh this guy is a fuckin Karen I agree

  • @culbyj3665

    @culbyj3665

    5 ай бұрын

    yeah He knows everything!!!! what an asshole

  • @Its_Caidawg

    @Its_Caidawg

    Ай бұрын

    So I’m not sure about the knowledge this guy has but he knows the names of everything pretty well. But I hope he knows mostly every company has standard safety practices and bc he has a generator it might cause a bit of backfeed from his house

  • @billc6087
    @billc60872 жыл бұрын

    I could watch this all day...

  • @alexgonzales4966
    @alexgonzales4966 Жыл бұрын

    That wrap material is used for fire hardening-- at a cetain temp it will activiate and puff out like a marshmellow giving insulation to the pole from high heat.

  • @bigtiny1100

    @bigtiny1100

    Ай бұрын

    I thought it was bird wrap for wood peckers . Learned something new.

  • @jeremylopez8728
    @jeremylopez87286 ай бұрын

    Love that glass insulators were still in use on the service drops!

  • @michaelgagne1911
    @michaelgagne1911 Жыл бұрын

    Nice video they did a great job God bless them

  • @djjspec
    @djjspec11 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the video, they are replacing my pole today. Now i know what to expect.

  • @logancabori5813

    @logancabori5813

    4 ай бұрын

    Armorbuilt intumescent wrap for fire protection

  • @tishamiktarian9496
    @tishamiktarian94962 ай бұрын

    ❤😊They are replacing our power pole tomorrow here 😊 thank you for video, Knowledge And Letting me know Time frame 😊

  • @retroryan838
    @retroryan8389 ай бұрын

    I wish all new power poles still had the v shaped frame on it. It is such a defining look for power poles.

  • @EBTROUBLE
    @EBTROUBLE2 ай бұрын

    It’s amazing you talk so much about something which you know very little about….

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    2 ай бұрын

    Yes, my wife says that too.

  • @texaswelder9957
    @texaswelder995710 ай бұрын

    He was using hot stick to ensure the lines were actually de energized. To ensure no back feed

  • @gregorywoodcock2472

    @gregorywoodcock2472

    10 ай бұрын

    There are two lines one 7,200 an the other one is a neutral. Now they have put a jumper to hot line to the neutral so people like this guy has all ready turn on his generation I hope he was smart enough pull his meter.

  • @gregorywoodcock2472

    @gregorywoodcock2472

    10 ай бұрын

    His has a meter on his hot stick he was checking to make sure the power was off.

  • @mackfisher4487
    @mackfisher44872 жыл бұрын

    Ward the 4K really makes a difference I can read the date on your chimney liner project 1971. If you're looking for new content perhaps you could tackle reworking your parking lot, though I'm still anticipating your helping your friend out on reworking his old solar panels.

  • @thar6664
    @thar6664 Жыл бұрын

    The video was much better on silent. 👍

  • @PaulSinclair831
    @PaulSinclair8312 жыл бұрын

    Ward - i love watching your videos - thanks for putting this one up.

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Paul!

  • @kctyphoon
    @kctyphoon10 ай бұрын

    I’m a lineman for the telephone company for 23 years now. The truck that placed the pole is called a digger derrick. I actually run the same exact truck at my job. I’m betting the reason they used that pressure washer/vac truck to dig the hole is because of how close the pole was to your gas line. They cant use a machine to dig if its within 3 feet of any utility (although sometimes we cheat). Ive never actually seen that truck used before, and wish my company would get a contractor to do that for us. We would have had to enlarge that hole by hand, with long handle shovels if we HAD to use the same hole, or dig a new one on the other side of the gas line. Consider yourself lucky you live in the area you do, cause by me - this would NEVER happen all in one day, unless the pole broke and was laying on the ground - forcing both companies to show up at the same time. Usually, if we own the pole and are replacing it for whatever reason (upgrade to larger pole, rotted base, bad lean, ect). we just install a new one as close to old as we can - and then usually have to wait for the power company to move their lines first. This can take YEARS. Power Co cant touch our stuff, and obviously we cant touch theirs. But we will move all cable tv lines, and any other telecom provider. There are HUNDREDS of old poles waiting around to have their lines transferred over to the new poles. Ive even had to replace the “new” pole, with anther “new pole” from cars seeming to aim for the same poles when they crash. The old wooden “u guard” for ground wire was used when power companies used to use solid uninsulated copper wire for the ground. Its kept people from touching it, and helped deter theft. Nowadays with the price of copper, youll never see that anymore. You’ll see them use stranded copper wire thats insulated, copper plated, or just aluminum. Some of the insulation will even say “this is not copper” so people don’t cut if off thinking its worth something. We have a contractor service that comes to collect all our old pole pieces we bring back to the yard. I remember hearing years ago they were sold and shipped out of state, and burned as fuel for a gypsum plant where epa regulations were less restrictive. I cant say if that is 100% accurate - but I wouldn’t go chopping up any old pole pieces to burn in your indoor fireplace due to all the chemicals in them. Unless you happen to find an old cedar pole. Those didnt have anything in them. Rule of thumb for depth of set if 10% of the total pole length plus 2 feet. So your new 50 footer should be in the ground about 7 feet. There should be a brand on the side of the pole, (its its visible through that covering) about 4 feet above ground that would tell you the length, and class (how thick) the pole is. Never seen that pole covering either. For a while about a year ago, there was a pole shortage. We actually started getting ready to have to use fiberglass poles instead. Thankfully it never happened.

  • @kctyphoon

    @kctyphoon

    10 ай бұрын

    And for the record - when we place poles at my company - we are usually responsible for restoring the concrete on private property. We have contractors that will do it. Usually If it doesn’t happen, its because nobody submitted the request to have the contractor go fix it.

  • @Daniel-yi7gu

    @Daniel-yi7gu

    9 ай бұрын

    That's a lot of information, experience and knowledge

  • @Daniel-yi7gu

    @Daniel-yi7gu

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@kctyphoonhe's just a stuck up spoiled P.O.S

  • @billc6087
    @billc60872 жыл бұрын

    15:50 Love it. Like my Stihl also....!

  • @ElectroTree01

    @ElectroTree01

    Жыл бұрын

    One crew had a chainsaw like that too. Had one like that and my new different brand one is like that too.

  • @WardCo
    @WardCo2 жыл бұрын

    Word is the covering on the new pole is fire hardening. Which makes sense as it is kind of a cement cloth.

  • @Palm-Pine-Aussies

    @Palm-Pine-Aussies

    4 ай бұрын

    It’s a fiberglass wrapped pole not cement

  • @logancabori5813

    @logancabori5813

    4 ай бұрын

    Armorbuilt intumescent fire wrap

  • @gregorywoodcock2472
    @gregorywoodcock247210 ай бұрын

    Hey ward your primary line is 7.200 kv if that was 600,000 kv everyone standing around would have die easily.

  • @ysidroavila6454
    @ysidroavila6454 Жыл бұрын

    So...Joint Pole agreements JPA's which are apart of NCPA determine how much communications pay for their share of ownership of the pole. Usually from about 26' down is the communications company share. Asides from the modern wrapped pole with fire blanket, there is a nice new fiberglass cross-arm, and new style insulators, i wish they would upgrade my pole line!

  • @davefuelling7955
    @davefuelling795510 ай бұрын

    FYI, the high voltage coming into residential neighborhoods is usually between 17,000 volts and 45,000 volts, not 600,000 volts.

  • @pressrichardson6407

    @pressrichardson6407

    9 ай бұрын

    No, the voltage in neighborhoods and even commercial areas is typically 7200 volts to 14,400 volts in a wye distribution system

  • @thatonelonelyeagle5398
    @thatonelonelyeagle5398 Жыл бұрын

    Those brown suspension insulators look very nice! Looks like ohio brass pieces judging by how wide the outer ring is!

  • @paulrucker1786
    @paulrucker17867 ай бұрын

    You don’t have any code/ regulations as to how close you can put fences, etc. in vicinity of the pole at ground level?

  • @JosiahSmith-di5ui
    @JosiahSmith-di5ui21 күн бұрын

    I’m with Lockhart

  • @ElectroTree01
    @ElectroTree01 Жыл бұрын

    Cool video! Looks like the transformer has a delta high side or at least a dual bushing with both phases insulated. Seems a little dangerous if you don’t know which is which. Edit: looks like a fiberglass crossarm on the pole.

  • @ElectroTree01

    @ElectroTree01

    Жыл бұрын

    Another edit: It is probably not 600-1000v feeding into the transformer but 6000-10,000v or something like that. I can confirm about how many people needed and traffic control. Would've liked to had a few things off of that pole.

  • @chrislopez349

    @chrislopez349

    Жыл бұрын

    Primary side is connected wye, The primary voltage is 21kv. PG&E only uses two bushing transformers.

  • @ElectroTree01

    @ElectroTree01

    Жыл бұрын

    @@chrislopez349 Ok Thanks

  • @culbyj3665

    @culbyj3665

    5 ай бұрын

    Dont give this guy any knowledge you tell him one thing and he thinks hes an expert.. He said it all with chemtrails and no need for hotsticks.

  • @autolife2785
    @autolife27852 ай бұрын

    31:22 the main issue with the squirrels is, they were probably getting shocked by the arrester and bushing on the old transformer because it did not contain animal guards. If you look at the new transformer, you can see it came with the animal guards for this purpose

  • @billywilly1586
    @billywilly1586 Жыл бұрын

    Fire Wrap or Fire Shield. You live in a High Fire Area. Primary is a Phase and Neutral indicated by the single Fault Tamer Fuse on the primary arm protecting the transformer . Primary is maybe 7 or 9 kV depending on circuit mainline voltage. Secondary voltage is 600V likely 120/240V single phase on the triplex secondaries and service drops.

  • @chrislopez349

    @chrislopez349

    Жыл бұрын

    Primary voltage is 21kv.

  • @gregorywoodcock2472

    @gregorywoodcock2472

    10 ай бұрын

    That line was 7.200 residential always.

  • @gregorywoodcock2472

    @gregorywoodcock2472

    10 ай бұрын

    The transform is a step-down single phase. The primary 7,200 kv. Three legs coming off the transform each legs is 120 volts, so theirs were your 240 comes from.

  • @gregorywoodcock2472

    @gregorywoodcock2472

    10 ай бұрын

    That was a 7,200 kv. On the primary

  • @henrythompson7595

    @henrythompson7595

    2 күн бұрын

    @@gregorywoodcock2472 KV meany kilo volts, thats 1000 volts, so 7,200 kv would equal 7,200,000 volts - way too much!. I think you meant 7.2KV, or 7,200 volts on the primary! Never heard of a 7 million volt power line in a neighborhood!

  • @randallcarney1216
    @randallcarney1216 Жыл бұрын

    Altec bucket truck unit manufactured in Birmingham Alabama about 30 miles from me

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    Жыл бұрын

    They're pretty cool.

  • @michaelmorgan7893
    @michaelmorgan7893 Жыл бұрын

    That wrap could be protection against woodpeckers, etc.

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm told fire, which is a problem here in CA!

  • @michaelmorgan7893

    @michaelmorgan7893

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WardCo yes, that sounds logical enough, beings that PG&E has been "under fire" from the insurance companies, due to failing lines, and the Paradise fire. (No pun intended)

  • @billc6087
    @billc60872 жыл бұрын

    3:06 "...I wonder if they have any plans to repair my concrete when this is over..." HAHAhahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

  • @Davidstone568

    @Davidstone568

    13 күн бұрын

    His concrete is in their right of way

  • @lonniechartrand
    @lonniechartrand10 ай бұрын

    It is obvious that this is from a “customer’s” viewpoint that knows nothing about utility infrastructure or easements. Complaints about paint on his “new” driveway that is a “few years old”. Those guys doing “traffic control” are groundsmen that are also responsible for fetching equipment and such. And the fact you question the use of hot sticks proves how little you know. We called your type “NIMBYs”. Not In My Back Yard. Geese!

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    10 ай бұрын

    I think you mean "Geeez" not "Geese" -- we all love geese. No, I was delighted to get the pole replaced -- and, I can't remember, but I think it is in the revisit video I note the guys came back and painted over the USA markings with black -- so that was great. On the whole I think they did a great job.

  • @Nttt739
    @Nttt7392 ай бұрын

    Not sure why you think you have the right to concrete next to their pole. They have easement rights and could take you to court for tampering with their easement access.

  • @bobsjers
    @bobsjers Жыл бұрын

    I believe that the communication companies are billed by the power company when they fix their wires.

  • @OutDoorFun3
    @OutDoorFun3 Жыл бұрын

    Great commentary and video. What model video camera do you use?

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks! It's an iPhone 13 pro.

  • @mackfisher4487
    @mackfisher44872 жыл бұрын

    Ward, Thanks for taking the time to make this video it's always fun watching utility companies work. I like you and wondering what new procedures have come out on utility poles. I'm guessing it has something to do with all of the new EPA rules and PG&E's lawsuit issues. When the lineman went up with hot stick the box at the end is to check and see if the line is hot, looking to make sure your neighbors generator is in back feeding.

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    2 жыл бұрын

    Ah, of course! Giant stick tester!

  • @aaronjriggins1062

    @aaronjriggins1062

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@WardCo Yup, the hot stick attachment was a High Voltage Detector. "a line is not dead until it is tested AND proven dead". So he tested it dead, and then proved it dead by installing a shunt and personal grounds around the work area and on the high voltage lines. Required steps to protect against accidental energizing, backfeed, induction, lightning, or any other possible source of voltage.

  • @Mano_421

    @Mano_421

    Жыл бұрын

    Don’t confuse PG&E with contractors. There’s a big difference when it comes to how the job is performed.

  • @BluegrassMike

    @BluegrassMike

    11 ай бұрын

    Seems they do the same as machines, may be locked out but that doesn't mean it could still have residual energy. Always test to make sure regardless.

  • @SodiumInduction-hv
    @SodiumInduction-hv2 ай бұрын

    That’s 7200V

  • @henrythompson7595

    @henrythompson7595

    2 күн бұрын

    EXACTLY!!! Most neighborhood primaries are 7200 volt.

  • @lewy1
    @lewy1 Жыл бұрын

    There should be a guy crossing the road to hold the corner, otherwise the pole will always eventually lean into the corner unless they put in a much more expensive self supporting pole.

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    Жыл бұрын

    There was some discussion about doing this for the reason you mention. But, as of today, no action.

  • @heronimousbrapson863
    @heronimousbrapson86310 ай бұрын

    The fellow operating the chain saw appeared to be smoking a cigarette. As the saw is gasoline powered, I question his judgment.

  • @TronVila

    @TronVila

    6 ай бұрын

    Most internal combustion machinery runs on gasoline and Marlboro

  • @crrodriguez
    @crrodriguez5 ай бұрын

    Where is this..? Why is the pole almost inside the fence ? here they are made of cement or metals..Of course wooden poles exists, but carry either non electricity utilities or low voltage..I have never seen a wooden pole with a transformer..that will surely break the code.. ooh it is in america..the land of the weird buiulding codes. 😁

  • @randomhero9489
    @randomhero94899 ай бұрын

    600,000 volts ? Really??? lol

  • @michaelmorgan7893
    @michaelmorgan7893 Жыл бұрын

    Should be only 12KV on that primary. The pole isn't framed for 600KV.

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    Жыл бұрын

    Thinking more like 600V on the primary, but I probably under-shot!

  • @aaronjriggins1062

    @aaronjriggins1062

    Жыл бұрын

    21,000v circuit on the high side in this video. 2 wires, one was a PN (primary neutral) so the second one in this configuration had 12,000v on it. (wye)

  • @dieselwhisperer6907

    @dieselwhisperer6907

    Жыл бұрын

    It’s not 12kv lol it’s delta

  • @joshfriesen9401
    @joshfriesen9401 Жыл бұрын

    Just based on how much this guy knows about the subject, he could have replaced the pole themselves.

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks, but in these comments you'll find that many of the people who do line work for a living think I'm a huge asshole! :)

  • @Genninap

    @Genninap

    10 ай бұрын

    @@WardCo yes, You’ve incurred the wrath of the union! 😊

  • @RabidRiddinRabbits
    @RabidRiddinRabbitsАй бұрын

    Electrical work is all about redundancies. Commentary is annoying and unhelpful like congrats you know what a service drop is but you dont gotta act like they dont know what those JLs are doing

  • @jeffclark5268
    @jeffclark52686 ай бұрын

    Wow so much sarcasm and complaining from another NIMBY whiner who’ll sue the utility when janky parallel generators burn his house down. ETA: until those HV lines are grounded they are still hot whether off or not. Hence the hot sticks. There are a lot of inductors and capacitors on that line so even if it’s disconnected the possibility of it still being energized is high.

  • @tacydit
    @tacyditАй бұрын

    You know absolutely nothing about what you are taking about 😅

  • @MattMorris481
    @MattMorris4814 ай бұрын

    Oh god lord I can’t tell how many people like this you run into in this job.🙄

  • @iwtowns
    @iwtowns Жыл бұрын

    I'm sure you are a perfectly intelligent fellow in some aspects of life, but the commentary toward what is going on in this video shows extreme ignorance toward the subject matter.

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    Жыл бұрын

    Then I look forward to your comprehensive enumeration of my many technical errors.

  • @iwtowns

    @iwtowns

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WardCo If you insist I sit through the entirety again, I will

  • @aaronjriggins1062

    @aaronjriggins1062

    Жыл бұрын

    Lol "extreme ignorance?" for a layman who has never done this work, he did about as good a job as possible. Missed some terms and concepts, but the average person would have no clue what was going on at all. Great video for regular "non lineman" people. Not bad for a guy who just walked outside and started recording.

  • @andrewjohnson8302

    @andrewjohnson8302

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WardCo it really wasn't too bad for a guy watching it saying what he thinks, maybe just more I think and less "because". One thing that stood out tho is that buried utilities really aren't better, in many aspects they are much worse. The biggest downside without getting technical is that you can't drive along a buried line and look for issues, people's streets sidewalks and yards need to be ripped up to even know where to begin. What can be buried is and has manhole access but it's definitely not ideal

  • @billk300

    @billk300

    Жыл бұрын

    Lineman here. Can’t stand ding dongs like this!!! He should be inside or doing something else other than critiquing what he doesn’t know. Plus if one of those guys break a safety law even on accident they could get fired because it’s on the World Wide Web.

  • @yoteslaya7296
    @yoteslaya7296 Жыл бұрын

    Pge supposed to replace a pole in my area tomorrow. How long did all of this take

  • @WardCo

    @WardCo

    Жыл бұрын

    Just a day to do the pole swap -- and then a wait of a couple of weeks before they fixed the pavement. And of course, they sent random guys out and random times for a couple of YEARS before actually mobilizing.

  • @yoteslaya7296

    @yoteslaya7296

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WardCo sounds like typical pge incompetence

  • @bigtiny1100

    @bigtiny1100

    Ай бұрын

    The depth is 10% of pole length plus 2 feet. If he dug a hole 15 feet deep it would be close to a 150 feet tall . Lol that’s a cell tower .

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