Re: steam power

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <Tesla729-at-cs-dot-com>

In a message dated 1/2/01 8:14:48 PM Pacific Standard Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com 
writes:

<< Lookout for strokes coming back down the spray...
    Firemen working near energized HV lines use explicit grounds
    on the nozzles to reduce risks.
 
    best
    dwp
  >>

Hi Dave P, all,

I don't mean to start an argument, but I have been a firefighter as my "real"
profession for the past 12+ years here in my hometown (Memphis), and I've
never heard of "grounding" a nozzle to reduce the risk of electrocution, when
fighting a fire near energized electrical equipment. In a word, we don't spray
water on or near energized, burning HV equipment; we wait till the power is 
removed! We always call for our local utility company to shut off the power
in this circumstance. We don't start skeeting water until the power is 
removed!
One of my personnal, primary responsibilities when arriving at a fire scene is
to cut all electrical and gas services to the fire building. Our job is 
hazardous
enough without the added danger of electrocution or additional explosive fuel
(natural gas). Generally, low secondary voltages don't pose a real hazard, as
voltages in the few 100s find too much resistance in a fog stream to be a 
signi-
ficant shock hazard to the nozzleman. However, primary line and transmission
line voltages are quite a different story.

Maybe special rescue suads would implement this "grounding" technique
under certain conditions, but I have personally never heard of it. We are 
taught
from day one of the dangers of electricity and we all have a healthy respect
for it!
 
If you could show me actual documentation of this procedure, off-list, I 
would 
really be interested in seeing it, as this has a whole lot to do with my 
profes-
sion. If I can remember, I'll ask around at work to see if any of my 
professional
associates have heard of this.

David Rieben

PS-- I hope you will let this one go thru, Terry.* I know it's getting a 
little off topic,
but I had to comment on this one.

>>*It's a safety issue and people are using this technique with coils... -
Terry<<