Man Talk thread for the men

[Kitsune]

Originally posted by wst3
As far as really high voltage stuff goes... the coolest thing I ever saw was a chain dropped across two phases of a 500KV circuit. I worked for the power company at the time, and we were testing our own protective systems. Two bucket trucks, one on either side of the line, and each guy holding one end of this big assed chain (I missed the part where they got the chain from one bucket to the other... I'd have really liked to see that!!!) On the count of three they drop the chain, and if causes a fault... but it also mysteriously disappears.

Damn! High voltage is cool.

But how is that possible? I thought that high voltage lines could only be worked on when shut down or, if left live, by helicopter. The helicopter gets close, becomes part of the circuit, and then is able to work on the line. If two guys were on bucket trucks and were holding a chain, I'd think they'd be too close and in the field. Wouldn't the bucket trucks then ground the field, cooking the guys, the chain, and all?