Powerlines @ Ave S

OP · Post by OP » Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:18 pm

I thought they where part of the Pacific DC Intertie which is a high voltage DC power back bone which runs from a dam on the Columbia river to Sylmar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_DC_Intertie

However I now think they are just part of a California 500kv ac which is nearby.

We do drive along the HVDC lines when we drive to Galock or the Owens.

Malury · Post by **Malury** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:10 pm

Yes OP that is indeed the Pacific Intertie! Doing it's thing, delivering some of the power of the mighty Columbia River to our doorstep in Sylmar.

You can easily recognize it because the towers carry only two conductors. Nearly all other distribution is by 3 phase and the towers carry two sets of three conductors each.

The road up to Ave.S passes under both kinds of distribution. Wish I was on the road up right now....

Malury · Post by **Malury** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:28 pm

Here is a great video of what happens when you open a 500,000 volt switch under load. Check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXiOQCRiSp0