Jackjet

My Feedback: (1)

Does anyone know if flying 100 ft. from a 765,000 volt ac powerline is safe or not ? Is there a chance of electrocution ? Will the electricity "arc" to the steel lines ? Will there be a induction shock hazard ?

Thanks,
Jackjet

William Robison

My Feedback: (3)

Jack:

If you look at the transmission lines, and their distance from the tower, you will see the separation is 10' at most.

Even if it is you standing 100' from the tower, using 70' lines means you still have more than 50' clearance. (Consider the triangle - 100' horizontal from a 100' tower, 144' from you to the tower's top.) And inductive transfer is a non consideration at 60 Hertz.

Anyway, if the power doesn't jump the 10' gap it surely will not jump the far greateer distance to your plane.

But I wouldn't want to be within 100' of your 765,000 volt lines. Even the 4400 volt local transmission lines make me a bit anxious.

Bill.

Jackjet

My Feedback: (1)

William,
thanks for your answer. I called So Cal Edison and was told the safe distance was 1000ft. Those insulators on the steel tower 765 kv line are 27 ft. long - so that electricity is ALWAYS trying to find a way to ground - sure do not want it to be by me though........I will just find another place to fly without any wires around.

Jackjet

Sport_Pilot

Whoaa! The seperation between the lines isn't that important, look at the seperation from the ground! Seperation between the lines isn't as much because they are either the same potiential, or grounded. I think it best if you stay well over 100 feet away, or 170 from center of circle to the edge of the outer most wire. I think Sulivan got sued from someone flying to close to ultra high voltage lines and they now include some information on this, might give them a call.

Sport_Pilot

That sounds like a bit too much. else why are the towers much less than 1000 feet tall?

PipeMajor

My Feedback: (1)

Would YOU be comfortable conducting an experiment to see how close your steel lines could get to a 765K volt powerline before it fried you? [X(][X(][X(]

Sport_Pilot

I don't think I would be conducting an experment. Else you would be doing the same every time you drive under these lines. In fact I am pretty sure 100 feet is the recommendation.

DoubleUgly

Not to change the subject gentalmen it is positivily electrifying.....(que drums) Thank you Thank you... but that sundowners phantom looks awesome Jackjet. How does the old brick fly in RC form?

gcb

Might you be thinking of the folks who made the E-Z 'Just handles? From what I understand, the court settlement is why the E-Z Just handles are no longer available.

George

Sport_Pilot

I thought it had something to do with electrocution. Maybe because the user touch's the cable of the EZ Just handle?

Clean

Nope, the electrofiley using the EZjust had ahold of the handle when the plane went into the powerlines. The wife, sueish maximus everyoneish, sued everybody including god for the stupidity of her husband and EZjust evidently didn't have a policy that covered stupid users, hence their removal from business.

Jackjet

My Feedback: (1)

D.U. ,
thanks - it flew really well - untill I crashed it at El Mirage 2 years ago - damn............my fault. May it R.I.P.

Jackjet

Jackjet

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks to Everyone for your answers.

hothandle

The voltage to ground for a 765kV line (assuming a grounded Y) is about 442kV.

Even though the conductors have the same voltage, those voltages are 120 degrees apart. There is a greater potential between the phases 765kV than there is between the phases and you 442kV (ground). Air has an insulating ability (dielectric strength) of about 1000kV/meter.

That being said, I personally would not fly my airplane within 200ft of a 765kV powerline (which makes me 260ft away). You could get a tingle if there was a switching surge, or lightning strike on that line.

hothandle

Jackjet

My Feedback: (1)

Hothandle,
that makes the effective voltage from phase to phase something like over 1,400,000 volts ! Man that could arc AT LEAST 75 feet - and once it got started - it could be drawn out MUCH farther than that...........because it would be under load - like 3000 amps of current .
That's instant death on contact ! I would be vaporized........! Damn...! I better go fly somewhere else......

Jackjet

>>Edited to correct html error. wr.