A post from NEMO got me thinking...
In an earlier life, I was a construction electrician. One job i worked the linemen were getting ready to set up a pole transformer and noticed the casing was cracked. The delivery carrier wanted proof of failure - not just some oil spots and a visible crack before they would start the insurance process.
soo, they wired it up, cleared the area, called the FD and lit it off.
a transformer is a big coil of wire in a bath of mineral oil inside a large casing. The oil is used to keep the transformer as cool as possible by convection.
back to the cracked casing on a transformer; if water gets inside and the unit is energized the water will turn into steam in short order - you get a small steam explosion - this usually opens the cracks even wider and the hot mineral oil is exposed to the air - and explodes, burns, runs down the pole setting it on fire or just splatters everywhere. (or all of the above) then the copper is exposed to air and as it melts it flashes over into a gas then the arc makes it a plasma - it creates a beautiful green flash, even brighter than the UV arc from the short. This - if it hasn't happened already - drops any and all lines attached to it. (all of the above happened while we were watching - its a shame, no cell phones back in those days).
as a rule stay away from smoking, buzzing or arcing transformers. they can pop as described above within seconds to hours. This is a problem after lots of different scenarios - from a traffic accident or ice storm to a giant earthquake or worse.
assume the lines are down. stay away from any and all metal that goes anywhere near the pole and lines - like a walkway railing, chain link fence or old (metal lined) storm drains and underground conduits like NG gas pipes. Just stay away.
if you ever think you are standing in an area that might have a live line near it - especially if you feel (not hear) the buzzing or your skin is crawling - dont move until someone shuts down the power. if you have to evacuate - take baby steps to get away. don't run or even take long strides away - the distance between your feet has to stay as small as possible to avoid some bad problems. just take heel to toe steps. don't even lift your feet very far off the ground.
this video is short and not bad. BUT - i don't like the hopping part - i like baby steps. If your not very agile or carying a load or it is uneven/slippery terrain, use baby steps not hopping. falling in that type of environment can be fatal.
