Interesting blog on fracking

[Edgar]

Aren't lots of these Scottish pylons there to harvest the windfarms when it's suitably windy?

Edgar

[The Natural Philosopher]

and like most things scottish, spend the rest of the time idle?

[Jeremy Nicoll - news posts]

Charming.

[Dave Liquorice]

intrusive,

Can't say I've seen or heard of green ones. Pink on the other hand...

They appear to be trying to take over like the tripods from War of the Worlds along the southern end of the M74. Ruin the landscape.

[John Williamson]

Some of the wind turbines in Belgium and Germany are painted a dark green or blue colour at the base, and get paler as they go up. Then, depending on how close to an airport they are, they paint the blades with a fetching red and white pattern, presumably so pilots can see them more easily.

[harryagain]

He forgot to take his lithium last night.

[The Other Mike]

No. Strap her in a ducking stool and dip her a few times in a slurry pit

[Jim K]

erm....

"......... there are just 13 chemicals, all of which can be found in your kitchen, garage or bathroom: potassium chloride (intravenous drips),"

where do you keep yours?

Jim K

[Dave Liquorice]

Small ones might be only 60' the 400 kV ones are just a *tad* bigger. The insulator chains are a good 15' to 20' long. Each segment is a large dinner plate in diameter and adds over a foot to the chain length.

There is a set of insulators hanging in a corner of the Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester, no information label though. It spans two floors.

So 15' * 3 + spacings an up to earth wire at top 15' * 3, lower line is about half way up the structure * 2 giving something of the order of 200', or 60 m. About the height of the *hub* of a 2 MW windmill, add another 40 m for the blades...

[The Natural Philosopher]

in the sea salt container.

potassium chloride is a fairly common salt found in most living things as well. so the veggie rack.

[Tim Streater]

I sometimes observe that on switch gear and pylons insulators etc there are odd pointy bits of wire etc - I even see that on rural lines where there seem to be some sort of breakers. Assuming these are not merely artistic whimsy on the part of the designer, what are they for?

[Jim K]

er...yersss...

I meant the household" "intravenous drips Widdely mentions

Jim K

[The Other Mike]

Alongside the road is the only viable route in that area and was chosen to minimise the visual impact. The line was restrung and some towers rebuilt around 20 years ago when half the route was upgraded to 400kV, way before any wind turbines came on the scene.

[John Williamson]

Then they put the turbines on the nearby hilltops for quite a distance along it.

[tony sayer]

In article , Tim Streater scribeth thus

I think your referring to "Arcing Horns" these are there to form a safe point on most all HV installations for incidences like when lightning hits the line they make a safe place for the current to discharge to earth..

[The Other Mike]

Over 130 feet for a typical 400 kV pylon. Nearer 100ft in rural areas. Slightly lower profile towers have been used more recently.

Ground clearance is a minimum of 25ft at 400kV and nearer 40ft in most cases

The tallest UK towers are the ones across the Thames and the Severn 623ft &

488ft respectively.

Some pics here

[The Other Mike]

They are arcing horns and are fitted so any arcing from overvoltage that occurs takes place across them and not across the porcelain insulators.

[tony sayer]

In article , The Other Mike scribeth thus

You couldn't make this one up;!...

[The Other Mike]

Very crap and variable conversion from m to ft there - 50m & 46.5m

*Over 160 feet for a typical 400 kV pylon. Nearer 150ft in rural areas.*

*Conductor* ground clearance (it sags!)

[charles]

How about the one at Kincardine over the River Forth? the southern tower is listed at 505ft.