4800 Volts and a cat

[Streetcar]

They told us to to "bunny hop" away. Feet together.

Our hotdog cooking safety demonstration said to use small shuffle steps, dragging feet instead of picking them up

 

[Jstpssng]

Speaking of this potential difference along the length of the hot dog, Something similiar happens when a high voltage power line hits the ground. The fuse MAY blow or trip out, BUT it may not. Current will flow through the ground, and as you stand with your feet apart on that ground depending on how good the soles are and how sweaty, how high the voltage on the line, and so forth you may have a lethal potential difference between your feet. An interesting if potentially lethal phenomenon.

They had an accident here where a minivan clipped a pole, knocking it to the ground. Somehow the wires ended up on a tractor trailer hauling wood chips. It was setting there sizzling and the track was starting to burn so the driver jumped and got zapped, fortunately not very badly. For the rest of the summer all that you could smell when you drove past was those burnt wood chips.

 

[Diggin It]

Walked up to an accident scene one rainy day, ground wet. Felt the tingle through my shoes. Backed off and got well away.

 

[Looking4new]

Far as I know there is no shortage of cats. Years ago the state tried to pass a law allowing "elimination" of feral cats...My friends were surprised that it was illegal to begin with since it was common practice to shoot on sight. Anyway it became national news and the proposal failed (DO NOT mess with cat people). So now we spend $$$$ to catch, neuter and release. As for my friends, the common practice has not changed...they just no longer talk about it.

That keeps the vets in business, too. Unless you are neutering the tomcats yourself.

 

[teejk]

One Christmas, we received an electric hot dog cooker. It held 4 wieners between 2 rows of metal spikes. It had NO on/off switch just power cord. It had a clear safety lid, how in the world they were able to sell them in stores is beyond me.

We had one of those also (a long time ago). As I recall that was strictly heat applied to both ends and it took a while.

 

[k0ua]

They told us to to "bunny hop" away. Feet together.

Yep, that is what I have seen also. Supposedly the distance between a cows front and rear legs can be enough to fry it.

 

[Jstpssng]

They taught us when cutting that if a tree was growing up to the wires to check with the back of our hands, not the palm to make sure that it wasn't charged.
Apparently the current will cause your muscles to contract and you can't let go.

 

[k0ua]

They taught us when cutting that if a tree was growing up to the wires to check with the back of our hands, not the palm to make sure that it wasn't charged.
Apparently the current will cause your muscles to contract and you can't let go.

I have never heard that, but it seems like a good idea.

 

[teejk]

They taught us when cutting that if a tree was growing up to the wires to check with the back of our hands, not the palm to make sure that it wasn't charged.
Apparently the current will cause your muscles to contract and you can't let go.

Not "apparently". I can't remember the exact term for it but it's real. [edit] Looked it up. The term is "muscular freeze".

 

[coobie]

Over the 40 years of being a electric lineman cannot tell you how many times I cleared dead birds,coons & squirrels from transformers.