Questions about trimming around power lines

[RonR]

Mom's house still has the above ground wiring for main power. In her backyard, there are a coupla of softwood trees who's limbs now protrude over the power line. These limbs are from 1 inch to 4 inch thick.

We're talking 10-15 ft off the ground is all the lines are.

I have a manual pole saw as well as a chain saw pole saw.

I'm thinking of taking my trailer in to stand on (no ladder involved) and cutting the limbs outside the powerline, maybe a foot away from the wire. All cuts would be parrallel to the wire.

Once that is done, cut a foot inside the wire, again parrallel to it, so the chunk would fall free of the wire (hopefully) and leave the wire clear.

Mom is wanting this stuff cut, but is afraid that if she calls the power company, they will butcher her trees.

Thoughts??????????????? Is there a smarter way to do this, other than not at all???????????

THANKS.

Ron

 

[texbaylea]

I have the same problem with a tree gowing out over the aerial drop from the power pole. Sorry but my solution is probably not available to you. I have a Hy-Reach tree shear that I hook up to my loader that lets me get up that high and trim. You might try rental yards. It is quick but you have to be very caeful in manuevering not to come in contact with the wire.

There are rentable trailer mounted man lifts that could get you up close if you are careful. Otherwise a pole saw is probably the only solution..

Around here when the power company has its contractor trim they go back up to 10'.

Vernon


Vernon

 

[buckle97]

I have been debating the same problem. I finally chickened out and called the power company. They are supposed to trim the tree back next week. Luckily I don't care if the tree gets butchered; I am going to cut it completely down once they get the limbs off of the power line.

Lawrence

 

[dmccarty]

Ron,

Which is more important to your Mom, the possibility that the power company will butcher the trees or the possibility that her son could get hurt or killed trimming the trees?

I'm thinking of taking my trailer in to stand on (no ladder involved) and cutting the limbs outside the powerline, maybe a foot away from the wire. All cuts would be parrallel to the wire.

One foot seems really close to live power lines for me. I would not do it. Does not take much of a slip or nudge to get into the power line.

I would not get that close. Not sure I would do it at all.

Later,
Dan

 

[BarryinMN]

Might call the power company and they will schedule and disconnect the power at the pole while you trim the trees.

Far better option than becoming an accidental conductor.

 

[RonR]

Thanks Barry,

If I can't do it that way, I'll not attempt it.

Ron

 

[riptides]

Hey, why not just be present when the power company comes out to trim the trees?

The guys that showed up at my place to install a new transformer were more than happy to keep me happy trimming the trees.

-Mike Z.

 

[Logan]

I agree with Dan completely. I worked a case once where a tree trimmer didn't touch the wire and was killed by an arc from the wire. He leaned back within a few inches of the wire and the arc jumped and got him. The tree spikes he wore grounded him perfectly and he was sweating on top of that. In that case the wire was uninsulated. I am no expert but I have always been very respectful (okay scared) of high voltage electricity. But the experts said that there was enough voltage there that the power should have been killed before any work was done.

Having been in law enforcement many years I have always told our crime scene folks upon arrival at a scene that we only have one chance to do it right. The same, I think, applies to the electrical linemen. Which reminds me...Have your ever met one who wasn't a nice guy, now guy/gal to be politically correct? I haven't.

 

[midlf]

Call your Mom's local power company and talk over your needs and concerns with them. They will most likely be able to work out something with you. Some utilities will not trim for service conductors, which is what I suspect you are concerned about, but will disconnect for you if you are going to trim. Most will trim. It saves them work after a storm. I work for an electric utility, know which wires are what, but I would not do a trim the way you described. In fact I would not do a trim unless disconnected, and that after exhausting all possibilities of getting the utility to do it.

We did call this fall on our trees getting close to the 4800V primary lead that feeds our property. We called and soon the local forestry supervisor stopped by, checked it out, and told us our feeder was scheduled for a trim next year and we should be OK until then. He also said to call if, for some reason, we did not get trimmed and he would take care of it. Provided his card with the direct contact number. He did not know I was utility as I work in a much different part of the company.

 

[Paddy]

AT 10 TO 15' they are likely insulated lines. I'd be taking no chances though! I'm a High voltage test engineer and most of the equipment I deal with is 115,000 V and above. I'm carefull with 220 V and above.

Patrick