Very impressed by the sense of urgency and focus on safety by these technicians. Very few wasted movements and everything focused on job completion. This is how getting the job done should be done, IMHO. Kudos to everybody involved. Thanks for sharing, Aaron.
yeah. looked very slick and well practiced. like how the military do rifle drills. it's nice to see people doing their jobs that way. especially utilities where they are a big cost, you'd want the whole process to be smooth from the first phone call to 'job's a good 'un, onto the next' and ryan and aaron certainly doing their bit! amazing that is a half hour destall/install - i'd have guessed half a day.
@@billynomates920when evrything is already in place, ( wires, cut out, mounting bolts, etc.. ) , well it's pretty simple and quick. If this was a brand new set up, then maybe they would have taken the whole day, including the 2h lunch time 😋😉
Linemen are technicians. Is it destall/install or remove & replace? Find a mechanic not a person who removes snd replaces parts. A true mechanic does not simply replace parts, they find the cause of faulty parts as this states this transformer was tested twice to isolate the cause of the blown fuse.
Father-in-law was a safety lineman with the REA out of the Mankato, Kansas. It was usually his job to take care of problems and from what He has told me some of larger lines that had a blown fuse that reconnecting them in storm conditions was very unpleasant because of the arching. He covered a large area out of Beloit, Ks. One time one of his customers gave him a pint of moonshine. He gave me a sip and let’s just say it was potent.
It’s almost 60 years since I changed my first failed transformer. I was missing: a jib-equipped aerial device: several handy dandy bat-tools and lots of personal protective gear. It’s wonderful to see the advances that have made the trade so much more safe and efficient. Great job gentlemen!
My first line work experience sounds a little like yours except for me it was just shy of 40 years ago. I was in Galena Alaska, a lower Yukon bush village of about 500 people. I was a one-man utility company, running a diesel power plant, reading meters and doing all the line work and connecting new services by myself. One late summer evening a freak lightning storm took out six transformers. I worked the rest of the night into morning replacing them. I had to hoist them using a bumper winch on my ton-and-half bucket truck, running winch line through a block chained at the pole base, with cable up to a second block hooked to a pole top jib and then run back down to the transformer. The distribution was mostly all flat primary construction with three phases and neutral on crossarm pins, so the cable had some clearance between the primaries. I opened and closed cutouts from the ground by extendo-stick with a flashlight in my mouth. It's good to watch the real guys make it look so easy and scary to think of how little safety equipment I had!
@@rossk4864 excellent comment Sir. You are one of those guys I would have loved to be unless you left out the part about kicking puppies. I was taught the most important safety tool is your brain. I scare myself when I recall those possible life ending moments of my life and I got 10 sixty4 year old fingers.
What I am grateful for is each and every lineman existing!!! When the last hurricane moved through, it didn't take but 8 days and these guys had us back with electricity in our homes!!! Thank you guys, y'all are the greatest!!!
The general public has no idea just how many detailed steps are required to change out a pole mounted transformer. Total respect for you guys! STAY SAFE👍
I tell you what, Ryan is one he'll of a lineman. Dude works fast but like you said in the video, he's always aware of where he is to the high voltage lines
Good job, kudos to this guy, working on overhead line, done his job perfectly taking his own time, God bless you Ryan and your completely team, stay safe always 😊😘🌹👍🙏.
These guys are top. You can tell just through the videos they would be great in real life up a pole or on a day off. It comforts me to see their intelligence and diligence to saftey. I’m not watching afraid of the possibility of a leathal mistake with a finger ready to pause and puke. Dude is inches from juice you can feel through those special gloves and through thin air. I don’t get nervous and use only the edge of my seat. The videos have the feeling of being educated by a professor using no live wires.
I just like watching stuffs like this and the narrator did a wonderful job. He did not interfered with the guy doing the work while explaining the process. I am very impressed by these engineers. Bravo.
Hell yeah thanks Ryan! Fast and efficient. This is one profession I don't see going to AI anytime soon. Just putting that out there Thanks for the ride along
That is why our local trade school (Ozarks Technical Collage) in cooperation with with the local power companies has put in a large training area for training new lineman. The power companies loan and provide specialized equipment (bucket trucks etc.) for the training. Its a GREAT PROGRAM!! Thanks OTC! Lineman make GOOD MONTY! A Journeyman can easily pull in 100K+ a year. Then add in the overtime! Not to mention the GREAT retirement! Heck... Even an appetence can get close to that wage depending on how much overtime they want!
Also, another example of one where you don't find many women filling the role. I know there are some, but it's definitely not a job you hear them screaming about when it comes to equality in the workforce. Weird how that works. . .
When you showed a close up of the tag on the old transformer, it looked the the manufacture date was 1977. That thing was around for a long time! Great video as always!
There's WAY more to replacing a transformer, than i ever knew before. Thank God for ALL the Linemen of all electrical companies! From a homeowner in Florida. I've been around these guys after hurrican damage, and I've always tried to let them know how much we love them, by feeding them and making sure that they have plenty of liquid refreshments for their "off duty" time!
I'm from Quebec and have worked with linemen supplying safety equipment. On a few occasions I had the honor of meeting some of those linemen from the US coming up here to help during natural disasters, I know some guys from Hydro Québec who have gone down as far as North Carolina, after hurricanes, to help rebuilding the power grid there.
Having been in "low voltage ecletronics" for 20+ yrs and watching this documentation from across the pond I just can say RESPECT, JOB WELL DONE efficiently , no time wasted and always beware of what they are doing concerning safety measures.
Excellent video of how these true heroes get the job done. Economy of motion when you're on a pole. Been retired for more than 14 years, but I vividly remember transformer season in West Texas. We had (and probably still have) a ton of banked secondaries and trying to get 3 CSP transformers tripped back on before the 1st one or 2nd one tripped back off was a race between spans and a fast climb up to get the others on. I must've changed out 500 of these things during my time on the crew. I moved into engineering just about the time everyone was getting bucket trucks. By the time I retired the company had outlawed free climbing. That was the end of linemen as I knew them. I don't miss being on call 24/7, the ice storms, the hurricanes and tornadoes, but I do miss the guys I worked with.
Praying for a speedy recovery for you, Aaron. Our linemen here have been overwhelmed with all of the storms. Thank you for another very interesting video. Stay safe, and God bless.
@@Bobsdecline Ya, for sure. I got bit on the thigh a few weeks ago whilst wiring an electric gate opener. Sucks. Like you, I was standing talking to the owner. I think the dog was guarding said. Heal fast. Mentally it might take a little longer. When I went back there to finish the job I told the owner don't be surprised if I beat her dog if it came after me a 4th time. It did but it figured out that the whistling piece of 3/4" PVC pipe in my hand was a danger so he kept his distance. Dogs.
Ham operator here...I always pick up some useful info from you about everything from new (better ) tools out there, to how you set up grounding, and to safety...Thanks very much...stay safe
I love watching you guys work. I worked for a power company for 17 years but I was in IT. Made it out to the generation side of the business a lot of times (fossil, hydro, and nuclear) but never made it out to observe any transmission or distribution work (other than subs).
This type of work is so specialized and deadly. I see these guys all over my area and never really thought anything about it. This video has really given me a lot of respect to you guys. Great video!
Love hurts. Dog bites get staples. Cool swap out - easier than a padmount - not as pretty. (Pretty? Did I really ...?) Neat detail where the crimping die imprints its size (?) onto the crimped connector. Kudos to Ryan - no rush - no wasted time or effort. Man with a plan.
I've collected glass telephone and telegraph insulators for 50 years. The local power company had to replace the Transformer at my house. The crew was in love with my collection. I had a TV antenna on my shop building that i told the foreman I was afraid it would fall on the wires if anymore of the guy wires broke, so they took that down as a safety precaution. I gave them some of my extra purple glass. They were thrilled. I was happy.
I sympathize by being bitten by a Shepard/Wolf not long ago on a service call...that dog literally took a bite out of my arse!! I hope you heal up quickly!! Thanks for all your great videos!!
That’s crazy how people praise German shepherds but no body talks about all the attacks that happen. But if a pit bull bites somebody it makes national news. Fuck german shepherds! They’re weird as hell and unpredictable
Aaron, former planning engineer but I have a LOT of tools. I always keep those desiccant bags that come with many packages and I use them in tool boxes and places that may get a little wet. Work like a charm…
Makes me respect these guys more my dad was a lineman from 1955 to 1995 before all the safety regulations in the early days no bucket trucks he loved his job took alot of pride in it
I have a tremendous respect for all you linemen! I know people will cuss out the power company during power loss…but they need to realize you guys are out there in all kinds of weather getting the power back on! Your real heroes in my book! Thank you!
I had a transformer in front of my old house the killed quite a few squirrels. One time I was working in the yard and a squirrel took out the fuse. I thought somebody set off dynamite! I found the squirrel at the base of the pole. His brown fur was completely burned a curly black. Whenever I had a power failure, I'd visually look at that fuse holder and if it was empty, I'd tell the power company the pole number when I reported the outage. That transformer replacement was very satisfying to watch. That crimp tool is impressive!
Here just across the boarder in Maine, a 10kVa would be more than sufficient for 2 customers. Rule of thumb is 5kVa/customer. Great to see you still using crimp lugs. We use "turbos" which are a Buchanan one-time use insulation piercing connector with a plastic nut which brakes off when a preset torque is applied. We use cordless impacts on them. Fast, but i dont trust their long term reliability compared to the tried and true mechanical hydraulic crimp connections. Be safe out there!
That is a very nice harness, I am a lineman for a local cable company and we upgraded ours a few years back. They are better then the old ones but not as good and light looking as the one you have on. They are made by the same company but things cost money and we all now how much big company's love to spend money on their employees.
lightning fast (no pun intended) thanks to all the electricians, mechanics, welders, fitters, millwrights, fabricators, and engineers that keep the day to day moving.
As a retired architect,designer, mechanic, welder, fitter, millwright in training, fabricator, but doesn’t drive a train Guy learning electrical you are welcome and I invite you to injoy dropping into the banks, carwashes, gas stations, restaurants etc. I made or buy second hand one of my China and Hutches or pull the handles on a slot machine I made in some casino but I discourage you from getting close to a giant earth mover with attachments (buckets, blades, wheels, rippers, rakes, etc). To distinguish my work from most others is look for flawless execution while attempting to be invisible…..like a bank you run in to make a deposit and notice a Particular detail, like a edge of a counter or a wall meeting a ceiling because your visit was like being on first with bases loaded and your teammate just hit one over the fence. If I bring you beer and put them in your refrigerator you will find them all with the lables facing front.
Man, thank you for posting videos. It is always awesome to watch professionals doing their job, especially on things like electrical infrastructure. I live just a few miles south of Rogers, Arakansas, and I am surprised by how fast the folks in our area have been restoring power to the city after the tornadoes this past weekend as of typing this. I want to thank all the linemen that keep our power on, you all truly are heroes in your own right.
Very interesting to watch, thanks! Living in a rural area myself with the same pole transformers and had a lightning strike taking the fuse out just a couple of weeks ago. Transformer must've survived as it only took 30-40 minutes in total before the power was back. Great having competent guys like yourself fixing and maintaining the umbilical cords of the modern society!
Nine years ago I was working on a site when a thunderstorm rolled in, we had a lightning strike about a 1/4 mile down the line from the transformer. Scared the hell out of my buddy that was elbows deep in the panel, I heard the bang and the lights went out, so I ran to the electrical room thinking something happened and he could be injured. After every self-checked their underwear, we realized the primary fuse was blown out on the pole. It was such a hit that the lightning arrestor was blown apart and the transformer was seeping oil from the secondary lugs. Short day for us, and a long one for a Fortis crew.
If you don't mind I'll put a similar story right here under yours. 3rd day on the job as a helper hooking up switches, lighting fixtures or baseboard heaters. Not sure which. Completed the job and went over to the panel and turned on the breaker to the cct I was working on and BAM, the TRANSFOMER blew up. OMG Heart failure on my part. Run outside and find a smoking crow on the ground. After watching this it might have been the fuse, who knows. Had to check my pants for sure.
@@gragor11I heard a bang near my house and saw a blown fuse at the transformer. The lineman who came saw a large round black spot on the transformer. He came down and looked in the bushes. He picked up with a raccoon, holding it by the tail, it was stiff as a board. 😲
@@abpsd73 I found a dried mouse/rat carcass in a fuse box to a 480v gantry crane. (Ever weld with 480v standing in two inches of rain ((and after doing so do a tune up on the wire feed and find a leather work glove finger is where the insulator belongs?))?) I had a ferrel cat birth a batch of kittens in the center of a unibody (1956?Ranchero)….out of the corner of my eye I see something go through the removed tail light hole while speaking to the boss(You always find rodent damage in barn finds) how do I electrify my roof to stop the raccoon football league from holding games up there?
You guys are the unsung hero's. You have to go out in some of the most Miserable and dangerous weather and conditions to make sure everyone has power. When the weather gets bad, you know your gonna likely be out in it.
As I sit in my ac house I can only say thanks for being out there in sometimes awful conditions to keep us powered up! I thank the good Lord for people like you! Great job!!👍
I agree with others about Ryan's calm and steady work, but I want to commend him for his dexterity wearing those gloves! I forget the actual rating of the gloves that I used to wear, but I was only working on secondary voltage (so probably rated 600v max) and they were only half as thick as those gloves, yet he handled everything like he wasn't wearing gloves at all. I don't think anyone can really appreciate that skill unless you have actually worn them.
Nice video,thank you for putting it out.We never get to see how this work is done ,but we always notice when they blow-up.You explained how it's not a difficult job as long as you follow the exact procedure to install and remove.WELL DONE
When I was younger we had a transformer on the pole feeding electricity to our home, and our neighbor. But they always blew up. Displaying really cool colors. But I never could figure that out. Good Job Ryan, you did a great job there!
first A wonderful video of a VERY DANGEROUS JOB. A t 74 years old, I must share a memory from Seven Decades ago: WATCHING my father's position as "Ground Crew" working for Pacific Gas & Electric Company, while working on the Street we lived on! I heard the equipment and the trucks, and being inquisitive, I went out to the side walk, seeing them all setting up for the job. I sat in my little Red Rider wagon, which I pulled up one house down from their work The road guard (who of course new me) said that's close enough little fellow, but knowing how much a kid can be intrigued watching something like that! My DAD, hearing him speak, looked at me & started to be a Dad when he was stopped by "I've got this covered John" and I watched for over an hour. Years later, in Vietnam it was me climbing poles, but for telephone work, 24/7 and NO Flashlight at "Oh Dark Thirty", We called them *Targets* and not a good feeling.... Thanks for the memories, STAY SAFE up there. philip from the Great Pacific NorthWET, Oregon Division
I knew an Army guy who did that in-country. I doubt he's still with us, but all Pat C. would say about what he did was to drive around VN putting up poles, setting up antennae and trying not to get shot. He taught me a lot about shortwave antennae, though. Dude knew his stuff.
Bob not only have to worry about the electricity, you have to be careful around people's pets too... 😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤ Keep up the good work, I wish you the best of luck... Be safe out there... And I hope the dog owner takes good care of you too... It takes a very highly skilled individual to do your job... A lots of hazards on the job that you have to deal with....
A few years ago, I got to watch a transformer being replaced on a pole located in the corner of four backyards. No access for a truck so it was all done with ropes and pulleys. The old transformer from 1966 had no cut-off switch or fuse so those were installed along with the new transformer. Amazing the old transformer lasted into the 21st century considering all the added loads of air conditioning, pools, E.V. charging, etc. That is what finally killed it. No lightening strikes.
as an electrician from the 3rd world, since renting cranes is too expensive for such small transformers, we tend to raise them with a pulley using 3/4'' rope. We place the pulley on the crossarm or install a clamp with a small crossarm we made to support the pulley. Then, if the terrain allows it we can tie the other end to the truck so it'll slowly raise the transformer, keeping a guy with a rope pulling the transformer to the side so it doesn't scrape against the pole. Other times it's just 3 of us elbowing that thing, really good hand burns let me tell you that. Once it's raised, the lineman or linemen will position the transformer and will tell us to either raise it or lower it slightly and once it sits on the first cushion, the lineman can attatch the second clamp and it's done... only the wiring remains.
Linemen: The unsung heroes of the American worker. I tip my hat. Thank you for hot-sticking, working in bad weather, around bad dogs, on holidays, and against irate property owners. Have a safe and pleasant day up on those poles. Enjoy the view.
Military personnel love to label themselves heros but are they? Does killing make you a hero? My father spent the Vietnam war offshore applying bandages. Was Betty the rivitter a hero? Were manufactures of munitions and all those working back home who made it possible not also heros? We live in a society where our lives are possible by the work of others. We (linemen and garbage collectors) all need doctors (and linemen) but a doctor can’t work without a garbage collector ( and linemen). Show respect and tolerance for your common man (human, not a male) next time you get cut off in traffic or get stuck behind a bucket truck. Don’t think because you are rich or make lots of money through the work of others that you are a hero. You are a part of us, our society that includes doctors, linemen, garbage collectors, soldiers and dirty smelly hippies.
Wow, amazing video and very informative. Was always curious what you guys did up on those poles. Keep up the amazing work, we love our electric workers and couldn't live modern life without you guys!
Aaron's Videos are extremely informative and they have been a tremendous help in me building on the HV side of my materials and equipment cataloging tool.
I'm surprised you didn't use another word besides blown, since many people seem to describe an outage or explosion as a blown transformer, when (I think you even said?) it's often just a blown fuse? Sorry to hear about your attack. I'm a cable guy and seeing dogs is my favourite part of the job. Had a couple nips over the years, but the only time I got bit was as a toddler when I was hugging the shepherd next door.
How do you reckon that solar will INCREASE their demand? EV charging, maybe; but that far from being the only renovation that would increase a customers power demands.
@@jacobcarlson4010 remember that typically the solar will be outputting many kw back to the grid in the daytime. Part of the approval of a grid tied system involves the kva of the transformer. Some places will make the customer pay to upgrade it.
@@jacobcarlson4010 Excess solar generation feeding back to the grid can easily result in continuous load on the transformer (in the opposite direction to normal!) which exceeds that of normal usage.
Would you like to inform on EV charging, Voltages, Ph, Hz, and KW needed for say a few popular passenger-car models of EVs for: Do consider electric input to EV chargers and output in DC Volts, Amps to EV. And directly charged EV from 120/240 Vac source. Slow Low-Charge 8-12 hrs? Fast Charge 30 minutes to 2 Hrs? For more curiosity include Charging of battery powered, Lawn mowers, Boats, Snowmobiles, SUVs, Light Trucks, Large Trucks, Farm tractors, Etc For added learning please inform on Solar PV system, inverters, synchronizing toand back-feeding to typical 120/240 Vac, 60 Hz 1 Ph secondaries? Along with KWhr metering of electric power in both-directions?
Whenever I’m installing a new transformer onto the system I always complete all bonding and isolate my hot legs and energize the transformer in order to verify proper voltage output. Then I take de energize test dead to verify de energized and then closer her back in and send it to the customer. Never know if someone made that pot on a Friday. I don’t trust name plates either. I am the last stop before the customer. I know a few guys that were given the wrong transformer by the shop and never tested before sending to the customer. They got blamed for burning up all the electronics in the house. Surprised you guys don’t do this also. I mean testing voltage after sending to the customer is a little too late if it’s putting out improper voltage.
Really cool. I watched this from the ground about 5 years ago when my transformer went. NOVEC was about that fast as well. It popped an MOV in a surge protector in my house.
Could have gone this route, decided straight up electronics would be better. Communications, computers, low voltage. Think I made the right decision. :)
Same here. From about 4 years old on I wanted to be an electrician, then I discovered electronics at about 12 years old and never looked back. But I still read the NEC just to keep up on things.
@@throttlebottle5906 Common occurrence, happens often. Unless you're working on tubes you're not going to have a 7200v primary blow your arm off. Way safer work, don't have to show up in a storm, climb poles, get bit by dogs, fight wasps... the list goes on.
I remember when I started out as an apprentice at Public Service New Mexico. My first lesson when rolling up to a cutout blown open - always look for the dead squirrel.
Our transformer blew at night. The PG&E came out and replaced it in the dark, only with work lights from the service truck. I enjoyed the video, the close up views was the best, great job from you and the crew.
Very impressed by the sense of urgency and focus on safety by these technicians. Very few wasted movements and everything focused on job completion. This is how getting the job done should be done, IMHO. Kudos to everybody involved. Thanks for sharing, Aaron.
yeah. looked very slick and well practiced. like how the military do rifle drills. it's nice to see people doing their jobs that way. especially utilities where they are a big cost, you'd want the whole process to be smooth from the first phone call to 'job's a good 'un, onto the next' and ryan and aaron certainly doing their bit! amazing that is a half hour destall/install - i'd have guessed half a day.
@@billynomates920when evrything is already in place, ( wires, cut out, mounting bolts, etc.. ) , well it's pretty simple and quick.
If this was a brand new set up, then maybe they would have taken the whole day, including the 2h lunch time 😋😉
Linemen are technicians. Is it destall/install or remove & replace? Find a mechanic not a person who removes snd replaces parts. A true mechanic does not simply replace parts, they find the cause of faulty parts as this states this transformer was tested twice to isolate the cause of the blown fuse.
Father-in-law was a safety lineman with the REA out of the Mankato, Kansas. It was usually his job to take care of problems and from what He has told me some of larger lines that had a blown fuse that reconnecting them in storm conditions was very unpleasant because of the arching. He covered a large area out of Beloit, Ks. One time one of his customers gave him a pint of moonshine. He gave me a sip and let’s just say it was potent.
It's easy to say how it should be done when you yourself contributed nothing to the end result of anything substantial in life.
Something satisfying about watching a master at work.
It’s almost 60 years since I changed my first failed transformer. I was missing: a jib-equipped aerial device: several handy dandy bat-tools and lots of personal protective gear. It’s wonderful to see the advances that have made the trade so much more safe and efficient. Great job gentlemen!
My first line work experience sounds a little like yours except for me it was just shy of 40 years ago. I was in Galena Alaska, a lower Yukon bush village of about 500 people. I was a one-man utility company, running a diesel power plant, reading meters and doing all the line work and connecting new services by myself. One late summer evening a freak lightning storm took out six transformers. I worked the rest of the night into morning replacing them. I had to hoist them using a bumper winch on my ton-and-half bucket truck, running winch line through a block chained at the pole base, with cable up to a second block hooked to a pole top jib and then run back down to the transformer. The distribution was mostly all flat primary construction with three phases and neutral on crossarm pins, so the cable had some clearance between the primaries. I opened and closed cutouts from the ground by extendo-stick with a flashlight in my mouth. It's good to watch the real guys make it look so easy and scary to think of how little safety equipment I had!
@@rossk4864 that sounds kinda fun tho ngl.... running a diesel power plant on ur own 😂
@@rossk4864 excellent comment Sir. You are one of those guys I would have loved to be unless you left out the part about kicking puppies. I was taught the most important safety tool is your brain. I scare myself when I recall those possible life ending moments of my life and I got 10 sixty4 year old fingers.
working high-voltage with nuthin but skin and grit. Shit won’t find a path through me
Great job lineman. We all appreciate the power in our homes. Thanks for staying safe on the job. !!!
What I am grateful for is each and every lineman existing!!! When the last hurricane moved through, it didn't take but 8 days and these guys had us back with electricity in our homes!!! Thank you guys, y'all are the greatest!!!
The general public has no idea just how many detailed steps are required to change out a pole mounted transformer. Total respect for you guys! STAY SAFE👍
where i live one guy one truck. no waste
I'm impressed by the obvious high quality of every single last thing involved. Hardware, tools, people. No cut corners.
I tell you what, Ryan is one he'll of a lineman. Dude works fast but like you said in the video, he's always aware of where he is to the high voltage lines
Ryan been an excellent Lineman since day 1! Glad to have him as part of our team!
@@Bobsdecline Wooooof! @ Ryan
perfect job. Surprised that you don't use NOALOX on the the AL leads
@@Bobsdecline How long has Ryan been with this company?
Good job, kudos to this guy, working on overhead line, done his job perfectly taking his own time, God bless you Ryan and your completely team, stay safe always 😊😘🌹👍🙏.
Excellent video. Hats off to Ryan the lineman working very efficiently!
Agreed, excellent work and very professional.
What would you expect? He is a perfect human being.
@@jolyonwelsh9834 I always tell the truth even when I lie
These guys are top. You can tell just through the videos they would be great in real life up a pole or on a day off. It comforts me to see their intelligence and diligence to saftey. I’m not watching afraid of the possibility of a leathal mistake with a finger ready to pause and puke. Dude is inches from juice you can feel through those special gloves and through thin air. I don’t get nervous and use only the edge of my seat. The videos have the feeling of being educated by a professor using no live wires.
I just like watching stuffs like this and the narrator did a wonderful job. He did not interfered with the guy doing the work while explaining the process. I am very impressed by these engineers. Bravo.
Ryan work here was a great example of slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Focused and efficient!
Can't imagine all the work involved after a tornado with lines down everywhere! Stay safe and thank you for your service!
Its a pleasure to watch any professional craftsman working their trade.
Y’all are worth every dollar you make and then some. Truly under valued in my opinion.
My full Respects to All Linemen for their hard work and dedication in any weather conditions! Thank you.
Hell yeah thanks Ryan!
Fast and efficient.
This is one profession I don't see going to AI anytime soon. Just putting that out there
Thanks for the ride along
That is why our local trade school (Ozarks Technical Collage) in cooperation with with the local power companies has put in a large training area for training new lineman. The power companies loan and provide specialized equipment (bucket trucks etc.) for the training. Its a GREAT PROGRAM!! Thanks OTC!
Lineman make GOOD MONTY! A Journeyman can easily pull in 100K+ a year. Then add in the overtime! Not to mention the GREAT retirement! Heck... Even an appetence can get close to that wage depending on how much overtime they want!
Also, another example of one where you don't find many women filling the role. I know there are some, but it's definitely not a job you hear them screaming about when it comes to equality in the workforce. Weird how that works. . .
When you showed a close up of the tag on the old transformer, it looked the the manufacture date was 1977. That thing was around for a long time! Great video as always!
There's WAY more to replacing a transformer, than i ever knew before. Thank God for ALL the Linemen of all electrical companies! From a homeowner in Florida.
I've been around these guys after hurrican damage, and I've always tried to let them know how much we love them, by feeding them and making sure that they have plenty of liquid refreshments for their "off duty" time!
My son is a lineman. I have a new respect for what he does... he never talks about his work with his parents.
I agree. I hardly talk about my trade with my parents. I'm an inside electrician. They find it boring as they take electricity for granted.
I admire the people that maintain our electrical grid, you guys are my hero!
I'm an inside electrician. I wish I could get the same admiration.
@@jolyonwelsh9834 anyone that plays with power lines or electricity on any level gets my respect.
I'm from Quebec and have worked with linemen supplying safety equipment. On a few occasions I had the honor of meeting some of those linemen from the US coming up here to help during natural disasters, I know some guys from Hydro Québec who have gone down as far as North Carolina, after hurricanes, to help rebuilding the power grid there.
Having been in "low voltage ecletronics" for 20+ yrs and watching this documentation from across the pond I just can say RESPECT, JOB WELL DONE efficiently , no time wasted and always beware of what they are doing concerning safety measures.
Excellent video of how these true heroes get the job done. Economy of motion when you're on a pole. Been retired for more than 14 years, but I vividly remember transformer season in West Texas. We had (and probably still have) a ton of banked secondaries and trying to get 3 CSP transformers tripped back on before the 1st one or 2nd one tripped back off was a race between spans and a fast climb up to get the others on. I must've changed out 500 of these things during my time on the crew. I moved into engineering just about the time everyone was getting bucket trucks. By the time I retired the company had outlawed free climbing. That was the end of linemen as I knew them. I don't miss being on call 24/7, the ice storms, the hurricanes and tornadoes, but I do miss the guys I worked with.
Praying for a speedy recovery for you, Aaron. Our linemen here have been overwhelmed with all of the storms. Thank you for another very interesting video. Stay safe, and God bless.
Thank you Heather!
@@Bobsdecline Ya, for sure. I got bit on the thigh a few weeks ago whilst wiring an electric gate opener. Sucks. Like you, I was standing talking to the owner. I think the dog was guarding said.
Heal fast. Mentally it might take a little longer.
When I went back there to finish the job I told the owner don't be surprised if I beat her dog if it came after me a 4th time. It did but it figured out that the whistling piece of 3/4" PVC pipe in my hand was a danger so he kept his distance. Dogs.
Another great video.
Ham operator here...I always pick up some useful info from you about everything from new (better ) tools out there, to how you set up grounding, and to safety...Thanks very much...stay safe
I love watching you guys work. I worked for a power company for 17 years but I was in IT. Made it out to the generation side of the business a lot of times (fossil, hydro, and nuclear) but never made it out to observe any transmission or distribution work (other than subs).
Thanks Ryan. Lots of respect for you guys that go out in all weather conditions to retore power for us all.
This type of work is so specialized and deadly. I see these guys all over my area and never really thought anything about it. This video has really given me a lot of respect to you guys. Great video!
I'm an inside electrician, people take me for granted.
Love hurts. Dog bites get staples.
Cool swap out - easier than a padmount - not as pretty. (Pretty? Did I really ...?)
Neat detail where the crimping die imprints its size (?) onto the crimped connector.
Kudos to Ryan - no rush - no wasted time or effort. Man with a plan.
Thanks, for showing this transformer changeout. I really appreciate the step by step procedure and the attention to safety! Great Job! Thanks!
I've collected glass telephone and telegraph insulators for 50 years. The local power company had to replace the Transformer at my house. The crew was in love with my collection. I had a TV antenna on my shop building that i told the foreman I was afraid it would fall on the wires if anymore of the guy wires broke, so they took that down as a safety precaution. I gave them some of my extra purple glass. They were thrilled. I was happy.
Don’t forget, these guys work in bad weather. God’s blessings.
So did we.. wind and rain, on top of the roofs with lightning shooting all over, Local # 32 Seattle, Hats off to these guys!
Their pay reflects this.
По технике безопасности запрещено работать в условияхине пригодных к работе. Ни одна страховка не спасёт от смерти.
@@Charlesbjtown As it should.
@@CharlesbjtownBout $90k but the overtime/hazard pay is where the money is.
You guys make it look easy, they can't pay you enough for working on high voltage power, great job Ryan. well done, be safe !
I sympathize by being bitten by a Shepard/Wolf not long ago on a service call...that dog literally took a bite out of my arse!!
I hope you heal up quickly!! Thanks for all your great videos!!
I was attacked when I was 8 years old. Nearly took my arm off. I'm 59 now, and still have the gnarly scars to remind me of it!
That’s crazy how people praise German shepherds but no body talks about all the attacks that happen. But if a pit bull bites somebody it makes national news. Fuck german shepherds! They’re weird as hell and unpredictable
Aaron, former planning engineer but I have a LOT of tools. I always keep those desiccant bags that come with many packages and I use them in tool boxes and places that may get a little wet. Work like a charm…
Makes me respect these guys more my dad was a lineman from 1955 to 1995 before all the safety regulations in the early days no bucket trucks he loved his job took alot of pride in it
Ryan is a machine! He makes it look so smooth and quick.
Thanks Ryan!
No wasted movements. I'm pretty sure Ryan could do a change out in his sleep...
He could be a robot for all we know.
I have a tremendous respect for all you linemen! I know people will cuss out the power company during power loss…but they need to realize you guys are out there in all kinds of weather getting the power back on! Your real heroes in my book! Thank you!
Impressively fast and beautiful work. True professionals.
A lot of offices require sleeves while working on a three phase line plus cover up on immediate phase, nice work and I am my brother's keeper 😀
I had a transformer in front of my old house the killed quite a few squirrels. One time I was working in the yard and a squirrel took out the fuse. I thought somebody set off dynamite! I found the squirrel at the base of the pole. His brown fur was completely burned a curly black. Whenever I had a power failure, I'd visually look at that fuse holder and if it was empty, I'd tell the power company the pole number when I reported the outage. That transformer replacement was very satisfying to watch. That crimp tool is impressive!
After it happens more than a few times, wouldn't it make sense to fit a plastic cover so that squirrels don't keep shorting it out?
@@NiHaoMike64 I would think so, but they never did. This was 25 years ago, so maybe things have improved by now.
I know. I own one. I use it for crimping grounding electrode conductors.
Here just across the boarder in Maine, a 10kVa would be more than sufficient for 2 customers. Rule of thumb is 5kVa/customer.
Great to see you still using crimp lugs. We use "turbos" which are a Buchanan one-time use insulation piercing connector with a plastic nut which brakes off when a preset torque is applied. We use cordless impacts on them. Fast, but i dont trust their long term reliability compared to the tried and true mechanical hydraulic crimp connections.
Be safe out there!
3:23 made in USA, thanks brother. Love Canada! Thanks for the support!
Kline hand tools as well.
That is a very nice harness, I am a lineman for a local cable company and we upgraded ours a few years back. They are better then the old ones but not as good and light looking as the one you have on. They are made by the same company but things cost money and we all now how much big company's love to spend money on their employees.
lightning fast (no pun intended) thanks to all the electricians, mechanics, welders, fitters, millwrights, fabricators, and engineers that keep the day to day moving.
As a retired architect,designer, mechanic, welder, fitter, millwright in training, fabricator, but doesn’t drive a train Guy learning electrical you are welcome and I invite you to injoy dropping into the banks, carwashes, gas stations, restaurants etc. I made or buy second hand one of my China and Hutches or pull the handles on a slot machine I made in some casino but I discourage you from getting close to a giant earth mover with attachments (buckets, blades, wheels, rippers, rakes, etc). To distinguish my work from most others is look for flawless execution while attempting to be invisible…..like a bank you run in to make a deposit and notice a Particular detail, like a edge of a counter or a wall meeting a ceiling because your visit was like being on first with bases loaded and your teammate just hit one over the fence. If I bring you beer and put them in your refrigerator you will find them all with the lables facing front.
dont forget HVAC techs ;)
@@newportreds6710 of course not. i live in texas lol
Great Job! Ryan is obviously a professional and did a wonderful job.
Man, thank you for posting videos. It is always awesome to watch professionals doing their job, especially on things like electrical infrastructure. I live just a few miles south of Rogers, Arakansas, and I am surprised by how fast the folks in our area have been restoring power to the city after the tornadoes this past weekend as of typing this. I want to thank all the linemen that keep our power on, you all truly are heroes in your own right.
Some beautiful country in the video.
Very interesting to watch, thanks! Living in a rural area myself with the same pole transformers and had a lightning strike taking the fuse out just a couple of weeks ago. Transformer must've survived as it only took 30-40 minutes in total before the power was back. Great having competent guys like yourself fixing and maintaining the umbilical cords of the modern society!
Nine years ago I was working on a site when a thunderstorm rolled in, we had a lightning strike about a 1/4 mile down the line from the transformer. Scared the hell out of my buddy that was elbows deep in the panel, I heard the bang and the lights went out, so I ran to the electrical room thinking something happened and he could be injured. After every self-checked their underwear, we realized the primary fuse was blown out on the pole. It was such a hit that the lightning arrestor was blown apart and the transformer was seeping oil from the secondary lugs. Short day for us, and a long one for a Fortis crew.
If you don't mind I'll put a similar story right here under yours. 3rd day on the job as a helper hooking up switches, lighting fixtures or baseboard heaters. Not sure which. Completed the job and went over to the panel and turned on the breaker to the cct I was working on and BAM, the TRANSFOMER blew up. OMG Heart failure on my part. Run outside and find a smoking crow on the ground.
After watching this it might have been the fuse, who knows. Had to check my pants for sure.
@@gragor11I heard a bang near my house and saw a blown fuse at the transformer. The lineman who came saw a large round black spot on the transformer. He came down and looked in the bushes. He picked up with a raccoon, holding it by the tail, it was stiff as a board. 😲
@@wetrock2766 and smoking
Maw made Shake n Bake an I hepped
@@abpsd73 I found a dried mouse/rat carcass in a fuse box to a 480v gantry crane. (Ever weld with 480v standing in two inches of rain ((and after doing so do a tune up on the wire feed and find a leather work glove finger is where the insulator belongs?))?) I had a ferrel cat birth a batch of kittens in the center of a unibody (1956?Ranchero)….out of the corner of my eye I see something go through the removed tail light hole while speaking to the boss(You always find rodent damage in barn finds) how do I electrify my roof to stop the raccoon football league from holding games up there?
Nothing but respect and admiration to you folks in the industry !
Nice work by Ryan! Thanks for this great video Aaron! Stay safe and healthy! (and, stay away from dogs!). 🤛
You guys are the unsung hero's. You have to go out in some of the most Miserable and dangerous weather and conditions to make sure everyone has power. When the weather gets bad, you know your gonna likely be out in it.
I start my schooling in August! Can’t wait! These videos are awesome man! Much thanks from Michigan
I genuinely love how all the tools,fittings,equipments and procedures are identical to how we do our TX swap over here in Aust.
Great job on this transformer change out
As I sit in my ac house I can only say thanks for being out there in sometimes awful conditions to keep us powered up! I thank the good Lord for people like you! Great job!!👍
Ryan's a hard fast worker two thumbs 👍👍 to him
Always wondered what it took. I always thought the entire white part of the fuse casing WAS the fuse. Nice! Learned something!
So when does the Home where the German Shepard Lives Transfer Over to your New Home Ownership ? Sorry to hear about the Bad Dog Bite. 🙏
I agree with others about Ryan's calm and steady work, but I want to commend him for his dexterity wearing those gloves! I forget the actual rating of the gloves that I used to wear, but I was only working on secondary voltage (so probably rated 600v max) and they were only half as thick as those gloves, yet he handled everything like he wasn't wearing gloves at all. I don't think anyone can really appreciate that skill unless you have actually worn them.
On behalf of all squirrels: thank you for caring about their welfare and not just the fuse blowing at 7:43 ❤
Probably a cost not care issue. Loss of (human) life is factored in on some job sites.
Pshhh...pathetic
Easier than breeding a new species of fusible squirrels @magicbox9371
Nice video,thank you for putting it out.We never get to see how this work is done ,but we always notice when they blow-up.You explained how it's not a difficult job as long as you follow the exact procedure to install and remove.WELL DONE
My compliments to all the technicians working with High Voltage systems! Greetings to you from me in the Netherlands!
Give that guy a raise, please.
Don't do that, his head will hit the primaries.
@@godfreypoon5148 ha ha you're funny.
@@jolyonwelsh9834 😶🌫
Great job and well done guys 👍..makes an old retired Lineman proud seeing this done safely
hope your leg heals completely with no lasting problems.
When I was younger we had a transformer on the pole feeding electricity to our home, and our neighbor. But they always blew up. Displaying really cool colors. But I never could figure that out. Good Job Ryan, you did a great job there!
first A wonderful video of a VERY DANGEROUS JOB.
A t 74 years old, I must share a memory from Seven Decades ago: WATCHING my father's position as "Ground Crew" working for Pacific Gas & Electric Company, while working on the Street we lived on!
I heard the equipment and the trucks, and being inquisitive, I went out to the side walk, seeing them all setting up for the job. I sat in my little Red Rider wagon, which I pulled up one house down from their work The road guard (who of course new me) said that's close enough little fellow, but knowing how much a kid can be intrigued watching something like that!
My DAD, hearing him speak, looked at me & started to be a Dad when he was stopped by "I've got this covered John" and I watched for over an hour.
Years later, in Vietnam it was me climbing poles, but for telephone work, 24/7 and NO Flashlight at "Oh Dark Thirty", We called them *Targets* and not a good feeling....
Thanks for the memories, STAY SAFE up there.
philip from the Great Pacific NorthWET, Oregon Division
I knew an Army guy who did that in-country. I doubt he's still with us, but all Pat C. would say about what he did was to drive around VN putting up poles, setting up antennae and trying not to get shot.
He taught me a lot about shortwave antennae, though. Dude knew his stuff.
Excellent workmanship. No wasted movement. Nice job. Well done.
Very nice. Great job Ryan!
Thank you for taking the time to explain all the safety thing needed so you are safe
and for this video
thanks again
Bob not only have to worry about the electricity, you have to be careful around people's pets too... 😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤ Keep up the good work, I wish you the best of luck... Be safe out there... And I hope the dog owner takes good care of you too... It takes a very highly skilled individual to do your job... A lots of hazards on the job that you have to deal with....
A few years ago, I got to watch a transformer being replaced on a pole located in the corner of four backyards.
No access for a truck so it was all done with ropes and pulleys.
The old transformer from 1966 had no cut-off switch or fuse so those were installed along with the new transformer.
Amazing the old transformer lasted into the 21st century considering all the added loads of air conditioning, pools, E.V. charging, etc.
That is what finally killed it. No lightening strikes.
117 likes in 28 minutes, definitely a popular request! Thanks for the video, really enjoying learning new things from you.
as an electrician from the 3rd world, since renting cranes is too expensive for such small transformers, we tend to raise them with a pulley using 3/4'' rope.
We place the pulley on the crossarm or install a clamp with a small crossarm we made to support the pulley.
Then, if the terrain allows it we can tie the other end to the truck so it'll slowly raise the transformer, keeping a guy with a rope pulling the transformer to the side so it doesn't scrape against the pole.
Other times it's just 3 of us elbowing that thing, really good hand burns let me tell you that.
Once it's raised, the lineman or linemen will position the transformer and will tell us to either raise it or lower it slightly and once it sits on the first cushion, the lineman can attatch the second clamp and it's done... only the wiring remains.
Linemen: The unsung heroes of the American worker. I tip my hat. Thank you for hot-sticking, working in bad weather, around bad dogs, on holidays, and against irate property owners. Have a safe and pleasant day up on those poles. Enjoy the view.
Military personnel love to label themselves heros but are they? Does killing make you a hero? My father spent the Vietnam war offshore applying bandages. Was Betty the rivitter a hero? Were manufactures of munitions and all those working back home who made it possible not also heros? We live in a society where our lives are possible by the work of others. We (linemen and garbage collectors) all need doctors (and linemen) but a doctor can’t work without a garbage collector ( and linemen). Show respect and tolerance for your common man (human, not a male) next time you get cut off in traffic or get stuck behind a bucket truck. Don’t think because you are rich or make lots of money through the work of others that you are a hero. You are a part of us, our society that includes doctors, linemen, garbage collectors, soldiers and dirty smelly hippies.
@@magicbox9371 I would agree, there are lots of heroic workers. Linemen just don’t get the credit the other ones do.
@@bwmcelya thats what stun guns are for =p
@@magicbox9371 ??
Wow, amazing video and very informative. Was always curious what you guys did up on those poles. Keep up the amazing work, we love our electric workers and couldn't live modern life without you guys!
Loving the detailed video 😁
Aaron's Videos are extremely informative and they have been a tremendous help in me building on the HV side of my materials and equipment cataloging tool.
love these bucket videos!
Thank you for working in all kinds of weather to keep our power on!
I'm surprised you didn't use another word besides blown, since many people seem to describe an outage or explosion as a blown transformer, when (I think you even said?) it's often just a blown fuse?
Sorry to hear about your attack. I'm a cable guy and seeing dogs is my favourite part of the job.
Had a couple nips over the years, but the only time I got bit was as a toddler when I was hugging the shepherd next door.
27:15 I spoke too soon 🤣
I love to watch people work when they know what they are doing!
When I was younger (late 1960s) I saw a transformer blow during a storm. There was metal pieces and transformer goo around the pole. It does happen😂
Transformer goo - love that term!
Back then it was PCB cancer toxic oils.
Arron was impressed with Ryan's ability to use his tools and certainly didn't wase much time great Video Arron Thanks
Glad to see you’re upsizing the transformer. Solar and EV charging may be in the near future for those customers.
How do you reckon that solar will INCREASE their demand? EV charging, maybe; but that far from being the only renovation that would increase a customers power demands.
@@jacobcarlson4010 remember that typically the solar will be outputting many kw back to the grid in the daytime. Part of the approval of a grid tied system involves the kva of the transformer. Some places will make the customer pay to upgrade it.
@@jacobcarlson4010 Excess solar generation feeding back to the grid can easily result in continuous load on the transformer (in the opposite direction to normal!) which exceeds that of normal usage.
Would you like to inform on EV charging, Voltages, Ph, Hz, and KW needed for say a few popular passenger-car models of EVs for:
Do consider electric input to EV chargers and output in DC Volts, Amps to EV.
And directly charged EV from 120/240 Vac source.
Slow Low-Charge 8-12 hrs?
Fast Charge 30 minutes to 2 Hrs?
For more curiosity include Charging of battery powered,
Lawn mowers,
Boats,
Snowmobiles,
SUVs,
Light Trucks,
Large Trucks,
Farm tractors, Etc
For added learning please inform on Solar PV system, inverters, synchronizing toand back-feeding to typical 120/240 Vac, 60 Hz 1 Ph secondaries?
Along with KWhr metering of electric power in both-directions?
@@jacobcarlson4010 depends on the exact set up but with solar a lot could be exported at once in some parts of the day
its crazy how comfortable they are around death, keep up the good work
Whenever I’m installing a new transformer onto the system I always complete all bonding and isolate my hot legs and energize the transformer in order to verify proper voltage output. Then I take de energize test dead to verify de energized and then closer her back in and send it to the customer. Never know if someone made that pot on a Friday. I don’t trust name plates either. I am the last stop before the customer. I know a few guys that were given the wrong transformer by the shop and never tested before sending to the customer. They got blamed for burning up all the electronics in the house. Surprised you guys don’t do this also. I mean testing voltage after sending to the customer is a little too late if it’s putting out improper voltage.
A surprising amount of trust in the manufacturer is being displayed alright.
@@TonyRule tilt test before it even leaves the ground
Really cool. I watched this from the ground about 5 years ago when my transformer went. NOVEC was about that fast as well. It popped an MOV in a surge protector in my house.
Could have gone this route, decided straight up electronics would be better. Communications, computers, low voltage. Think I made the right decision. :)
Same here. From about 4 years old on I wanted to be an electrician, then I discovered electronics at about 12 years old and never looked back. But I still read the NEC just to keep up on things.
wait until something bad happens and you end up with line voltage on your low voltage lines (yeah, it happens) or even worse, actual HV.
@@throttlebottle5906 Common occurrence, happens often. Unless you're working on tubes you're not going to have a 7200v primary blow your arm off. Way safer work, don't have to show up in a storm, climb poles, get bit by dogs, fight wasps... the list goes on.
At my co-op we usually run the load side of the cutout to the arrestor then to the high bushing, very fast worker and safety conscious great video 👍🏻
Wow I got bit in the butt as a kid from a German Shepard it wasn’t as bad as your injury but I get the idea!
I got nipped by one as a kid also, no blood, just red marks. lol
Thanks for the running commentary. Even with lots of electrical experience it was interesting.
What are your thoughts to those who suggest you should heat up your transformer and check voltage before you hook up your secondaries and heat it up
and how is it going to "heat up"?
@@Failure_Is_An_Option "energizing the transformer"
I remember when I started out as an apprentice at Public Service New Mexico. My first lesson when rolling up to a cutout blown open - always look for the dead squirrel.
Some dogs can be mean.... But not all of them..... How years of service did this transformer give?
It looks like it was around 50 years old. The data plate didn’t have a date.
@denverbraughler3948 thank you
Our transformer blew at night. The PG&E came out and replaced it in the dark, only with work lights from the service truck. I enjoyed the video, the close up views was the best, great job from you and the crew.
Assistindo daqui do brasil 🇧🇷👍⚡
WOW!! That was crazy awesome showing that process and the detailed explanation.