Autoreclosers on power lines

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Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT

I've got a question are these totally mechanical? They say when they exhaust the amount of tries.. So say if a tree limb causes a SC and it happened (lets speed it up) 4 times in 5 min after the 4th time it's locked out and will need a lineman to come to inspect it?

to forum · permalink · 2012-10-29 18:47:49 ·

fifty nine

join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ
kudos:2

Some are mechanical but the newer ones are electronic (except the actual contactor/relay). They can even be controlled remotely by SCADA.

to forum · permalink · 2012-10-29 18:55:33 ·

jack b
Gone Fishing
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join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
kudos:1

reply to Subaru
It depends on how many retries the utility has it programmed for. Usually when a fault is detected the breaker opens then makes a set number of attempts to "clear" the line fault. If it's successful, power is restored, and if not and it exhausts it's pre-programmed attempts, then it usually has to be manually reset by a line technician after the fault is cleared.
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to forum · permalink · 2012-10-29 19:59:32 ·

Bob
Account deleted

join:2012-07-22
New Jersey

reply to Subaru
Don't assume it's locked out and safe to approach the wire.

to forum · permalink · 2012-10-29 20:39:32 ·

Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT

said by Bob:

Don't assume it's locked out and safe to approach the wire.

Why would I want to climb a pole?

to forum · permalink · 2012-10-29 20:43:23 ·

itguy05

join:2005-06-17
Carlisle, PA

reply to Subaru
I think it depends. At our old house it would be off, on, off, on, off for good. At this new place it seems to be off, on, off, on, off, on. With Sandy it's annoying. I'd rather have the power out than go through all the off, on junk.

to forum · permalink · 2012-10-29 21:01:43 ·

davidg
Good Bye My Friend
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join:2002-06-15
none

reply to Subaru
it does not have to be on the pole, it could be on the ground. or it could be a tree laying against the line and when you touch the tree you get zapped.
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to forum · permalink · 2012-10-29 21:43:01 ·

Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT

reply to Subaru
I did not say I was touching I was asking a question

to forum · permalink · 2012-10-29 21:55:13 ·

pike
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join:2001-02-01
Washington, DC
kudos:3

reply to Subaru

said by Subaru:

I've got a question are these totally mechanical?

More accurately, "electromechanical".

said by Subaru:

They say when they exhaust the amount of tries.. So say if a tree limb causes a SC and it happened (lets speed it up) 4 times in 5 min after the 4th time it's locked out and will need a lineman to come to inspect it?

This is a most basic theory of operation, but yes it's correct. It really depends on the specific device and how the particular utility's SOPs dictate it be configured. Without going in to too much detail, the only caveat I would add is that the faults must occur within a very short span, typically in the order of 30 secs to 2 minutes.

So for example, lets say an overcurrent event takes place and the recloser cycles two times. There are now two "attemps" logged. After 30 seconds elapses with no more overcurrent events, the counter resets and those two "attempts" drop off without any human intervention.

to forum · permalink · 2012-10-30 06:18:28 ·

Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT

reply to Subaru
Got a lot of storm pictures but to make it easy to understand the recloser is upside down just like the transformer.

to forum · permalink · 2012-10-30 11:05:24 ·