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Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: Roadgeekteen on February 17, 2019, 09:31:36 PM

Title: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 17, 2019, 09:31:36 PM
You always learn as a kid that touching electric wires outside is dangerous. But for some reason, I am also scared of touching the poles itself. Anyone else feel this way?
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: hotdogPi on February 17, 2019, 09:33:02 PM
Same for me.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Rothman on February 17, 2019, 09:40:40 PM
I don't think so.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: 1995hoo on February 17, 2019, 10:07:15 PM
Nope.

I once accidentally gave myself an electric shock in my right arm while rewiring an in-wall timer. So I then used my other arm and got another shock to even things out.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: sparker on February 18, 2019, 02:46:03 AM
Wooden poles, not so much; I learned about non-metallic insulators early on (courtesy of owning model trains), and wood (unless soaking wet) is a dandy insulator.  Metal transmission-line towers -- now that's another thing.  Now they're supposed to be insulated from the bare conductor wires by ceramic or glass insulators, but coming close to them (they're a great pathway to literal and figurative ground) sometimes gives me the heebie-jeebies.  Now -- I often work with vacuum-tube amplifiers that have 500+ volt plate supplies without a lot of worry -- but the thought of my old body being an alternate ground path for 10KV isn't terribly appealing. 
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: MNHighwayMan on February 18, 2019, 03:41:03 AM
If a conductor is shorting to ground through a utility pole, you're probably going to get shocked before you can even touch the pole.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: catch22 on February 18, 2019, 08:40:05 AM
Wooden poles?  No.  I was a telephone installer back in the 1970s and climbed thousands of them without incident.  Wood is a pretty good insulator. Having said that, you need to be mindful of those poles that have a ground conductor (sometimes bare wire) coming down from the power lines.  It's possible in some fault conditions for that wire to be conducting a fair amount of power, especially after storms.

Metal poles that also had power lines on them (rare in the area I worked)?  Call for the bucket truck.  :)




Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: abefroman329 on February 18, 2019, 08:41:34 AM
I do, but I also don't see why I would ever need to touch one.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: renegade on February 18, 2019, 11:32:31 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on February 18, 2019, 08:41:34 AM
I do, but I also don't see why I would ever need to touch one.
That's what she said!   :bigass:
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: briantroutman on February 18, 2019, 11:37:18 AM
I've never been remotely afraid of getting shocked by touching a utility pole, but I learned to stay clear of them when I touched one as a young child and found my palms covered in creosote.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 18, 2019, 02:01:44 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on February 18, 2019, 08:41:34 AM
I do, but I also don't see why I would ever need to touch one.
Put up a lost pet ad?
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: abefroman329 on February 18, 2019, 02:15:59 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 18, 2019, 02:01:44 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on February 18, 2019, 08:41:34 AM
I do, but I also don't see why I would ever need to touch one.
Put up a lost pet ad?
I've never lost a pet.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: GaryV on February 18, 2019, 04:13:40 PM
I'd have a fear of touching electric poles ... with my car ... at a high speed.

Otherwise, no.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Brandon on February 18, 2019, 04:55:42 PM
Quote from: briantroutman on February 18, 2019, 11:37:18 AM
I've never been remotely afraid of getting shocked by touching a utility pole, but I learned to stay clear of them when I touched one as a young child and found my palms covered in creosote.

Yeah, that's pretty nasty shit.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: jakeroot on February 18, 2019, 06:05:32 PM
I used to lean on one pretty regularly as a child, both while waiting at the school bus stop, and while hanging out in front of my house (waiting for friends, usually). So no fear for me.

Now, with that said, virtually all telegraph (telephone?) poles around WA are wooden, and those don't naturally conduct electricity...being my practical self, I see no reason to fear a wooden pole.

A metal pole? I could see some fear in that, although the government wouldn't leave active shock risks within reach of everyday humans.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: SectorZ on February 18, 2019, 06:28:12 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 17, 2019, 09:31:36 PM
You always learn as a kid that touching electric wires outside is dangerous. But for some reason, I am also scared of touching the poles itself. Anyone else feel this way?

No one ever said fears needed to make a lot of sense. I can't believe some of the things that bug me yet meanwhile I can be completely unfazed by thinks that should scare me.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 18, 2019, 10:09:18 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on February 18, 2019, 06:05:32 PM
I used to lean on one pretty regularly as a child, both while waiting at the school bus stop, and while hanging out in front of my house (waiting for friends, usually). So no fear for me.

Now, with that said, virtually all telegraph (telephone?) poles around WA are wooden, and those don't naturally conduct electricity...being my practical self, I see no reason to fear a wooden pole.

A metal pole? I could see some fear in that, although the government wouldn't leave active shock risks within reach of everyday humans.
I've never seen a metal pole.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: MNHighwayMan on February 18, 2019, 10:12:13 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 18, 2019, 10:09:18 PM
I've never seen a metal pole.

(https://i.imgur.com/bjYxp8r.jpg)
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: noelbotevera on February 18, 2019, 10:21:54 PM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 18, 2019, 10:12:13 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 18, 2019, 10:09:18 PM
I've never seen a metal pole.

(https://i.imgur.com/bjYxp8r.jpg)
...Is that in somebody's house?
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Revive 755 on February 18, 2019, 10:24:58 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 18, 2019, 10:09:18 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on February 18, 2019, 06:05:32 PM
I used to lean on one pretty regularly as a child, both while waiting at the school bus stop, and while hanging out in front of my house (waiting for friends, usually). So no fear for me.

Now, with that said, virtually all telegraph (telephone?) poles around WA are wooden, and those don't naturally conduct electricity...being my practical self, I see no reason to fear a wooden pole.

A metal pole? I could see some fear in that, although the government wouldn't leave active shock risks within reach of everyday humans.
I've never seen a metal pole.

Would one of the poles in the background here count? (https://goo.gl/maps/4HmoQx4B6VQ2)
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: MNHighwayMan on February 18, 2019, 10:26:38 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on February 18, 2019, 10:21:54 PM
...Is that in somebody's house?

According to the website I stole that from, it's a rental you can get for parties.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Big John on February 18, 2019, 10:41:35 PM
Quote from: Revive 755 on February 18, 2019, 10:24:58 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 18, 2019, 10:09:18 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on February 18, 2019, 06:05:32 PM
I used to lean on one pretty regularly as a child, both while waiting at the school bus stop, and while hanging out in front of my house (waiting for friends, usually). So no fear for me.

Now, with that said, virtually all telegraph (telephone?) poles around WA are wooden, and those don't naturally conduct electricity...being my practical self, I see no reason to fear a wooden pole.

A metal pole? I could see some fear in that, although the government wouldn't leave active shock risks within reach of everyday humans.
I've never seen a metal pole.

Would one of the poles in the background here count? (https://goo.gl/maps/4HmoQx4B6VQ2)
Or smaller all-metal poles seen here: https://goo.gl/maps/YvGpgyxsDuQ2
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Max Rockatansky on February 18, 2019, 10:43:30 PM
Not really, especially the wooden ones. 
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: MNHighwayMan on February 18, 2019, 11:01:28 PM
Quote from: Big John on February 18, 2019, 10:41:35 PM
Or smaller all-metal poles seen here: https://goo.gl/maps/YvGpgyxsDuQ2

Those are some of the cleanest, neatest utility lines I have ever seen.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 19, 2019, 12:05:18 AM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 18, 2019, 10:12:13 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 18, 2019, 10:09:18 PM
I've never seen a metal pole.

(https://i.imgur.com/bjYxp8r.jpg)
I've seen those, never seen a metal power line.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: roadfro on February 19, 2019, 12:08:26 AM
I've never had a fear of touching utility poles. But I used to have a fear of any guy wires that were used to stabilize the poles–my unknowing younger self thought that those wires was how the electricity got below ground.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: MNHighwayMan on February 19, 2019, 12:17:32 AM
Quote from: roadfro on February 19, 2019, 12:08:26 AM
I've never had a fear of touching utility poles. But I used to have a fear of any guy wires that were used to stabilize the poles–my unknowing younger self thought that those wires was how the electricity got below ground.

When I was in elementary school, I had a teacher tell me to not touch a guy wire near the playground because she believed it could shock me. I was into electrical stuff from a young age and I knew that was wrong, but I quit being around it for fear of getting into trouble.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: ErmineNotyours on February 19, 2019, 12:31:05 AM
In Federal Way, Washington, there is a street running right under very menacing-looking power lines (https://goo.gl/maps/jTXT2Uu3rsm) that crackle and buzz.  There used to be small signs right above the pedestrian signal actuators that said, "CAUTION - HIGH STATIC DISCHARGE."  Sooooo... do you press the button or not?  The signs have been removed, the buttons have been updated with devices that give vocal assistance.  Maybe they've gotten the static jolt problem under control, or maybe they've stopped worrying people about it.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: MNHighwayMan on February 19, 2019, 12:40:35 AM
That's really odd. I can't see that as doing anything other than fomenting anxiety. Maybe it was problematic to people with implanted electronics (e.g. pacemakers?) I dunno.

On an unrelated subject, the traffic light to the right is bothersome with its three through signal heads all at different elevations.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: jakeroot on February 19, 2019, 02:58:52 AM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 19, 2019, 12:40:35 AM
On an unrelated subject, the traffic light to the right is bothersome with its three through signal heads all at different elevations.

If I recall correctly, when Federal Way went through about 15-ish years ago and started adding a bunch of supplemental signals to existing installs, some of the existing signals were moved for interim lane configurations, but never got moved back. Or, were missed in design reviews or something like that. New installs don't have the same problem, thankfully.

OT: I got a great shot of that ugly approach in this video I made showing how that approach uses a lagging FYA:

https://youtu.be/_idz1QzWQtg
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: MNHighwayMan on February 19, 2019, 03:18:40 AM
I just realized that it'd probably be just fine if they mounted the middle signal head between the top and middle sections, like all the rest, rather than between the middle and bottom sections. I wonder if it ended up being slightly too low mounted like that, and that's why it's all weird.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: kalvado on February 19, 2019, 06:03:57 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on February 18, 2019, 06:05:32 PM

Now, with that said, virtually all telegraph (telephone?) poles around WA are wooden, and those don't naturally conduct electricity...being my practical self, I see no reason to fear a wooden pole.
Next thing you learn is that wet wood is a descent conductor. Especially once road salt is added to the equation...
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: ET21 on February 19, 2019, 10:18:07 AM
Nope
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: hbelkins on February 19, 2019, 11:31:57 AM
Metal transmission line posts are being used in my area at an ever-increasing frequency. Most recently, a new transmission line was built to serve the Oakdale substation for Licking Valley RECC, and all the posts are metal. Plus, Kentucky Utilities has replaced some older poles/posts on the transmission line between Richmond and Beattyville with metal ones.

I haven't seen a metal distribution line pole, however, other than in places where transmission and distribution lines share the same posts.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: kphoger on February 19, 2019, 02:33:54 PM
I work for the cable company.  We use the same poles.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: jakeroot on February 19, 2019, 11:12:51 PM
Quote from: kalvado on February 19, 2019, 06:03:57 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on February 18, 2019, 06:05:32 PM
Now, with that said, virtually all telegraph (telephone?) poles around WA are wooden, and those don't naturally conduct electricity...being my practical self, I see no reason to fear a wooden pole.
Next thing you learn is that wet wood is a descent conductor. Especially once road salt is added to the equation...

Oh don't worry I got that ("don't naturally conduct electricity...").
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: hbelkins on February 20, 2019, 02:15:33 PM
Quote from: kalvado on February 19, 2019, 06:03:57 AM
Next thing you learn is that wet wood is a descent conductor.

So it only conducts electricity downhill?  :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: kalvado on February 20, 2019, 02:17:47 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 20, 2019, 02:15:33 PM
Quote from: kalvado on February 19, 2019, 06:03:57 AM
Next thing you learn is that wet wood is a descent conductor.

So it only conducts electricity downhill?  :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D
Of course, from the wires up there to the ground. Otherwise - why would the lightning ever strike a top of any tree? Only because electricity can flow down from there!
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: dcharlie on February 20, 2019, 02:24:32 PM
I'm only afraid of touching a metal one with my tongue in the winter!   :sombrero:  Thanks, A Christmas Story!
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: jakeroot on February 20, 2019, 02:39:37 PM
Quote from: dcharlie on February 20, 2019, 02:24:32 PM
I'm only afraid of touching a metal one with my tongue in the winter!   :sombrero:  Thanks, A Christmas Story!

Makes me think of Harry Dunne from Dumb and Dumber, though that was a metal ski lift.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: abefroman329 on February 20, 2019, 02:44:48 PM
Quote from: dcharlie on February 20, 2019, 02:24:32 PM
I'm only afraid of touching a metal one with my tongue in the winter!   :sombrero:  Thanks, A Christmas Story!
But what if someone double dog dared you?
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: dcharlie on February 20, 2019, 03:08:01 PM
I'm gonna have to hold out for the triple dog dare!
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Hot Rod Hootenanny on February 20, 2019, 03:52:18 PM
I'm never going to answer anymore polls on this forum.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Roadgeekteen on February 20, 2019, 04:49:54 PM
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on February 20, 2019, 03:52:18 PM
I'm never going to answer anymore polls on this forum.
This isn't a poll.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: hotdogPi on February 20, 2019, 05:13:53 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on February 20, 2019, 04:49:54 PM
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on February 20, 2019, 03:52:18 PM
I'm never going to answer anymore polls on this forum.
This isn't a poll.

It is, however, a Pole. (The one shown here is not electric.)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Wikipedia_Polandball.png)

@Hot Rod Hootenanny: If you don't vote for several years, Ohio will take you off the list.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Brandon on February 20, 2019, 05:36:08 PM
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on February 20, 2019, 03:52:18 PM
I'm never going to answer anymore polls on this forum.

Sure it's not electric Poles?
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Hot Rod Hootenanny on February 20, 2019, 11:36:36 PM
Quote from: 1 on February 20, 2019, 05:13:53 PM

@Hot Rod Hootenanny: If you don't vote for several years, Ohio will take you off the list.

Do you know what the difference between a poll and voting is?!
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: jakeroot on February 20, 2019, 11:38:54 PM
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on February 20, 2019, 11:36:36 PM
Quote from: 1 on February 20, 2019, 05:13:53 PM

@Hot Rod Hootenanny: If you don't vote for several years, Ohio will take you off the list.

Do you know what the difference between a poll and voting is?!

Point is, don't be afraid to cast your vote, no matter the medium.
Title: Re: Who else has a fear of touching electric poles?
Post by: Henry on February 26, 2019, 10:38:09 AM
Wood poles, no. Metal, I used to be afraid of them as a kid because of the higher electrical capacity their wires carried and the "DANGER- KEEP OFF" labels.