The overhead power line to your house is the the 120/240 Volts service drop and is insulated up to 600 volts. By just touching it, you will not electrocute yourself. Touching one of the phase wires on your house service, if you are grounded, can certainly electrocute and kill you outright.
Are service drops dangerous?
What Is The Service Drop? The service drop usually goes down in severe weather conditions, such as storms when there are downed trees, or even large fallen limbs, as well as heavy ice build ups. If this happens, it can be extremely dangerous, as they carry a lot of electricity.
Are power lines to house dangerous to touch?
Power lines are not insulated and you should always avoid contact with them. It is quite possible for people to get electrocuted if you touch power lines.
Can you touch a tree that is touching a power line?
Can you trim a tree thats touching a power line? Unless you plan on getting electrocuted, you should NOT touch, let alone prune a tree thats in contact with power lines! Just touching a branch thats touching a wire can cause a fatal injury.
Can you cut limbs touching power lines?
This can be very dangerous as it may lead to electrocution to anyone touching it or can cause the tree to catch fire. Since branches can conduct electricity, it is always recommended that you do not try cutting down branches touching the power line.
Who is responsible for the service drop?
For one thing, the service drop belongs to the utility company, not to the homeowner. For another, power in the service drop cables can be shut off only by the utility company. Homeowners also should not attempt any work on the cables between the service drop and the homes electrical service panel.
Why can birds sit on wires?
Birds can sit on power lines and not get electric shocks because the electricity is always looking for a way to get to the ground. The birds are not touching the ground or anything in contact with the ground, so the electricity will stay in the power line.
How close to power lines is safe?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that equipment be kept at least 10 feet away from power lines with voltages up to 50kV. For lines with voltages higher than 50kV, the required distance is even greater (see below).
Do trees conduct lightning?
Lightning damaged trees do not always survive. Trees often act as natural conductors for lightning strikes. Sometimes the lightning strike can jump (side flash) from a tree to a nearby home and cause severe damage to both tree and house.
Why bird can stand on power line?
Birds are able to sit on electrical power lines because the electrical current essentially ignores the birds presence and continues to travel through the wire instead of through the birds body. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity in that it allows electricity to flow easily along its surface.
What is the most common service drop?
Commercial and industrial. Commercial and industrial service drops can be much bigger, and are usually three phase. In the US, common services are 120Y/208 (three 120 V circuits 120 degrees out of phase, with 208 V line-to-line), 240 V three-phase, and 480 V three-phase.
How does a service drop work?
If you live or work in a neighborhood that receives electric service from overhead power lines that run between utility poles, you tap into the energy grid through a line called a “service drop.” A service drop spans from a nearby utility pole to your home or business, and routes the high-voltage electricity running
Why are there basketballs on power lines?
Marker balls are colorful, spherical markers placed on power lines for the safety of low flying aircraft and to protect the electrical infrastructure. They allow the electrical wires to be noticeable (especially during times of low visibility or inclement weather) thanks to their bold colors.
Do birds get electrocuted by lightning?
Birds do get hit by lightning and are often killed by it. Birds that have been hit in the past include geese, blackbirds, starlings, cowbirds, owls, and even pelicans. However, these cases are rare as most birds do not take flight in the rain or in a thunderstorm.
Why do birds not get electrocuted on power lines?
Birds can sit on power lines and not get electric shocks because the electricity is always looking for a way to get to the ground. The birds are not touching the ground or anything in contact with the ground, so the electricity will stay in the power line.
How far should your house be from power lines?
The strongest magnetic fields are usually emitted from high voltage transmission lines — the power lines on the big, tall metal towers. To be sure that you are reducing the exposure levels to 0.5 milligauss (mG) or less, a safety distance of 700 feet may be needed. It could be much less, but sometimes more.
What causes lightning to strike a person?
Direct Strike A person struck directly by lightning becomes a part of the main lightning discharge channel. Most often, direct strikes occur to victims who are in open areas. The heat produced when lightning moves over the skin can produce burns, but the current moving through the body is of greatest concern.