OT? Transformer failure video <link to Transformer_Failure.wmv>

Feb 18, 2006 4 Replies

I was just kind of rummaging around on my various drive partitions, looking for old deadwood that I can safely trash, since that's cheaper than buying another drive, and maybe missing something important! :-)



So, anyways, I stumbled on this, which I have no idea where it came from, unless "The internet" counts, ;-) so I can't attribute it, and I'm almost sure it's been shown and discussed around here at least once, but so long ago in USENET years, I thought, hey, let's toss it out there again! ;-P



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But I did want to mention that, it kind of looks/sounds like that tranny is BIG - like, they're at maximum zoom, 'cause when you see the burst, it's some perceptible delay before you hear the report.



Comments? :-)



Cheers! Rich


-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version: 3.1 GAT(E P) dpu s: a++ C++@ P+ L++>+ !E W+ N++ o? K? w-- !O !M !V PS+++ PE Y+ PGP- t 5+++)-; X- R- tv+ b+ DI++++>+ D-? G e+$ h+ r-- z+ ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

I cant even imagine the amount of current flowing to ground. How much voltage going to those street boxes?

I think its stepping down 1300 to 440?

Seems like it might have been a design feature. Note that the humming and arcing stopped after the explosion. Perhaps it could be classified as an explosive circuit breaker!

Rick

Rich Grise, but drunk wrote:

This first appeared several years ago. My daughter who is a senior substation design engineer sent it to me. They tried to trace where it came from but had no luck. This is either a transformer or a voltage regulator. Both are filled with oil and can go up with spectaular results filling the substation with flaming oil. It happens more often than the power companies like but luckily the substations are usually in somewhat remote locations.

Better video, with commentary and several other episodes, here:

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BillW

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