high line wire height

Is there a minimum height that the high line wire that crosses my yard should be? Seems it should be higher but I doubt the electric co. will admit it if they don't have to.It's the 7,000 volt plus wire ,not 220 volt line that I'm responsible for.I buried everything i'm responslble for.

Every utility has their own standards. I believe locally its 18 ft nominal such that the 14'6" highway max height won't normally come within 3 ft.

This info is on a sticker inside my hardhat {which I do not wear to use the computer]. 7 kv is not even on the charts. 50 kv is 10 feet. 7 KV is not considered high voltage but medium voltage. In a 500 yard tossing an extension cord can get your fingers blown off your hand. Unless that cable is sagging onto your car it is probably good.

Knock it down a time or two and they will raise it.

knock down a 7000 volt line a few times and they will raise it,....ARE YOU DAFT ????

Yes, there is a minimum height and your electric company will tell you. Why hide it? Generally the electric lines are higher than the telephone and cable TV lines. Are the lines you are talking about sagging? If so, call the elec. co. and have them fix it. Tell them you need to haul hay or drive a combine or log truck through.

One of the big things is this. If it has been that way for 10 plus years it falls in the a grandfather clause and you may not be able to do any thing about it. Yes now days the standard is higher then it was say 15-20 years ago. Been out of that type work to long to know what is now code

15 to 20 ft. at point of greatest sag is the norm. utilities typically set poles of specified heights and distances to maintain the desired sag. attached is a chart showing minimum approach distances for energized equipment at different voltages. all voltages can/will arc through the air if a conducting object invades that air space, therefore minimum safe approach distances have been determined for the varying voltages. note, these are approach distances only and does not pertain to sagging of conductors. weather conditions can affect these distances and have been factored in.

Table 19-1A
Column 1
Voltage Column 2
Minimum approach distance for working close to exposed electrical equipment or conductors
Phase to phase Metres Feet
Over 750 V to 75 kV 3 10
Over 75 kV to 250 kV 4.5 15
Over 250 kV to 550 kV 6 20
Purpose of guideline
This guideline describes the application of Table 19-1A minimum approach
these may vary somewhat from utility to utility.
the presence of voltage produces a magnetic field and passing a conductor (extension cord) through that field can produce its own voltage of sufficient strength to cause injury. the higher the voltage the greater the risk. note also-this pertains to non-insulated conductors.

[i:654c4848f0]"Unless that cable is sagging onto your car it is probably good."[/i:654c4848f0]

Seems like a rather cavalier reply coming from someone who generally preaches strict code compliance and the supreme importance of electrical safety.

I"ve found my local coop to be great to work with. There was a distribution line that sagged low in the heat near where we load large container grown oaks on flat beds. A call to the engineer had a crew out within a week or two. They installed an extra pole and raised the height significantly, no charge. Good people.

NO do not knock it down--BTDT. It causes dents in your cab, if it is steel like my White, makes sparks that sets the grass on fire and sure is a pucker factor not soon to be forgotten! The power Co. will raise the line if it is too low, safty first.

I had local REA check mine over driveway at the farm. They have a minimum of twenty-two feet from bottom wire. They put in two new higher poles and fixed the problem.

Around here the normal height for the bottom (neutral) wire is 22 feet. Moved a number of bins over the years and had no problem with them. Phone lines were lower, but you don"t have the spark issue with them. Always paid to scout the route a few times before moving bins. Moved some about 50 miles, cut only 2 phone lines, even with the 2x4 guides up and over the bins. Local REA had specs on line height over the roads. They"re glad to share the info.

Just call them and ask. We have two different power companies in this area. One the bottom wire is hot, and the other the top wire is hot. They told me the bottom one being hot is safer, Shouldn't touch either. But climbing a pole you would not be grounded if you touched the first wire. ?????If you hit it with equipment?????

Mine sags also. it is a long run between poles but is right next to my long driveway. I had a big load, think large truck with long large trailer, of crusher run delivered a few years ago and he had to be very careful when raising the trailer to drive up driveway and spread it somewhat. I finished it with the boxblade, but sure made me nervous watching him ease up the drive way with the big trailer tilted up :shock:

Forgot to add that the wires seem to sag a little lower over the years. Is it normal or do they have to "tighten up" the wires after 30 or so years? I know they have to leave some slack for ice storms etc, which are infrequent down here but they do happen.

carogator:

As ohio jim said: . . . "ARE YOU DAFT ????" .

When I worked in the Mines we used 4160 Volts @ 1000 Amps to power the Continuous Miners; so I'm pretty sure that a 7 KV line would have a whole lot more Amperage.

And you want to knock one down; - Do you have a DEATH WISH?

Allright Im changing all my electrical answers to " hit it with a hammer"