Exploding Transformers

[Bret Cahill]

Never heard of this problem before but 3 transformers that I know of
have gone off in the past 2 years.

I saw one from my desk, another severely burned 4 palm trees and last
week I thought the local (< 2 mile) faultline was acting up.

Is this a common problem?


Bret Cahill

 

[Rich Grise]

Bret Cahill wrote:

Never heard of this problem before but 3 transformers that I know of
have gone off in the past 2 years.

I saw one from my desk, another severely burned 4 palm trees and last
week I thought the local (< 2 mile) faultline was acting up.

Is this a common problem?

Are you talking about pole transformers and/or substations? If so, then it

wasn't the transformers exploding, it was the explosives they use in their
circuit breakers - when you interrupt a potload of kiloamps, you have to
literally blow the arc out.

Hope This Helps!
Rich

 

[John Larkin]

On Sun, 27 Feb 2011 20:17:49 -0800 (PST), Bret Cahill
<BretCahill@aol.com> wrote:

Never heard of this problem before but 3 transformers that I know of
have gone off in the past 2 years.

I saw one from my desk, another severely burned 4 palm trees and last
week I thought the local (< 2 mile) faultline was acting up.

Is this a common problem?


Bret Cahill

Somewhat, especially with older transformers overloaded by increasing
demand. Most pole-pigs are oil filled, so when they get hot and some
insulation breaks down, megawatts of energy can be dissipated, which
explodes the can and sets the oil on fire. Most common on hot days,
when the xfmr is baking in the sun and a/c loads are high.

If the can gets leaky, from a bad seal or rust maybe, water can get
into the oil and degrade the insulation. Lots of utilities are cutting
back on maintenance.

The big transformers and breakers in switchyards can make spectacular
explosions.

John

 

[krw@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz]

On Mon, 28 Feb 2011 08:19:53 -0800, John Larkin
<jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote:

On Sun, 27 Feb 2011 20:17:49 -0800 (PST), Bret Cahill
BretCahill@aol.com> wrote:

Never heard of this problem before but 3 transformers that I know of
have gone off in the past 2 years.

I saw one from my desk, another severely burned 4 palm trees and last
week I thought the local (< 2 mile) faultline was acting up.

Is this a common problem?


Bret Cahill



Somewhat, especially with older transformers overloaded by increasing
demand. Most pole-pigs are oil filled, so when they get hot and some
insulation breaks down, megawatts of energy can be dissipated, which
explodes the can and sets the oil on fire. Most common on hot days,
when the xfmr is baking in the sun and a/c loads are high.

If the can gets leaky, from a bad seal or rust maybe, water can get
into the oil and degrade the insulation. Lots of utilities are cutting
back on maintenance.

The big transformers and breakers in switchyards can make spectacular
explosions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCzdPFJ4tog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYUmdqQ94Ao&NR=1

 

[m II]

"Rich Grise" wrote in message
news:ikf832$75a$6@news.eternal-september.org...
Are you talking about pole transformers and/or substations? If so, then it
wasn't the transformers exploding, it was the explosives they use in their
circuit breakers - when you interrupt a potload of kiloamps, you have to
literally blow the arc out.

Hope This Helps!

Rich



I suppose you were the guy that has to reload the gunpowder in the live
casing after the fault opens the circuit or do they come with an endless
supply of explosive that automatically reloads itself forever??

Do you have to climb the pole and carry it up with you too?

"explosives in their circuit breakers"...LOL


mike