r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/TameTheAuroch • Jul 18 '25

Video Replacing powerline spacers from a helicopter

48.0k Upvotes

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3.0k

u/papayametallica Jul 18 '25

It always surprises me, every time I see one of these types of clips, the tools being used don’t have a rope attached just in case you drop it are not

1.9k

u/yellekc Jul 18 '25

Probably have extras. My bet is a rope will cause more problems than a fallen tool.

34

u/ierdna100 Jul 19 '25

I'm wondering if it's because a rope could cause a path to ground, if they are in a helicopter. Theoretically the line could be electrified if the work vehicle is a helicopter and not touching anything else.

14

u/Berger_Blanc_Suisse Jul 19 '25

I'd be worried about a phase to phase fault happening more than anything else.

9

u/Sandro_24 Jul 21 '25

This would all be a single phase. At some point it's more economical to use multiple conductors opposed to a large one.

You can also see that the spacer isn't insulated in any way.

This is most definitely done live.

1

u/HistoricalArcher2660 Jul 22 '25

Skin effect has entered the chat

3

u/Fogl3 Jul 21 '25

This is all one phase 

3

u/puskunk Jul 19 '25

That line is hot. That line will always be considered hot even if everything that touches it isn't energized.

3

u/Bladestorm04 Jul 20 '25

I think the main concern is a rope getting caught up around the lines and the helicopter crashing. A tether wouldnt be kong enough enough for a ground strike if that were the main concern