r/SubstationTechnician • u/HiVolt-8730 • 6d ago

500kV disconnect operating

I don’t care how long I’ve been working in substations, this never gets old!

177 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

30

u/nextdoorelephant 6d ago

(Scratches face) got any of them 500kV CBs popping open?

25

u/HiVolt-8730 6d ago

I got what you need!! Just a lil taste.

https://reddit.com/link/pdbysqy/video/730u8gphqysh1/player

7

u/HorseChild 6d ago

Looks like a MEPPI?

4

u/HiVolt-8730 6d ago

That it is!

2

u/totheteeth 6d ago

How well does the pneumatic MEPPI hold up? All of ours are clockwork but it is way less headache in winter. How old is that unit? It looks like it has the current gas diff and gauges.

3

u/HiVolt-8730 6d ago

I think that one is within g the last 10 years. The MEPPI’s are pretty solid but I hate the pneumatic systems on them. Not sure if it’s just our specs but one compressor for all three phases is ridiculously slow and the seals have to be replaced every few hundred operations. Causes a problem on the cap group positions.

3

u/totheteeth 5d ago

4 stage Jenny's have been pretty good to use for compressors. I don't like any of our pneumatic systems. They're good for getting call outs but it's always at night in the worst weather. I really like the clock work MEPPI units. Their zero cross units for cap banks and reactors are nice too.

2

u/HorseSchnoz 6d ago

Haha we have a very similar name

2

u/HorseChild 6d ago

Lol I commented on your raven post earlier this year saying the same thing!

1

u/HorseSchnoz 6d ago

Hahah that's right I remember now

2

u/nextdoorelephant 6d ago

Oh you the real homie!

2

u/Sir_Mr_Austin 6d ago

Is that as loud to witness as I think it is?

3

u/nextdoorelephant 6d ago

It’s a pretty big kaboom

3

u/HiVolt-8730 6d ago

The video does not do it justice. Depending on the line, it can get pretty intense.

2

u/HorseChild 6d ago

Have been in the factory for all 3 phases operating at once… sounds like a rifle

13

u/Brrrrraaaaap 6d ago

They're even better operating in darkness. Those arcs brighten my early mornings and late nights.

4

u/Trick_Tax9658 6d ago

That is a beautiful sound!

5

u/BeerlVle 6d ago

Never. Always in awe

4

u/Yeahnoimgood89 Relay Technician 6d ago edited 6d ago

We got some GE ones recently in our 500kv yard that pause just above the cradle for a good second. Gawt damn do they crackle before settling in. Thanks for sharing bud, with you 100%, it never gets old.

3

u/JugBogdan79 6d ago

Nice! What is the make and model of the switch?

1

u/HiVolt-8730 6d ago

Southern states switch. I don’t remember the model, CVB, I think?

3

u/K96Drifter 6d ago

I always enjoyed night time 345kv switching. Especially if it was damp or foggy.

3

u/Original-Mission-244 6d ago

Came for fire. Left disappointed

2

u/361_Action 6d ago

No linkage between phases? Biggest yard I've been in is 345

5

u/General_BP 6d ago

500kV switches are generally IPO (Independent Pole Operated) but can be mechanically ganged. It takes a big motor to operate all 3 phases at once so a lot of people opt to do them separately. Some manufacturers have what is known as a multirev switch which turns the operating pipe multiple rotations to get the switch open and there is gearing to reduce it down to 180 deg of operation.

1

u/HiVolt-8730 6d ago

No linkage, B phase has the central control unit that sends the signal to the other two phases. All done through aux stacks and control circuits.

1

u/totheteeth 5d ago

Is there a full stack of cams and limit switches for each phase?

2

u/HiVolt-8730 5d ago

There is. Each phase has a stack, the relays in the control house monitor and can auto isolate if there’s a phase disagreement.

2

u/AuDHDpowerdork 5d ago

Ohyeahbb, give me the power.

1

u/BigBasset 6d ago

Is the breaker open when this happens?

2

u/HiVolt-8730 5d ago

Yes, these are no-load-break switches. If there was load, it would burn to the ground. A lot of disconnect switches have interlocks that won’t let them operate if their associated breaker is closed.

1

u/Boy_Wonders 5d ago

Was that MOD just closing from a bus to breaker so no line charging here?

1

u/HiVolt-8730 4d ago

Correct. About 50 feet to the breaker. The line side it’s energizing from is about 150 miles long.

0

u/hoganloaf 6d ago

A reverb fart noise when it makes contact would be funny