USA Linesman video - temporary supply

[timhoward]

As I'm getting rather bored of watching UK electricians on youtube, I've been watching our friends over the pond.
This was rather an interesting watch on a number of levels, he goes to connect up a temp supply and finds it dead.

I can't get over how he keeps prodding the live terminals with his (gloved) fingers, and the design of the meter case which risks a dead short.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Seen plenty of American / Canadian sparks working on live panels with no gloves and non-insulated tools

 

[DPG]

Some of the American gear looks really dated. And as you say, the design leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[pc1966]

I find it very strange they have to play with that metal cover while the terminals are live! Yes, those folks are trained for doing this, but it seems very odd not to have an insulated arrangement for there.

Same with the lack of any OCPD upstream of the meter, unless somewhere else there are fuses before the drop wires? Didnt look like it. I guess it is normal there but given the typical USA house gets 200A I shudder to think of what would happen if you did slip with the cover or otherwise make a short on the supply side!

Also odd was using what is basically a multimeter for checking for cable faults, this side of the pond you would use a 500V IR tester!

 

[Dustydazzler]

They don't use MFTs in America / Canada ,, not that I have ever seen anyway

 

[Lister1987]

They don't use MFTs in America / Canada ,, not that I have ever seen anyway

Yea just a multimeter, and we wonder why people do it here too?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Bang Test for initial verification , followed by a multi-meter to test voltages and that is about it

Oh and the mechanical test button to 'prove' that the GFCI is working

 

[DPG]

I think they sometimes use Meggers.

 

[pc1966]

Those "Scotchlok on steroids" insulation displacing connectors used up the pole are intriguing, can't say I have ever seen anything like that so far.

 

[DPG]

Those "Scotchlok on steroids" insulation displacing connectors used up the pole are intriguing, can't say I have ever seen anything like that so far.

Don't we have line taps or something similar? My memory is not working very well today sorry.

 

[timhoward]

Don't we have line taps or something similar? My memory is not working very well today sorry.

Yeah, some have got into hot water recently for using them as lazy Henley blocks when splitting tails!

 

[pc1966]

Don't we have line taps or something similar? My memory is not working very well today sorry.

The line taps I have used needed the insulation stripped off first (or bare wire, of course...)

 

[Petej999]

I think they sometimes use Meggers.

Megger is a trade name I GUESS YOU MEAN INSULATION TESTER, saurprised you call it that a Man of your kaliber .

 

[timhoward]

Megger is a trade name I GUESS YOU MEAN INSULATION TESTER, saurprised you call it that a Man of your kaliber .

I'm pretty certain men of his caliber wouldn't drink Kaliber....

 

[DPG]

Megger is a trade name I GUESS YOU MEAN INSULATION TESTER, saurprised you call it that a Man of your kaliber .

Agree yes, sorry Pete. It's not a term I regularly use, but I think he mentioned the term in the video.