I got shocked

One limitation to what I said above relates to what macswan might have referred to about a phase to phase fault. Crossing phases in a standard household electrical panel could kill a person, even if they were wearing rubber gloves and were electrically isolated from ground. Crossing phases can unleash huge amounts of energy so quickly that it creates a blast of plasma that explodes outward from an electrical panel. It is too fast to escape. It typically burns people over 70 to 90 % of their body. So even though they were not electrocuted in the least, they often die or are permanently injured by the burns they receive as a result of the plasma blast. Also, I believe the plasma blast has a concussive component to it that can also cause injury.

I do not know about the transformer wiring arrangement of high voltage distribution lines, but macswan's caution about crossing multiple phases seems prudent to me.

Tim
 
Jim Maloney said:
A couple of thoughts about this thread:

Why the concern about both phases? As I understand your process, macswan, you were phase to ground. Phase-to-phase increases voltage between phases but not phase-to-ground. You’ll also only get a voltage increase phase-to-phase on Wye configuration but not on Delta.

High voltage. Don’t ignore amperage. Voltage may turn you to ash in a millisecond but amperage will cook you from the inside out. That house drop/service is as bad as that “high voltage” primary.

Bare conductors. There are no fully insulated primary in our system that’s electrically insulated except our underground and some aerial cable. We have weather-coated but that’s not “insulated”.

Shielding. OSHA regulations make no allowances for a facility that’s insulated as far as clearances go. If you are unqualified, its 10 feet for 15kv or less, insulated or not. That’s you and your equipment must stay 10 feet from that conductor. That includes that new fiberglass pole. The pole must be dielectrically tested prior to its use and even if it has been, it still can not be used with 10’ (15kv or less) if the operator has not been qualified per the regulations.

The “path”. I would wager that you became an integral part of the conductor to ground as we copper-tops are better at moving electricity than wood. I’d imagine your spikes in the xylem/phloem had something to do with it.

Lastly, you, macswan, have not recovered from your exposure to electricity, yet. Don’t respond to my post; just get yourself to a hospital. Think of your family and get to a medical facility now. You have no idea as to the extent of internal damage to your body. Only a medical team can.

Arborists and NASCAR drivers – always laughing about their near-death experiences. The difference is NASCAR implements immediate and permanent change after a fatality whereas tree people just keep dying.
Click to expand...
My understanding is that if it had crossed the phases while I was in contact I would be popcorn.

I was approximately ten ft from the conducter. Or I would have called the qualified fellows. That one cut was the closest to the wires. Everything else was well clear.
 
I thought about you all day, Mac, while I was removing an oak next to bare lines after a soggy night. Thanks for posting, and I'm glad you're mostly okay (aside from the creepy new look, but I guess it could be worse...)image.webp
 
Bottom line, despite all the "expert" blather....keep your 10' and you won't get stung. It IS really just that easy.

If you make a small mistake you MIGHT get away with it and learn your lesson and profit from it.

If you make a big mistake...you die.
 
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