New rope contacts smaller primary power line

[southsoundtree]

I had an oops.

A small primary power line that crossed oddly though a yard, was touched by a new, clean climbing line, across both wires, when I base-tied to a different tree. The wires were changing from two vertically aligned wired to two horizontally aligned wires between the poles on either side, so the wires were angling on the same angle as base-tie in this span, and the rope touched both when the rope shifted a bit and pulled up tighter across the 100' 'hypotenuse' of the base-tie, even though I'd bounce-tested it.

100% operator error on this one.



I was "only rigging out one big fir branch". Dum.

If there are no outward signs of impact on the rope, should I be concerned?

 

[JeffGu]

Did it arc, with a lot of flash, bang, smoke and funny smell? Is the surface glazed or melted?
High voltage AC conducts at the surface of the conductor, the damage would be easily visible on the sheath of the rope.

Polyester and Nylon are good insulators, it's unlikely there would be any damage to the rope unless it was very wet and the voltage was extremely high, in which case it would have melted right through the rope in a fraction of a second.

 

[Reach]

If there is no visible damage to the rope, it’s fine. Hitting an energized cable is no different than a deenergized cable, from a damage-to-rope standpoint. If there had been damage you would have seen it, probably with a loud sound and a big flash.

 

[oldoakman]

Next time be more careful and observant. Be glad there will be a next time!

 

[southsoundtree]

100% true.

 

[Mowerr]

I never seen it happen or known anyone to have a rope damaged from contact to wires but I always wondered about it.

 

[southsoundtree]

I was freaked out a bit, but maintained my composure fine. I swore I saw two dark marks on the rope, mid-air, that I couldn't find later. JUST occurred to me, that the sun creates shadows when there is an opaque object like a piece of wire above another object.

 

[RopeShield]

Glad all is well

 

[Chaplain242]

I was freaked out a bit, but maintained my composure fine. I swore I saw two dark marks on the rope, mid-air, that I couldn't find later. JUST occurred to me, that the sun creates shadows when there is an opaque object like a piece of wire above another object.

Lines carry dust so probably just saw a dust smear that fell off when shifted the rope..

 

[islandarb]

Glad you good Sean...

 

[ATH]

I never seen it happen or known anyone to have a rope damaged from contact to wires but I always wondered about it.

When I did one of the TCIA EHAP classes several years ago, they showed videos of ropes and wires not playing well.

As has been mentioned above, the rope itself is probably not going to conductive, but rather dirt or water within the rope. New rope means lower probability of that. Also, it is probably gonna take more than 220V. I wouldn't bet my life on that by throwing ropes over 220 lines...but just saying that is probably not enough.

Agree with all comments that if OP didn't see/hear/smell anything, the rope probably did not serve as a conductor.

 

[SeanRuel]

Oof, that gut punched feeling when you notice something off! Glad you're good