Telephone lines

jolumasa

Hello, I´m a new member of the community and I´ve got a question.

I´m spanish and work with trees in Spain. I´ve always heard that utility lines such as telephone lines (they are utility lines, aren´t they?) are not dangerous for us while working on trees close to those lines. But I was surprised when I heard that phone lines could also be dangerous and I heard that from someone in the States.

So my question is... could it be that danger due to that power lines in America go together with the phone lines or is it true that only phone lines can conduct electricity? We´ve cut some telephone cables here and nothing´s ever happened.

Thanks.

Eric Frei

I think you need to contact your local authority or electrician for the accurate answer.

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derwoodii

Agree above.
Power lines are obviously a danger they can carry high voltage currents.
Phone lines may carry low currents, but you don't need much to kill you.
On top of that phone lines may have wire cable supporting them these when wired up wrong or get feed back from poorly wired homes may become energized.
You can not know so always treat them live or you maybe dead.

Yes i have cut many phone line and nuthin happened, but I seen a dead man where he shoulda been alive.

Voltage and power supply recognition is something that should be schooled to tree workers.

Brent Ferris

Generally in Canada the phone lines and the hydro lines are well separated, and phone lines have quite low voltage -- at least to the house, I certainly wouldn't try cutting a main line. A whole lot of little bits are accumulative. And I definitely wouldn't cut a hydro line,. In fact, in toronto some the high hydro lines are not insulated - so you stay well away from those -- and if you have to cut near it -- you're damn careful!!!

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Garry Brockley

there are rules that say you shouldn't work within 3 meters of 450 volt and 5 meters for 11000, in uk and aus you call the service provider and they cut them back around the lines then you can take care of the rest.

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Brent Ferris

Yes we have a similar ruling - unless qualified (I am), not within 3 metres of 33000 volts, further with higher ratings, But, I have called our Hydro for some trees, they come out and decide the limbs over the wires aren't a problem, and do nothing, or they proceed to remove the tree and I'm out of a job. So mostly, I find a way around the problem - unless it's a no-brainer.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

tuftsy

I'm a certified cable tv technician... should be careful always as an open line anywhere could energize the metal strand holding the cables up if there not properly grounded etc..puls the strand that attaches to the poles could be loose and any tampering with the lines could cause it to pop out of the hubbard at the pole(highly un likely though). Telephone lines hold low voltage but enough to let you know its there, though if someone is dialing or signal is being transmitted its alot more(alot now with internet). Cable tv on the other hand carries 60 - 90 volts now with some sytems and up to 15 amps of draw on the system----really lets you know it there if your sweating or wet, it's not the volts that kill it's the amps. Alot of people test the metal strand for voltage with a meter before touching(wimps) but its safe if you have hydro above especially. I would be carefull cutting around any lines as anything falling on these lines could damage the cable or knock something loose, a very costly bill if its fibre optic lines. Call before you cut same as call before you dig, will save you in the long run, plus there is always an easement around poles and the lines which means whoever owns the poles owns the usually 3 foot diameter around base of poles and the airiel lines. The owner of the lines is usually hydro if there above and telephone if there not, anyone else has to rent space if they want to join on the lines. sorry long winded hope it helps. BE SAFE

Apocalypsse

Thats news to me, my 2 LOA courses said nothing about phone lines having that sort of potential, its good to know that sort of thing can happen. At work I've heard we aren't supposed to clear around the telephone/cable lines either as for some reason those provides don't want to do an LOA course for us, even though most of the time its their incompetent staff that cause most problems by not installing the lines to the houses correctly. They use excessive cable and just hang it on branches so when you cut it the wire hangs far too low. Most cables tele/cable I've seen are all insulated, its only when trees have been allowed to grow too much is when they get the insulation rubbed away.

derwoodii

Look at the thick licorice black optus phone cable you may find a steel support wire. This wire is earthed back to the poles right beside the active Lv.
Beware the steel frames of street light extension, they may be live as internal Lv wire breaks down.
Induction over air gap of power from tram n train DC lines can cause high lv in nearby netual wires.
Its all a bit over scary but treat with care cuz its electric assets are gettin old and the power co,s are not doing the maint.
Even the newer grey wrapped home service lines are breakin down and the insulation may not be workin as it should that why ESV want us to prune harder to extend the life span if these.
While rare yearly a chap will get a spank or worse many go unreported as they know will bring reprisal's to poor work practice.

derwoodii

Not lv phone but SWER wire. Thats one small innocent lookin wire an't it.

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Drouin Tree Service

I know a guy who hit a swer line with a hedger head on a ht75,curled his fingernails like bacon crackle and knocked him out,Lucky to live.

Yep lots of incidents go unreported people get saftey bonuses all the way up the food chain

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Apocalypsse

Saw these pictures at my last LoA refresher, except there were a few more with kangaroos. Apparently the farmer didnt notice it for a month or something until he saw stock was missing.

Brother Bob

In the U.S., telco lines are low voltage DC. Fiber optics can blind you if you look into the business end of a severed line. The only thing a copper telco cable will hurt is your pocketbook when you cut it.

Done it

I hadn't heard that before so I checked.

It is possible, but you'd have to be pretty stupid and stare at it really close for a while.

http://www.scatmag.com/technical/fib...cs%20myths.pdf