Post #4225078

2026-07-30 03:36 UTC

Zooming in closer you can see there's a cylindrical gray squirrel guard over the primary bushing to keep critters climbing the pole from simultaneously touching the high voltage primary bushing on the top and the grounded transformer body simultaneously. This is invariably fatal to the animal and also usually blows the fuse causing a localized power outage to anyone on the transformer.

Replies (2)

@azonenberg@ioc.exchange 2026-07-30 03:42

A few blocks away in a quieter neighborhood. No cross arms and there is only a single primary line, with a neutral in parallel below the transformer. Here there's two primary taps, one going underground to feed a new 8-house subdivision across the street while the other goes to a single phase transformer. There is no three phase anywhere nearby unless you go back out to the main road four poles away. And as you get further into the quieter streets this one phase feeds everything. The cutout at left feeding the underground line has a load break device fitted, allowing it to be used to cut power to the subdivision for maintenance without disconnecting each customer individually. The one at right is a standard fuse not meant to be opened under significant load.

Open ##4225302
@kevswims@hachyderm.io 2026-07-30 04:23

@azonenberg@ioc.exchange I know of at least two fires that have been started in Colorado from squirrels getting across the transformer, catching fire, and then falling to the ground.

Open ##4226546