Bobsdecline-Lineman blogger I really love your videos I'm a really huge fan when it comes to stuff like this in fact we had a power outage on Tuesday that I happen to see an actual re-closer in action it tripped three times and third time was the charm it cut all the power bad thing is there was a giant arc flash during that. Which took out a three phase bank transformer on the pole it wasn't fun at all but it was quite interesting to see everything in action butIt burnt up the line quite badly I wish I would've gotten pictures but it was too dark and the lineman wanted me out of there so I couldn't really do anything other than see the new equipment that they put up it sucks because we were without power from 5:30 PM until 1:30 in the morning that was bad but it had to be done because it was also very windy 50 mile an hour gusts was very hard for the lineman to do what they did but they get my outstanding ovation for thier time and service that they dedicate to keep the lights on God bless all the lineman!!!!!!!!!
From my understanding on a short span the auto sleeve doesn't make a great connection due to not being pulled tightly or not heavy enough to make a good connection. I may be wrong.
First of all, thank you very much for the shoutout. We use the same trick when pressing the connector, sometimes it can happen that the connector still looks like a banana, but when the rope is in the air and there is 3 tons of tension on it, it sometimes straightens again
I'm a ground hand right now but one day soon when I'm an apprentice I hope to work with many JLs like you. Love your videos & thank you for sharing all this invaluable information.
I work on duplex and triplex most days, aside from streetlights. Im going to a line crew in a week or so and im excited! Theyre bringing me in as a C class because of prior experience and im going to bust my ass to learn everything i can and do my best work!
Mentioning prior experience while expressing a sincere interest to learn everything you can... 🤔 Dang! I like that attitude! 💯👊. Having the right attitude is half the battle 💪. Work hard, but be safe! Always know your boundaries. I wish you the best !!
20 years ago when I was volunteering at Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia near Washington DC, they were renovating their museum and visitor center. In the process they were upgrading to a larger 3 phase transformer and running new under ground lines. The last refurbishment of the facility was in the 1960s. As they were digging the trench they uncovered some of the original underground cable buried back in 1940 when the building was built. It was a lead encased, 10 gauge 2 conductor cable, probably carrying 110 volts. Total length was around 500 feet to the street. Power requirements back then were a lot less than what we need today. I kept a piece of it but got rid of it when I moved from that area in 2010.
There are remains buried all over that battlefield. It's a surprise you didn't encounter some. Up there at the visitor's center, numerous sets of remains were interred at a spring, which still appears today as a small pond.
Thanks. Some helpful tips. I'm an electrician, but we are one of the few companies in the eastern Pennsylvania are that are authorized to crimp triplex. I do a lot of service upgrades, billboards, farms and grocery stores and learning from linesmen seems to be the best education. Cheers
Great job!! As a Utility Safety Professional, you nail it every time. One comment.... when using the Milwaukee Crimp tool, I would mention that the battery should be removed prior to placing the die into the tool. This would avoid a possible accidental trigger activation possibly causing a finger injury. Awesome video, keep up the great work !!
Watching from Indiana. Much respect for HV team and their outstanding adherence to procedures. I have several friends in campus “HV” (12.7 KV) and have been impressed with their action scripts. Puts meaning into teamwork.
Really like the videos even though pretty much retired after 35 years as distribution lineman. You all probably already know but a index 702 "non bowing die" works real good on 1/0 acsr compression sleeves.
When I was a testman we were issued a phase rotation device brand name Knopps. It has 3 wires, alligator clips stamped A,B,C and the rubber boots on clips were Red, White, Blue. So easy to remember the connections. So if possible we would take a phase rotation before circuit was de-energized. That device was able to handle up to 600 volts if my memory serves me. Nice channel. In my next life I think I would enjoy working for your utility up there in the North country. Thanks
Generator John ... We use similar in our generator business. They're not very expensive and it saves a bunch of time when reconnecting gear at a job. BTW, I mark the wires with colored tape (or ABC) and then draw an arrow for the direction in case I forget.
Great video! I used the Milwaukee crimp tool on my buddies service entrance last fall. You're so right. That tool is an absolute joy to use!! Latrobe PA--USA
Bob, You seem like the HDIC around those parts. Be cool if you made a video showcasing the guy who apprenticed you. My Electrical Teacher taught me a saying heck 25 years ago now: "There's no old dumb electricians". This comment goes out to him. Thanks Jim Anderson SW Florida electrical inspector then teacher. Greatest guy ever.
I tape the connectors, use the black boxes and put tape around the center of the black box. Squirrels either chew the boxes or they fall off over time leaving exposed connectors or as I like to call them...boobie traps
oh listen to this, I was scared of electricity so very much when I was young. I mean I was so bad that I refused to change a light bulb, no joke. Now through years of slowly doing things like watching videos and gaining knowledge, I can and have spliced 2 and 3 phase cords of household items. My husband is a retired underground coal miner, so he spliced mining cables and other things regularly. He was the one who taught me how to splice.
I used to work at a T&B plant where they made ATS devices. It was funny that you referred to them as “Chinese Handcuffs”. That is exactly what the engineer that was taking me through the manufacturing orientation called them. They were a hit commodity during the ice storm that hit the South and Southeast in the 90’s. The national guard would come and pick up whatever we had and transport them to the Memphis airport for distribution via awaiting helicopters.
What are your thoughts on using an automatic splice on a service drop? I noticed that the neutral of my house's service triplex is spliced with an automatic, and my understanding was that they weren't suitable for slack spans. Is a service drop generally a slack span or is there enough tension to keep it secure? I'm considering asking my municipal utility about this because I would hate to have an open neutral damage stuff inside the house but I'm not really sure if it's actually an issue. What are your thoughts on this?
I've dealt with a lot of Triplex that was privately owned on a campgrounds / RV property you want to talk about mixing faces up before I got there they didn't even know what I'm phase was lol keep that stick in the air Keep On Keepin On
I would think the fewer splices you can have in a given span, the better. According to an old railway superintendent, "The fewer joints you have, the stronger" (he was speaking of railway rail) but I would apply this theory to wire, plumbing pipes, anything you build. The more joints, not only makes a structure weaker, but is prone to future failure.
I am always looking for a good source to buy these crimps. My supply house doesn't stock them and the POCO doesn't like giving them away very often. Do you have a good source online to order this stuff? Thanks for the video!
Guys down in Eversource Country USA New Hampshire tape up just a couple of rounds of those crimp covers as they tend to pop off at times due to weather contraction expansion or bad locks on those covers. If not wind storms can cause a light show on the poles.
Do you guys have shotgun shells? We use them here and they're nice because you can press your hot side and the other end is blocked off by a rubber piece until you're ready to make up your splice.
Another thing to watch for in terms of cross phasing is on a 240D/120 stinger leg secondary. Get that stinger leg hooked to some 120 volt loads, the smoke comes out quick.
Thanks for the video! As always, helpful and informative (even for people like me, not a line man!) And I can't wait to check out the guy who you gave a shutout to! Communications is in my name!
I have changed out 15 porcelain cutouts that have broke in the past two weeks. I don't know if the heat of the summer is causing it or what. We went all winter not having to change one. But the last two weeks it has been routine.
We've found out the hard way that automatics should be used on pole to pole triplex runs that are under decent tension. On a pole to house, 'slack' spans we have had neutral issues..with time, little pressure, add contamination and you can experience intermittent or full loss of contact in the automatic sleeve. Till we figured it out, was a bear to troubleshoot!! Be safe..from Illinois
Just curious, noticed you didn't clean or brush your conductor before you slice it together. At my former company, that was a common practice, also we used triplex with AA neutral conductor. Great video!! SW Missouri 👊
I have a question. At the end he mentioned the tape or plastic covers, but it seemed to me to be optional? It seems like that would be required as the metal crimps would be live, and such as today when we lost power to to high winds. If they touched it'd be bad
Not sure if it has been said or commented, but you may want to mention safety with the crimpers as in keep fingers away from the jaws. In plumbing they have a similar crimper.... well I knew about keeping my fingers away from the jaws but was moving to fast as being in a hurry and luckily it wasn't to bad but I got my finger with the jaws. I only got part of the skin and not the whole finger.
The U.S. National Electrical Code requires that the phase rotation be in a clockwise direction when facing the panel (left to right, top to bottom, and front to back). I'm sure it is the same in the Canadian Electrical Code as well
Yes your right! Not always necessary on new wire, although some new wire has a coating over it. Anything that's been up in the air a while should certainly be shined up!
Wow I wish I had these crimps when I was doing my shed solar lol, would have been overkill for such low voltage but I was dealing with #6 and it was not easy to splice with what I had available to me haha. I tried to solder it, that did not work out at all. I actually have a video where I blow up my heat gun trying it then move to a propane torch. Fun times.
It was only a duplex, but the other day i had to re wrap 150ft of #4 duplex feeding a customers light. Took me 45 minutes to get it all untangled and pull it, re wrap it, and tape it good. Then roll it and bring it back to shop because it was clearly no good, the hot opened in nearly 13 places along the entire span, not worth patching. Rolled er up and ill be back out there soon witha new span.
Finally, splicing triplex. My collegues at the waffle factory will be so surprised when they find out that all power lines to the production line have been spliced.
12:45 I meeaan... Not sure if I would use tape tbh. If you lose tension on the N/PEN, the phases can rub and that will be quite the firework when the tape gives way
Mine didn't come with any, and I don't think that's an option. It does come with a few different option for the heads tho ; I have BG,O and D3 along with some cutting heads
I really wanna get my hands on the new Milwaukee press. We have some of the old ones and most hate the balance I'm a red tool guy buy the balance was annoying for me even
Same here! Its fast and rugged, but I find it hard to use if ya gotta reach. Had to hold it too far forward. I was pumped when I saw the new design, So far I wouldn't change a thing on the new one
Hoping to get some primary underground terminations on here soon! 😁🍻
Do some 750 underground splices like in a junction/splice box if you can
Bobsdecline-Lineman blogger I really love your videos I'm a really huge fan when it comes to stuff like this in fact we had a power outage on Tuesday that I happen to see an actual re-closer in action it tripped three times and third time was the charm it cut all the power bad thing is there was a giant arc flash during that. Which took out a three phase bank transformer on the pole it wasn't fun at all but it was quite interesting to see everything in action butIt burnt up the line quite badly I wish I would've gotten pictures but it was too dark and the lineman wanted me out of there so I couldn't really do anything other than see the new equipment that they put up it sucks because we were without power from 5:30 PM until 1:30 in the morning that was bad but it had to be done because it was also very windy 50 mile an hour gusts was very hard for the lineman to do what they did but they get my outstanding ovation for thier time and service that they dedicate to keep the lights on God bless all the lineman!!!!!!!!!
What knife are you using to skin.
New subscriber from Yucaipa California. 👊
From my understanding on a short span the auto sleeve doesn't make a great connection due to not being pulled tightly or not heavy enough to make a good connection. I may be wrong.
First of all, thank you very much for the shoutout. We use the same trick when pressing the connector, sometimes it can happen that the connector still looks like a banana, but when the rope is in the air and there is 3 tons of tension on it, it sometimes straightens again
I'm a ground hand right now but one day soon when I'm an apprentice I hope to work with many JLs like you. Love your videos & thank you for sharing all this invaluable information.
I'm not a linesman or electrician but I find this amusing for some reason!
I work on duplex and triplex most days, aside from streetlights. Im going to a line crew in a week or so and im excited! Theyre bringing me in as a C class because of prior experience and im going to bust my ass to learn everything i can and do my best work!
Mentioning prior experience while expressing a sincere interest to learn everything you can... 🤔 Dang! I like that attitude! 💯👊.
Having the right attitude is half the battle 💪. Work hard, but be safe! Always know your boundaries.
I wish you the best !!
20 years ago when I was volunteering at Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia near Washington DC, they were renovating their museum and visitor center. In the process they were upgrading to a larger 3 phase transformer and running new under ground lines. The last refurbishment of the facility was in the 1960s. As they were digging the trench they uncovered some of the original underground cable buried back in 1940 when the building was built. It was a lead encased, 10 gauge 2 conductor cable, probably carrying 110 volts. Total length was around 500 feet to the street. Power requirements back then were a lot less than what we need today. I kept a piece of it but got rid of it when I moved from that area in 2010.
There are remains buried all over that battlefield. It's a surprise you didn't encounter some. Up there at the visitor's center, numerous sets of remains were interred at a spring, which still appears today as a small pond.
"Put dies in pocket, don't lose em."
"Where did ya put those dyes?"
"I dunno."
lol!! So True.
same thing for my 10mm sockets and sometimes random bolts.
Thanks. Some helpful tips. I'm an electrician, but we are one of the few companies in the eastern Pennsylvania are that are authorized to crimp triplex. I do a lot of service upgrades, billboards, farms and grocery stores and learning from linesmen seems to be the best education. Cheers
Great job!! As a Utility Safety Professional, you nail it every time. One comment.... when using the Milwaukee Crimp tool, I would mention that the battery should be removed prior to placing the die into the tool. This would avoid a possible accidental trigger activation possibly causing a finger injury. Awesome video, keep up the great work !!
Watching from Indiana. Much respect for HV team and their outstanding adherence to procedures. I have several friends in campus “HV” (12.7 KV) and have been impressed with their action scripts. Puts meaning into teamwork.
that humming in the background brings back memories
I’m not a lineman but I thoroughly enjoy your videos
Really like the videos even though pretty much retired after 35 years as distribution lineman. You all probably already know but a index 702 "non bowing die" works real good on 1/0 acsr compression sleeves.
Great tutorial! I was splicing some number 2 and even with the small triplex splices, you could tell it was bowing.
Great video! I appreciate the work you all do to keep our power on. You are today’s cowboys of the grid!
You are a great teacher. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I just purchased one. It's awesome as I do a lot of grounding electrode conductor work. I use the BG die.
When I was a testman we were issued a phase rotation device brand name Knopps.
It has 3 wires, alligator clips stamped A,B,C and the rubber boots on clips were Red, White, Blue. So easy to remember the connections. So if possible we would take a phase rotation before circuit was de-energized. That device was able to handle up to 600 volts if my memory serves me. Nice channel. In my next life I think I would enjoy working for your utility up there in the North country. Thanks
Generator John
... We use similar in our generator business. They're not very expensive and it saves a bunch of time when reconnecting gear at a job. BTW, I mark the wires with colored tape (or ABC) and then draw an arrow for the direction in case I forget.
I've made the yard lol I was like her 36 as in three foot one yard lol watch out it can be shocking and keep on Keepin On 💥😱
Great video! I used the Milwaukee crimp tool on my buddies service entrance last fall. You're so right. That tool is an absolute joy to use!!
Latrobe PA--USA
That Milwaukee sure beats the old hydraulic pumpers.
Great video! You have a great way of explaining what and why you are doing each step!
3:30 that smooth design is called "compact stranding" and it's very commonly used in aluminum building wire.
Bob, You seem like the HDIC around those parts. Be cool if you made a video showcasing the guy who apprenticed you. My Electrical Teacher taught me a saying heck 25 years ago now: "There's no old dumb electricians". This comment goes out to him. Thanks Jim Anderson SW Florida electrical inspector then teacher. Greatest guy ever.
I hear that same saying once in a while. Cheers from Canada.
Thanks for sharing, it’s great to see line work close up!
Hahaha the ladybug on the autocrimp 2:40
Jeez it would be nice to have a electric crimper!
Cheers from a Rough Framer, Aspire to become a lineman soon!
T Will Lineman for hire is mint, I really enjoy his content, Wish he had more of it.
I agree! His videos are very well put together 💯
Good job Bob.
great video! i'm a distribution designer and its sometimes hard to picture what the linemen actually are doing with the equipment i design for
Damn Canadians....are some of the nicest people! Thanks for the video!
I tape the connectors, use the black boxes and put tape around the center of the black box. Squirrels either chew the boxes or they fall off over time leaving exposed connectors or as I like to call them...boobie traps
Put you a layer of rubber tape over the connector it helps with the squirrels.
oh listen to this, I was scared of electricity so very much when I was young. I mean I was so bad that I refused to change a light bulb, no joke. Now through years of slowly doing things like watching videos and gaining knowledge, I can and have spliced 2 and 3 phase cords of household items. My husband is a retired underground coal miner, so he spliced mining cables and other things regularly. He was the one who taught me how to splice.
I'll have to get you some pictures of the 1000 MCM Cable that got hit today by a bore crew, when we splice it tomorrow.
Just ran across your site. Kentucky electrician here.
Great information….
I used to work at a T&B plant where they made ATS devices. It was funny that you referred to them as “Chinese Handcuffs”. That is exactly what the engineer that was taking me through the manufacturing orientation called them. They were a hit commodity during the ice storm that hit the South and Southeast in the 90’s. The national guard would come and pick up whatever we had and transport them to the Memphis airport for distribution via awaiting helicopters.
I have a crazy question: Why is the channel called Bob's Decline, but your name is Aaron?
I've been wondering this myself
He said in a previous video that it's a nickname his friends gave him back when he was young(er).
Great content bud ,viewing from Rome Georgia an as a lineman myself great job
Thank you 🤝
What are your thoughts on using an automatic splice on a service drop? I noticed that the neutral of my house's service triplex is spliced with an automatic, and my understanding was that they weren't suitable for slack spans. Is a service drop generally a slack span or is there enough tension to keep it secure? I'm considering asking my municipal utility about this because I would hate to have an open neutral damage stuff inside the house but I'm not really sure if it's actually an issue. What are your thoughts on this?
👊 Seattle, WA. Not an electrician/linesman, but an electromechanical engineer. Sometimes I think missed my calling though.
im in WA too spokane
I've dealt with a lot of Triplex that was privately owned on a campgrounds / RV property you want to talk about mixing faces up before I got there they didn't even know what I'm phase was lol keep that stick in the air Keep On Keepin On
Well done.
👊 Baytown Texas. Thanks for the video.
Fist bump from Dallas. Love your channel!
Do y’all use H-Tap and LINKETS or just H-Tap? Great video .. when we use linkets .. we double up our neutral with two service grips back to back ..
13:30 just like that it goes back up and good to go? There’s no worry about arcing at all, those plastic covers prevent that?
hmm, never had a power tool when I did those type of connections. All in the arms. Gotta love technology.
I would think the fewer splices you can have in a given span, the better.
According to an old railway superintendent, "The fewer joints you have, the stronger" (he was speaking of railway rail) but I would apply this theory to wire, plumbing pipes, anything you build.
The more joints, not only makes a structure weaker, but is prone to future failure.
I am always looking for a good source to buy these crimps. My supply house doesn't stock them and the POCO doesn't like giving them away very often. Do you have a good source online to order this stuff? Thanks for the video!
Nice man, thanks for this. It was great to see how line workers do these kinds of repairs.
I'm learning to splice high-voltage power lines entirely by watching UA-cam videos!
Milwaukee tool is just up the road from me, they build great tools
Guys down in Eversource Country USA New Hampshire tape up just a couple of rounds of those crimp covers as they tend to pop off at times due to weather contraction expansion or bad locks on those covers. If not wind storms can cause a light show on the poles.
You mind me asking where you are on the east coast? I live in PEI!
Keep up the videos brother love watching them
Do you guys have shotgun shells? We use them here and they're nice because you can press your hot side and the other end is blocked off by a rubber piece until you're ready to make up your splice.
Another thing to watch for in terms of cross phasing is on a 240D/120 stinger leg secondary. Get that stinger leg hooked to some 120 volt loads, the smoke comes out quick.
Do you use sidecam torque connections for triplex or just the crimp connections?
Cant wait to see you in the field man. I'm a new casual employee of the vegetation distribution sector in Marysville. Love you videos man keep it up
Nice! I'm sure we'll cross paths soon! That weather's been getting nasty out there!
Thanks for the video! As always, helpful and informative (even for people like me, not a line man!) And I can't wait to check out the guy who you gave a shutout to! Communications is in my name!
I have changed out 15 porcelain cutouts that have broke in the past two weeks. I don't know if the heat of the summer is causing it or what. We went all winter not having to change one. But the last two weeks it has been routine.
Sweet! That was awesome to watch! Excellent video. Working to get into the electrical utility trade myself and these videos are invaluable to me!
nice demonstration, but is it cheaper to get a crimp set then just replace the whole lenght?
Good job sir
We've found out the hard way that automatics should be used on pole to pole triplex runs that are under decent tension. On a pole to house, 'slack' spans we have had neutral issues..with time, little pressure, add contamination and you can experience intermittent or full loss of contact in the automatic sleeve. Till we figured it out, was a bear to troubleshoot!! Be safe..from Illinois
Just curious, noticed you didn't clean or brush your conductor before you slice it together. At my former company, that was a common practice, also we used triplex with AA neutral conductor. Great video!! SW Missouri 👊
Thanks for your content! It helps a lot!
Great content keep up the videos from Beverly Massachusetts
The 2978-20 crimper comes with a case. You should keep your spare dies in one of the pockets in the case.
I have a question. At the end he mentioned the tape or plastic covers, but it seemed to me to be optional? It seems like that would be required as the metal crimps would be live, and such as today when we lost power to to high winds. If they touched it'd be bad
Would you leave the two blacks stand off like that up in the air as an indicator that it had been spliced?
Thanks for the great content
I fkng love these videos man. Be safe out there.
👊 Wallingford, Connecticut USA
Great videos, have you ever used insulink "bullets" Burndy?
There should be paint on insulation similar to plastidip that could be brushed or possibly sprayed on. That would make so many things easier
Never seen a crimp it before, have only used insulinks for secondary splices, cool to see different ways
We used to use insulinks, still have tons of them on the lines!
Insulinks are bad, don’t use them
Always great to see your videos.
Subed to da Austrian and ivy Nuts.
Not sure if it has been said or commented, but you may want to mention safety with the crimpers as in keep fingers away from the jaws. In plumbing they have a similar crimper.... well I knew about keeping my fingers away from the jaws but was moving to fast as being in a hurry and luckily it wasn't to bad but I got my finger with the jaws. I only got part of the skin and not the whole finger.
Also, im watching 👀 from west coast Washington state USA 🇺🇸
Your right! It's not like an automatic lift gate .... If your fingers get in the way, it's not stopping!
The U.S. National Electrical Code requires that the phase rotation be in a clockwise direction when facing the panel (left to right, top to bottom, and front to back). I'm sure it is the same in the Canadian Electrical Code as well
All this time I thought your name was Bob !!! :)
You going to wire brush that neutral?
Great video bro 👊
Thanks man! 👊👊
I use split bolt connections and insulate with electrical tape on the hot wires and a quick sleeve on neutral..
Thanks Aaron, how about a video on how you sharpen your hawksbill knife?
Isn’t it best practice to brighten up the Neutral cable before sieving or is the Penetrox going to take care fo that contact.
Yes your right! Not always necessary on new wire, although some new wire has a coating over it. Anything that's been up in the air a while should certainly be shined up!
Thanks for the update. Great work and remember safety is no accident.
👊🏻Groveland ma
Wow I wish I had these crimps when I was doing my shed solar lol, would have been overkill for such low voltage but I was dealing with #6 and it was not easy to splice with what I had available to me haha. I tried to solder it, that did not work out at all. I actually have a video where I blow up my heat gun trying it then move to a propane torch. Fun times.
It was only a duplex, but the other day i had to re wrap 150ft of #4 duplex feeding a customers light. Took me 45 minutes to get it all untangled and pull it, re wrap it, and tape it good. Then roll it and bring it back to shop because it was clearly no good, the hot opened in nearly 13 places along the entire span, not worth patching. Rolled er up and ill be back out there soon witha new span.
Do you ever actually splice wire line any more?
We don't use them sleeves unless it's a primary slack span, we use the 5 inch sleeves for secondary.
Finally, splicing triplex. My collegues at the waffle factory will be so surprised when they find out that all power lines to the production line have been spliced.
12:45 I meeaan... Not sure if I would use tape tbh. If you lose tension on the N/PEN, the phases can rub and that will be quite the firework when the tape gives way
do you still use the 3M number 37 for the electrical tape ?
I usually use H crimps for the live conductors.
Does that press come with any dies?? Or do you hafta buy them separate
Mine didn't come with any, and I don't think that's an option. It does come with a few different option for the heads tho ; I have BG,O and D3 along with some cutting heads
I really wanna get my hands on the new Milwaukee press. We have some of the old ones and most hate the balance I'm a red tool guy buy the balance was annoying for me even
Same here! Its fast and rugged, but I find it hard to use if ya gotta reach. Had to hold it too far forward. I was pumped when I saw the new design, So far I wouldn't change a thing on the new one
in germany we have like big WAGO click connector for that.
Just curious, when you do your crimps, do you make every other one 90 degrees to the ones next to it?
Lost the neutral of our triplex in the last NJ storm. Thankfully a jumper was installed until they could splice it back together!