I live almost next door to a small rural Sub Station. Although we are prepared in most ways (thanks to the people on this forum)the thought of a big surge from the grid has crossed my mind. Any thoughts on whether it is possible that these transformers could blow. Thanks.

-- (lando@ozprep.com), November 14, 1999

Answers

Ask someone on Rick Cowles forum or yell loud for Robert Cook.

Diane

Rick Cowles Electric Utilities and Y2K Forum:

http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and- a.tcl?topic=Electric%20Utilities%20and%20Y2K

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-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 14, 1999.

Our substations go down all the time. One went down on Friday and took out 1.5 miles square of suburbs. Not y2k related, it happens all the time.

-- gronk (gronk@plink.com), November 14, 1999.

Your sub station will not "blow" on y2k, or at least if you live i n the Pacific Northwest. A "surge" is a power influx or higher then normal power flow to your panel. This will not happen. You may see no power, or brown outs. Trust me, you will see brown out's. Be ready to turn your breakers off when your T.V. goes off thre time's in 60 seconds. If your lights go brown for 60 seconds, turn your main breaker off.

-- powerdude (powerline@here.com), November 14, 1999.

Your sub station will not "blow" on y2k, or at least if you live i n the Pacific Northwest. A "surge" is a power influx or higher then normal power flow to your panel. This will not happen. You may see no power, or brown outs. Trust me, you will see brown out's. Be ready to turn your breakers off when your T.V. goes off three time's in 60 seconds. If your lights go brown for 60 seconds, turn your main breaker off.

-- powerdude (powerline@here.com), November 14, 1999.

Powerdude--

What might happen if I don't turn my main breaker off?

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), November 15, 1999.

There is no way that Y2K can cause the transformers in your local substation to blow. The only fault that can cause a transformer explosion is what is known as a "Bucholz" fault. It is caused by a build up of explosive gasses such as hydrogen and acetylene in the top of the transformer. Theses gasses form when an insulation fault occurs between windings inside the transformer, and the resultant arc breaks down the transformer's insulating oil.

For further information on what is happening in your substation read Generation and Distribution 101

Malcolm

-- Malcolm Taylor (taylorm@es.co.nz), November 15, 1999.

In 1988, in LaGrange, Georgia, a transformer "explosion" resulted from the passage of a bullet from a large caliber rifle through a sensitive part of the equipment. The resulting surges knocked out a couple of other substations. Half the town was blacked out for the night. Luckily it was warm weather. I was living there at the time.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), November 15, 1999.

Tony,

Your transformer failed for the reasons Malcolm stated; just a different cause. The bullet probably caused damage to a winding which then started to arc. Any internal failure that starts an arc and a subsequent build up of gases will cause an explosion and a subsequent fire and failure. Transformer oil is a mineral based oil and while it has a high flash point once it catches fire it is difficult to extinguish.

I dont think there will be brownouts for what its worth. I dont see any reason that significant generation will fail to cause it. A power surge would probably be caused by a swing. And while that is a possibility due to the light loads it probably wont happen. Usually swings initiate on the loss of large loads when the transfer lines are heavily loaded.

-- The Engineer (The Engineer@tech.com), November 15, 1999.