High Voltage is both amazing and really scary. I used to work in a machine shop and one day the electricians were working on the breaker panel. It wasn’t really “High” voltage, 480v if I remember correctly, but it was the breaker panel, so there was a huge amperage potential there.
Anyway, one of the electricians couldn’t get one of the breaker covers to close properly. So he stuck his screwdriver into the edge of the door to assist.
The next thing I heard was the unmistakable sound of a huge electric arc. This sound is VERY scary. Watch this video with the sound turned way up and you will understand.
The whole breaker panel was going up in flames. Flames and smoke were pouring out of the top and all the lights went out.
They had to call the power company to disconnect the power and the firemen to put out the fire. Needless to say, work was closed for a few days.
The electrician was a very lucky man. He came away from the experience with nothing worse than flash burns on his face.
The reason for this post today is a series of photos that JWZ put up today. Some nice pics of an arc on the power pole outside where he lives.
One of the comments has a link in it to More Arcs n’ Sparks, a site with some more scary (and fascinating) electrical photos and videos. The exploding transformer is amazing.
