Moving the drop higher on mast

[Babbobubba]

A tree limb has grown in diameter and is rubbing against the line that comes in from the pole. As you can see in the photo I could move the clamp on my mast higher. This would free the line from contact with the tree. Is there any reason I shouldn't do this? (The limb in question is 20 feet from the house and not shown in the photo.)

 

[telectrix]

cut the tree branch.

 

[James]

Who owns the pole and cables?
If they are yours, isolate power, move anywhere you like and turn back on.

If they belong to someone else, ask them to move them.

 

[Megawatt]

A tree limb has grown in diameter and is rubbing against the line that comes in from the pole. As you can see in the photo I could move the clamp on my mast higher. This would free the line from contact with the tree. Is there any reason I shouldn't do this? (The limb in question is 20 feet from the house and not shown in the photo.)

Is there anyway you can cut the branch. It’s really a power company problem and all you have to do is call them and an engineer will come out to see what you are talking about. They have tree services that they sub out for things like this

 

[telectrix]

time for Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

 

[pc1966]

Remember there are no vegetarian chainsaws...

 

[pc1966]

Trying to be serious for a moment, a chainsaw is definitely one of those tools I would not use without training and the proper PPE to go with it as I rather like having my limbs attached and blood on the inside.

If you are doing branch trimming I guess you have these sort of things in the USA:

Alligator® Powered Lopper (550W) | BLACK+DECKER

550W Alligator® Powered Lopper

www.blackanddecker.co.uk

But obviously you have to be able to safely access the region of the tree around the pole top so you can wield it without the risk of falling off a ladder and/or chopping one of the utility cables by mistake. Cutting back the branches is the best option as trying to move the support wire is only a short-term solution.

But really if the utility will do it for free (or small fee) get them in - don't take unnecessary risks.

 

[Megawatt]

Trying to be serious for a moment, a chainsaw is definitely one of those tools I would not use without training and the proper PPE to go with it as I rather like having my limbs attached and blood on the inside.

If you are doing branch trimming I guess you have these sort of things in the USA:

Alligator® Powered Lopper (550W) | BLACK+DECKER

550W Alligator® Powered Lopper

www.blackanddecker.co.uk

But obviously you have to be able to safely access the region of the tree around the pole top so you can wield it without the risk of falling off a ladder and/or chopping one of the utility cables by mistake. Cutting back the branches is the best option as trying to move the support wire is only a short-term solution.

But really if the utility will do it for free (or small fee) get them in - don't take unnecessary risks.

@pc1966 the wire belongs to the POCO and they will do it for free. Have a great day

 

[Zerax]

cut the tree branch.

Yes... but which colour branch should he cut ??

 

[Moley]

It's always the red.

 

[telectrix]

It's always the red.

cut the blue wire.

 

[pc1966]

It's always the red.

Make a mistake with a chainsaw and it will be!

 

[telectrix]

 

[DPG]

Excellent film. The bit where he slides the piece of card into the contacts to stop them closing, but actually there's a fine thread of wire linking them together - brilliant.

 

[Megawatt]

Make a mistake with a chainsaw and it will be!

It's always the red.

 

[Megawatt]

Hell let’s just relocate the tree ?

 

[telectrix]

Hell let’s just relocate the tree ?

can the tree get a government relocation grant?

 

[Babbobubba]

I do not want to remove the limb. Am I right to worry that the insulation on the line will be damaged by movement due to wind?

 

[Babbobubba]

Actually, moving the mast clamp might be a longterm solution. A 2" gap between wire and large limb would get me a twenty-year reprieve and by then it will be someone else's problem.

 

[DPG]

Actually, moving the mast clamp might be a longterm solution. A 2" gap between wire and large limb would get me a twenty-year reprieve and by then it will be someone else's problem.

As above, get the power company to sort it.

 

[pc1966]

I do not want to remove the limb. Am I right to worry that the insulation on the line will be damaged by movement due to wind?

Yes, it will damage the cable and cause you problems if not fixed. Not just to the cables, it might start a fire with the tree if dry, etc.

But listen to @Megawatt 's advice and contact the supply company - he is one of the well-regarded USA members of this (predominantly UK) electrical forum so knows the rules applying to your situation better than any of us.

 

[telectrix]

I do not want to remove the limb. Am I right to worry that the insulation on the line will be damaged by movement due to wind?

why not? unlike us pathetic humans, trees benefit from amputations of the occasional limbs.

 

[Babbobubba]

Yes, trees can benefit from judicious pruning, but this is a main limb and to remove it would leave the tree misshapen.

 

[moose]

tHE IMAGE, i must be drunk the picture has two wires entering the camera this is a false image...

 

[DPG]

tHE IMAGE, i must be drunk the picture has two wires entering the camera this is a false image...

It's not a camera. It's a power company pole with what I assume is phase and neutral going down it.

 

[telectrix]

It's not a camera. It's a power company pole with what I assume is phase and neutral going down it.

but did you also notice the choc block connectors wrapped in tape? seems the UK bodgers don't have exclusive rights to this method.

 

[pc1966]

but did you also notice the choc block connectors wrapped in tape? seems the UK bodgers don't have exclusive rights to this method.

I suspect they are line taps under there, but it does some a bit of a bodge not having some custom enclosure for the cable joints.

 

[pc1966]

It's not a camera. It's a power company pole with what I assume is phase and neutral going down it.

@Megawatt will know, but I suspect it is two line and a CNE (so 120V - 0 - 120V TN-C-S with the C/S separation done in the consumer's CU, unlike UK where it is the DNO cut-out), and I guess a pair of Earth rods somewhere in the grounds of the property.

 

[Megawatt]

@Megawatt will know, but I suspect it is two line and a CNE (so 120V - 0 - 120V TN-C-S with the C/S separation done in the consumer's CU, unlike UK where it is the DNO cut-out), and I guess a pair of Earth rods somewhere in the grounds of the property.

@pc1966 you sound like you have worked over here before and yes we use 2 earth rods. I’m proud of you ??

 

[pc1966]

@pc1966 you sound like you have worked over here before and yes we use 2 earth rods. I’m proud of you ??

Nope, just listened to your sage advice!

 

[Babbobubba]

It turns out that here in southern California the line from the pole to the house is the responsibility of the customer so I am going to slide the clamp up the mast 8". That should clear the limb. Thank you all for the help.

 

[telectrix]

It turns out that here in southern California the line from the pole to the house is the responsibility of the customer so I am going to slide the clamp up the mast 8". That should clear the limb. Thank you all for the help.

and as the tree grows, another 8" next year. eventually cable could be in sub-space orbit. ???

 

[Babbobubba]

Lateral branches don't move higher as trees grow, and this limb will never increase 16 inches in diameter, q.e.d. you don't know what you're talking about. Thanks just the same.