13 Comments Posted by BillF

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The broken lines represent switches (contactors). They're controlled by the bottons to either side. Notice the unbroken ones have no buttons. just hole plugs.

Yes, as I said, it's a schematic for the power flow at the facility. The zizags represent transformers
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As a general rule, around open power conductors, you should have a safety standby with a nonconductive hook, to grab your belt in case you get 'siezed' Although I saw an engineer in the switchyard at Obispo crank a 230KV switchover without a standby. Anyway, the crank is 50 feet below the line.
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I wonder what the switches were for? Since they're 4-pole, I guess it's 3-phase Y connection at no more tha a few hundred amps. Maybe for the pump and blower motors ? Maybe 440 Volts? Yikes ! where was OSHA? Open switches.
wrote:
Great ! Feels like a place I should have enjoyed working at one time. (Electrical Engineer)
Power plants and substations are always fascinating. I've always wanted to do a series on Power Substations. Such a feeling of Energy !

Someday . . . maybe

Thanks !!!
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Ash pit?
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Power factor correction ?
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Could be servicing disconnects for the meters downstairs.
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Cool - Circuit diagram of the facility (yellow lines)
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You should see the control room at San Luis Obispo plant
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Incoming, surely.
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This may be incoming power. I notice the lights are on overhead. 'Cycles' is for Cycles per second.
The modern term is now Hertz, or Hz, named after Heinrich Hertz. It appears to be registerning something.
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Look like Exciters. Ac motors turning DC generators to energize the field rotors of the big guys. MG (motor / generator) sets. Sometimes they instead use a generator sharing the turbine shaft.
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Yes, It appears to be the slip ring brushes for an alternator rotor
Nice shot