HELP!! Power line insulator radio-frequency interference spectrum

[ksenia2910]

Hello,

I am doing an engineering project that requires the approximate radio-frequency interference ranges (or spectrum) given off by typical power line insulators used by utility companies. I want to know what the spectrum is and who it affects. One would think this information is readily available but it's proving difficult for me to find it Especially for a mechanical engineering student with no experience with power line stuff!

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Mostly looking for information in Canada or U.S.

 

[mikewazowski]

Post moved to Off-Topic Wireless forum.

 

[prcguy]

AC power line interference from dirty arcing insulators usually covers most of the HF band and up through about 200MHz. It can seriously affect amateur radio operators, CB and any commercial user within a few blocks and within the affected frequency range.

I've seen it briefly at my house using an HP spectrum analyzer and fortunately it was short lived. Its common to locate specific noisy power poles using a VHF AM receiver in a quiet part of the band like 137 to 144MHz and use a directional Yagi antenna. Power line noise will usually cover that frequency range and antennas at that frequency are small enough to be hauled around and pointed.

I have a friend who is plagued with "power line zap" and he takes a portable shortwave receiver around the neighborhood and bangs on the poles with a very large sledge hammer. I've not seen him do this but he says a pole causing a problem will usually make crackling noises and disrupt the static where a non contributing pole will not have any change in the noise. When he finds the problem pole(s) he then calls the utility company to fix the problem. If he doesn't do the foot work finding the bad poles they usually don't respond very fast if at all.
prcguy

Hello,

I am doing an engineering project that requires the approximate radio-frequency interference ranges (or spectrum) given off by typical power line insulators used by utility companies. I want to know what the spectrum is and who it affects. One would think this information is readily available but it's proving difficult for me to find it Especially for a mechanical engineering student with no experience with power line stuff!

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Mostly looking for information in Canada or U.S.

 

[Thayne]

Not that it makes any difference in this instance, but the use of Magnesium chloride on roads-streets has made this problem worse, sometimes even causing arcing shorts on the primary voltage insulators.
Supposedly it coats them in varying degrees from becoming airborne from traffic driving thru it.

 

[CapStar362]

while very expensive, power companies have "Arc" cameras that filter out everything but the EM Spectrum of Arc corona's.

very interesting to look at. a Georgia Power once showed me the Corona Camera while doing some work on a even audible insulator.

you could HEAR the "zap" and "buzz" of the invisible arcing. so he showed me the camera and it was a MASSIVE corona around the attach point of the insulator.