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First off, anal me, fascinated with the Florida substation video found something that maybe we didn't see. The transformer forcebly explodes before the expulsion fuse opens. Watch the portion of the transformer's tank, facing the camera. Just as the fire starts, behind the transformer in the oil-mist, and begins to wrap around, the tank facing the camera blows open with a bang, easily heard above the arcing fault and just before the fire hides the transformer and the fuse blows. Watch...it really does blow open with a very bright white-orange flash before the fire gets to it. I have watched this over and over again, definately the transformer blows open before power is cut, possibly its blowing open is what opens the big hV fuse.
I have had electrical worker friends who have had large steel tools vaporized in their gloved hands when they accidently hit another phase in a 480V system. Yeah, that is major amperage. As you noted, protective suits must be worn nowadaze. This past summer, we were losing our power here, due to an unknown short within the building. When the electrician came to simply reclose the 480V main circuit breaker, he first had to get into his 'space-suit', just to push-closed the plastic switch on the front of the closed case. I can easily see why now, watching your video. An arc inside there would have instantly vaporized the metal case-door, exposing the worker to the 480 volt arc! Anyhow, the short turned out to be a ventilator motor burning out.
You can definately see the bright blue-green arc persist in that wooden cabinet for the entire time the circuit was energized. Wonder how far out you could draw a low-voltage, mega-amperage arc like that.
Awesome! Keep adding more video/photos!
Thanks,
Fred
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