In the news today...

[N7AAO]

July 21 - Investigators think they have the straight poop on what caused the nation's largest nuclear power complex to shut down last month.

Bird droppings.

(Complete story here (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5479428/).)

Ahh, the wonders of modern technology.

Scotty, check the transporter for bird droppings and then beam me up!

[K9STH]

When the TXU Comanche Peak nuclear plant went on line, it was after many years of controversy caused by certain "no nukes" type of people, by the NRC changing the parameters (the plant was actually virtually rebuilt at least 3 times before it ever started generating electricity), and so forth.

The 138 KV lines into the plant had been built for several years before any electricity was generated and the buzzards had taken to roosting on the transmission towers. Well, after a number of years the buzzard droppings had built up around the insulators on several of the towers.

When the first electricity was sent down those lines, within a very few minutes several of the insulators arc'd over and the overloads at the plant "tripped". Upon investigating what caused the "tripping" TXU had to send a "dear NRC" letter stating that buzzard droppings had resulted in the overload.

It took several days for the crews to check out all of the insulators and to clean off (usually by "hosing down") the buzzard droppings before the plant could again go "on line"! This happened back in 1996 if I remember correctly.

Glen, K9STH

[N7AAO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K9STH @ July 23 2004,11:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">When the TXU Comanche Peak nuclear plant went on line, it was after many years of controversy caused by certain &quot;no nukes&quot; type of people, by the NRC changing the parameters (the plant was actually virtually rebuilt at least 3 times before it ever started generating electricity), and so forth.

The 138 KV lines into the plant had been built for several years before any electricity was generated and the buzzards had taken to roosting on the transmission towers. #Well, after a number of years the buzzard droppings had built up around the insulators on several of the towers.

When the first electricity was sent down those lines, within a very few minutes several of the insulators arc'd over and the overloads at the plant &quot;tripped&quot;. #Upon investigating what caused the &quot;tripping&quot; TXU had to send a &quot;dear NRC&quot; letter stating that buzzard droppings had resulted in the overload.

It took several days for the crews to check out all of the insulators and to clean off (usually by &quot;hosing down&quot;) the buzzard droppings before the plant could again go &quot;on line&quot;! #This happened back in 1996 if I remember correctly.

Glen, K9STH[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Maybe we need to put up signs asking birds to do their &quot;business&quot; somewhere else? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Beam me up, Scotty!

[KC7UP]

Out in this country we have signs saying &quot; deer crossing&quot;. Why don't they put up a sign saying &quot;buzzard or bird dropping&quot; http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Curt

[W5HTW]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KC7UP @ July 23 2004,11:27)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Out in this country we have signs saying &quot; deer crossing&quot;. Why don't they put up a sign saying &quot;buzzard or bird dropping&quot; http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Curt[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Darned buzzards around here can't read. Or maybe they only read Spanish.

[K7JBQ]

And here in southern California, we just had a hawk electrocute itself and start a forest fire.

What's up with these wacky birds, anyway?

73,
Bill

[N7AAO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (K7JBQ @ July 23 2004,11:55)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">And here in southern California, we just had a hawk electrocute itself and start a forest fire.

What's up with these wacky birds, anyway?

73,
Bill[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Suicidal hawks now? What next?

Beam me outta here, Scotty!

[ae4fa]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Beam me up, Scotty![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

For God's sake, Scotty, beam him up! He's been screaming for you for about a week now!

[af2cw]

Phasers on stun Mr. Spock

[ai4ep]

Prepare to go to warp as soon as he is aboard !!

[N7AAO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ae4fa @ July 23 2004,12:17)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Beam me up, Scotty![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

For God's sake, Scotty, beam him up! #He's been screaming for you for about a week now![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Sorry, Scotty has alzheimer's, and forgets things like beaming folks up.

Seriously, the concept is that I am just beaming in long enough to reply, then leaving.

But, since it's gotten its laughs, I'll cut down on it now. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif (I reserve the right to use it occasionally, tho)

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ...and to think I had it narrowed it down to one of two reason why Scotty had not beamed you up ( well, 3 really )

1) weak batteries in communicator

2) wrong sideband he on usb you on lsb

3) he did not want to beam you up ...abandon you here on earth in the early years of the 21 st century

....to be continued



on original thread... we have locally had a SQUIRREL to fry him self / her self in a electrical substation in the past month, also in past week a SNAKE ( unknown brand ) did the same thing. What attracts critters to these things ?

[N7AAO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ai4ep @ July 23 2004,12:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">1) weak batteries in communicator[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I knew I should have put the communicator in the charging cradle last nite!

[AG3Y]

Our transmitter would not come on the air one morning, and when we investigated, we found a possum ( or rather, what was left of him http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif ) laying across the high voltage insulator inside a cage containing the three phase transformers ! #The whole purpose of the cage was to keep varmits out, and no one ever figured out how that possum squeezed through the thing !

Not a pretty sight !

73 from Jim

[N7AAO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AG3Y @ July 23 2004,13:16)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Our transmitter would not come on the air one morning, and when we investigated, we found a possum ( or rather, what was left of him http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif #) laying across the high voltage insulator inside a cage containing the three phase transformers ! #The whole purpose of the cage was to keep varmits out, and no one ever figured out how that possum squeezed through the thing !

Not a pretty sight !

73 from Jim[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Did ya have fried possum for lunch?

[n5tjd]

We also have suicidal varmits. A Racoon took out a substation not long ago, and a few years back, one of my friends, a volunteer firefighter, told me they had to put out a grassfire. Apparently, a vulture was sitting on a power line and when it stretched out its wings, it bridged the gap and contacted another wire, shorting the line. The vulture burst into flames and fell on the ground and caught the grass on fire.

Another group of varmits (the hispanic variety) decided they didn't want to buy a utility pole, so they pulled one out of the ground at a house that was vacant (TXU mine bought it out). Anyhow, the service was still live. When the pole fell, the sparks started a miniature wildfire that burned about 20 acres of grassland and woodland.

Speaking of critter-caused failures...

I am involved with High powered (upper megawatt level output) ground based RADAR systems at my office.

Seems techs had removed the waveguide which connected the output port from the Klystron to the outside world for some maintenence and FORGOT to seal up the outside entrance against 'unknown material entry'.

Came back later and reattached waveguide to port. (didn't check the interior of the waveguide like they are SUPPOSED to! &lt;can you see where thisis going HEH&gt;)

THey call me up, I go up to witness final acceptance test of RADAR. They perform power up, self tests, and begin the TX output power test. About 2 minutes into the test we ALL notice a smell of 'cooking meat' filling the shelter. While we're trying to figure out WHERE the smell is coming from, the 'HI-VSWR' alarm fires off, the TX-TRIP goes off and shuts down the TX.

Tech resets all breakers, resets alarms, and resumes full test. Powers up TX.. It comes up.. but 10 seconds later same fault.. with the MORE intense 'cooked meat' smell!

Tech starts to troubleshoot. Notices that 'HI VSWR' trip indicator shows VSWR 3:1 at center point of band. Goes out.. checks antenna = good. Checks waveguide from antenna to shelter - all good. Checks inside of shelter in klystron - all good.

BUT notices.. when he is TX cabine that smell is REALLY bad! looks around..sees nothing!

Long story short.. they FINALLY removed waveguide to check insdie. Stuck stick in and pulled out TWO well cooked pigeon caracasses. Seems these birds flew into waveguide, crawled back near TX output port and because it wsa nice, warm, and the like, proceeded to STAY in there.

What a mess! Had to dissasemble entire TX output and waveguide to antenna line and clean/disinfect the entire system.

ANYONEfor MICROWAVED ROAST SQUAB!?

I was talking with the tech and asked him where he got the HI POWER BIRD DUMMY LOAD FOR A HI-MEGAWATT RADAR??

he was NOT amused!

[KG6OPR]

I know how the possum got in to the power supply cage.
Scotty beamed him down. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KD7WHQ]

Reminds me of an incident I actually witnessed years back.
Driving to work in Seattle in the dark, there was a blinding flash at an intersection, with people pointing, and lights out everywhere.
A Canadian goose had decided to fly into the multi kV lines at the top of a pole.

And when reporting it, the news people were extremely hard pressed to not mention a cooked goose. Real hard pressed; you could SEE they were trying not to say it http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif lol

[N7AAO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KG6OPR @ July 23 2004,16:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I know how the possum got in to the power supply cage.
Scotty beamed him down. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I'm glad it was a possum and not ME!

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif now let me see if I read all of this correctly:

A multi - BILLION dollar nuclear plant, with &quot; state-of-the-art &quot; systems, which is multi - regulated in many various ways about what goes IN as well as what comes OUT of the area...is SHUT DOWN by &quot; bird droppings &quot; ?

..modern technology at its finest ... !! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[N7AAO]

And the power companies want to try putting internet signals on the power lines... it'll work as long as the wires are free of bird droppings, I guess!

[K6UEY]

we should have no trouble putting up with mere Bird droppings on the Internet,we have put up with Bull droppings all these years... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KA9VQF]

My first real job after high school was in a casket factory in Ladysmith Wisconsin back in about 1973. We had several days of heavy snow, blowing, drifting the whole winter thing. We worked the whole week through this crap and finally Friday it was a bright sunny day. The fresh snow was appreciated and everyone thought it was lovely.
I was the primer paint man and had just filled my paint pot and was running the air driven stirring gismo on the top of the rig when all the power in the place went out. We all figured it was from some damage caused by the storm. We couldn’t work with out power to run the compressors so we stood around trying to keep warm.
After about two hours the boss came through the plant and we helped set up oil burners to keep the place from freezing, then he sent us all home.
It took until the next day for them to find and fix the problem. A raccoon had climbed a pole and zapped its self. Most of it had fallen off the pole and was buried in the snow but there was enough left to keep popping the breakers at the substation.

Dave,

Scotty reports he canna beam you up due to BPL interference on the power cables in the transporter room!