Downgraded 24,000 Pole

By Mike Parker; posted April 23, 2011

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This pole, north of Scholls, OR., was originally on a 24,000 volt sub trans. line but that line has long since been downgraded to 12,470 volts for area distribution. The small multiparts on it were M-2137 or M-2145 Locke pieces. Those two M number types are so similar you would have to see them close up in person to tell. But it don't matter now. Either PGE didn't like the insulators and replaced them or some linemen liked them and replaced them. (ditto for the gray M-2140's nearby). The pole still stood in service with boring insulators on it. Yuk! :-/ This kind of thing is always a waste of time and money since the insulators in this photo would be still working fine today. Even now, since the pole has been replaced, they still could have kept these old insulators in service. There is no contamination here and the insulators would have remained perfect albeit dirty, since they do plow fields around here. The crux of the matter is that the company doesn't want anything that is or looks old in the air. This is nonsense! If it fworks, leave it be! (off soapbox ;)

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