Project improves base electrical lines

Published July 19, 2012
By Senior Master Sgt. Roel Davz
60th Civil Engineer Squadron

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- City Light and Power, the contractor that maintains the electrical power distribution on base, is embarking on a project that will improve the reliability of the base's vast high voltage electrical distribution system at Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

CLP and civil engineer linemen will increase the gap between each phase of the 12,000 volt primary lines at the Duck Pond. This project aims to reduce nuisance power outages caused by large birds.

You are probably wondering how birds can cause an outage. It's very common to see them land and stand on power lines and everything seems fine. Birds standing on power lines have no effect on the electrical integrity of the system, as long as they are standing or touching only one electrical line. The problem is when they fly away.

Planes taking off require full power. Pilots push the throttle until they get the right power for taking off. You notice this when you hear the high pitch sound of the plane's engines just before taking off. Flying creatures do not have engines, so in order to achieve full power, they spread their wings as wide as possible. If their wings are wide enough to touch two phases of the high voltage lines, it will cause a direct electrical short circuit resulting in a blown fuse or it will trip a substation main breaker and ultimately cause a major power outage. It would be great if we could teach the birds and ducks about flight and electrical safety rules, but we all know it's impossible to do that.

To solve the problem, Tony Lercara, CLP project manager stated that CLP linemen wided the gap between electrical phases of the overhead high voltage lines July 18 and 19.

First, they isolated the primary circuit they worked on so that housing residents were affected. Then, they moved the middle phase of the circuit to the top of the utility pole, thereby broadening the gap between phases. They did this to about 10 utility poles. That equates to about 1,000 feet of overhead lines.

Normally this work can be completed in one day. However, CLP extended this to two full days to incorporate electrical training. Master Sgt. Lee Shanks, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron contracting officer representative, in coordination with Staff Sgt. Leo Amaya, 60th CES combat electrical trainer, and CLP took advantage of this rare opportunity to integrate training during the event.

CLP technicians provided hands-on training to young CE linemen in working with power lines and all associated equipment safely and correctly. This is a valuable skill to have especially when responding to crisis situations such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

This project has multiple benefits. It will minimize power interruptions at base housing, protect the life and safety of the ducks and other migratory birds at the pond and provided an excellent opportunity to teach young lineman the tricks of the trade.