Quick video flying close to powerlines

moonlitnite · Nov 19, 2017

Oyibo VFX said:
And when I walk under a power line, my watch start running backward.
I build and work with power stations and high voltage powerlines for the last 20 years. Never mention any effect. Except on my bank account

Please, don't get paranoid

Good one! And now that you mention it, the CEO of Intel, Andy Grove said, "Only the paranoid survive."

f3honda4me · Nov 19, 2017

Oyibo VFX said:
And when I walk under a power line, my watch start running backward.
I build and work with power stations and high voltage powerlines for the last 20 years. Never mention any effect. Except on my bank account

Please, don't get paranoid

We have had verified cases where power lines caused issues. That's not paranoia.

Oyibo VFX · Nov 19, 2017

f3honda4me said:
We have had verified cases where power lines caused issues. That's not paranoia.

Yeah, don't touch them

moonlitnite · Nov 19, 2017

Oyibo VFX said:
Yeah, don't touch them

Birds touch them all the time, so no worries/paranoia... just don't ground yourself

f3honda4me · Nov 19, 2017

Oyibo VFX said:
Yeah, don't touch them

The cases I was speaking of, no contact was made.

moonlitnite · Nov 19, 2017

moonlitnite said:
Birds touch them all the time, so no worries/paranoia... just don't ground yourself

Oyibo VFX said:
Yeah, don't touch them

Nah, do it this way - lots of money to be made touching hot 765 KV lines and at 8:53 it gets sooo exciting!

Oyibo VFX · Nov 20, 2017

Check at 4:10
It's like dynamite... it's safe as long as you know it's dangerous

f3honda4me · Nov 20, 2017

Those videos are awesome.

Oyibo VFX · Nov 20, 2017

f3honda4me said:
Those videos are awesome.

Thanks M8

Starfighter · Nov 21, 2017

Oyibo VFX said:
I like the first part of your video. Specially where the train comes out of the cold mist. Really special

There were 3 power (common four three phase power), arranged in a triangle as they went from pole to pole. I flew my brand new Phantom 4, between all the lines in sport mode (TOTALLY BY ACCIDENT). I was not pleased. Lucky.

votography · Nov 22, 2017

As a photographer and videographer for a medium-size power company, I did not enjoy this video footage, or any videos of hobbyists flying too close to power lines. If you are licensed and hired as a high-voltage power line inspector, I would not have any issues with that. For hobbyists like most of us, causing a power outage, regardless how skillful you are, or who is at fault (wind, birds, hunters shooting at your drone), can have significant impact on the grid, customers, and businesses. It also takes a lot of resources to locate the damage(s) and restore power, not to mention giving UAVs pilots a bad name!

I am sure most of you don't agree with my opinion, but from a power company's perspective, please fly safe and keep the rest of the general public safe as well.

Thank you.

Oyibo VFX · Nov 22, 2017

votography said:
As a photographer and videographer for a medium-size power company, I did not enjoy this video footage, or any videos of hobbyists flying too close to power lines. If you are licensed and hired as a high-voltage power line inspector, I would not have any issues with that. For hobbyists like most of us, causing a power outage, regardless how skillful you are, or who is at fault (wind, birds, hunters shooting at your drone), can have significant impact on the grid, customers, and businesses. It also takes a lot of resources to locate the damage(s) and restore power, not to mention giving UAVs pilots a bad name!

I am sure most of you don't agree with my opinion, but from a power company's perspective, please fly safe and keep the rest of the general public safe as well.

Thank you.

Although I understand your point of view.... Powerlines are strong enough to hold a couple of men with full gear and tools. A small drone does not cause a trip.

votography · Nov 22, 2017

Again, I didn't expect a lot of people to agree with me. A small tree limb falling on a power line can cause can short on a circuit.

Just think about someone in the OR being operated on, or some old folks with oxygen machines to keep them alive, or business owners losing customers because there is no power at their businesses due to a power outage by a drone. I don't mind taking risks, but not at the expense of others.

Just check out these:

Mountain View: Drone crash knocks out power to 1,600
Drone causes power outage after flying into power line in Moore, OK > Helicopter Association International
A Power Outage In Silicon Valley Was Caused By A Drone Crash - Slashdot
Drone CRASH triggers Hollywood BLACKOUT

Oyibo VFX · Nov 22, 2017

Yeah, and if my aunty had a willy, she was my uncle

Huge Bama Fan · Mar 2, 2018

Mossiback said:
Don't get too close. I believe the problem is that the power lines can mess with the compass.

Yes today I waas flying near a small power plant on the Ocoee River and my compass didn't like it at all.

tictag · Mar 3, 2018

Wow, those powerline videos are enough to make your hair stand on end...

sorry ...

Huge Bama Fan · Mar 3, 2018

tictag said:
Wow, those powerline videos are enough to make your hair stand on end...

sorry ...

I was nervous

dronerdave · Mar 3, 2018

We use a Phantom at work (power utility) to inspect voltages up to 230kV. The pilot crashed it when he got between two phases on one of the circuits. He claimed it just lost control. Another time the aircraft shot up on its own but he regained control. For what it costs, the Phantom does OK near the transmission lines but to see what you need to, you have to get way too close. Whether or not a small drone should be near lines depends on a few things. First you need to be certified to be that close in the first place...at least in the US. Then you can have days where weather can make a difference and might affect the drone. The chance of cross phasing a transmission line with a small drone is probably null, but if it hits the line hard enough you might damage the wire. Most lines are not covered and looking for broken strands is just one of the things you look for during a line patrol. The fix is very expensive. I'd say most people would not think of a drone flying close to a tower as a terrorist threat but some might and the hobby doesn't need another black eye. I don't see a problem with keeping the required minimum distances set by law but I'd have that info on hand if somebody comes looking for you while you're flying. Also many lower voltage (distribution voltages) lines have shorter clearances between phases and it would be very easy for a drone to get in between or cause one phase to slap another and burn down. Just take care around any power lines and give them some room.

BIGDAVE · Mar 6, 2018

votography said:
Again, I didn't expect a lot of people to agree with me. A small tree limb falling on a power line can cause can short on a circuit.

Just think about someone in the OR being operated on, or some old folks with oxygen machines to keep them alive, or business owners losing customers because there is no power at their businesses due to a power outage by a drone. I don't mind taking risks, but not at the expense of others.

Just check out these:

Mountain View: Drone crash knocks out power to 1,600
Drone causes power outage after flying into power line in Moore, OK > Helicopter Association International
A Power Outage In Silicon Valley Was Caused By A Drone Crash - Slashdot
Drone CRASH triggers Hollywood BLACKOUT

two diff stories and the same lump of burnt who knows what is on the ground, the other one has no proof what so ever. it says a drone was the cause, WHERES THE REAL PROOF???

dronerdave · Mar 7, 2018

Not saying it's real or fake news but it would be very difficult to pin this to anybody if they left the scene. It's funny how the media jumps on stories involving drones. Yes it would be easy to knock out power with a small quad but Mylar balloons and birds do it on a daily basis and you don't see the media highlighting that. I've caught kids flying kites burn down line...again no bias against kite flying. The power company might or might not try to charge you for damages (if you admit to fault) but it's the lawyers/insurance companies representing the public that will try to put the blame on you. It's not much different that taking out a pole with a vehicle. As a heads up if you do screw up and cause an incident involving a power line, leave the area. I'd say get your quad as well but there is a strong chance you might walk into the danger zone. Just because it looks safe is a very dangerous assessment to make if you're not trained correctly. Fire dept and law enforcement personal do that all the time and in general they do get some training involving downed lines.