I had a job one summer doing startups of controls and switchgear on low head hydro-generators installed at irrigation ditches in Idaho. In roughly 1/2 of the 30 odd systems we worked on, there were rattlesnakes waiting for us when we opened the enclosure doors to the switchgear. Rats would tunnel under the pad, chew through the PVC conduit, make a nest in the switchgear and that would attract the snakes. The first one was a big shock, I opened the door and immediately heard the rattle. The snake struck at me but I was a little out of range. Just about wet myself. The 15th one was no big deal though, we learned to expect it.
Last edited by jraef; 04/16/07 12:33 AM.
