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Posted By: Sixer electrocuted bear - 08/11/06 08:04 PM
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/bears/story/8066937p-7958666c.html
Posted By: Alan Belson Re: electrocuted bear - 08/11/06 08:28 PM
Sad about the loss of such a magnificent creature.

Just to the right, I noticed an advertisement for a 'Ford' motor-car dealer.

"Open till midnight, bring the kids."

Do what?!

Alan
Posted By: jeepmudman Re: electrocuted bear - 08/12/06 04:16 AM
that is a cool pic. the 5000 volts under that light plastic cover scares me.
Posted By: mxslick Re: electrocuted bear - 08/12/06 06:51 PM
Sorry jeepmudman, nothing personal, but I don't find it a "cool" picture. Sad actually. [Linked Image]

The idea of a plastic cover on high voltage, in an area know to have bears, who are know to be attracted to plastic, sounds like a lot of people who should know better have seriously dropped the ball on this one. [Linked Image]
Posted By: iwire Re: electrocuted bear - 08/12/06 07:46 PM
I am going to go out on limb here and say IMO this is enough of a fluke incident to not necessitate a major redesign of the current installation practices.

But who knows, maybe bear attack is more common than I imagine.

That will be a new NEMA rating. [Linked Image]

NEMA 15BP - Bear proof
Posted By: steve ancient apprentice Re: electrocuted bear - 08/12/06 10:59 PM
As a part tree hugger this is sad. Any loss of such a magnificant creature is a loss to the entire state. I agree with the other reply.Someone dropped the ball on this one. Bet they would rethink there coverings if a kid got killed.
Posted By: gfretwell Re: electrocuted bear - 08/13/06 03:15 AM
Kid proof is not bear proof.
Bears have been around people enough that they see anything that is hard to open as being a place where there might be something to eat. Wonder if sparky was eating a sandwich or a candy bar while he was making up that box. It doesn't take much "scent" to attract a bear.
Posted By: jraef Re: electrocuted bear - 08/14/06 08:08 PM
I've done lots of work in remote areas or Washington and Oregon where wildlife is prevalent, and nobody in their right mind would use a plastic box for anything electrical. Bears are notorious for ripping open containers of any sort (an yes, the term "bear proof" is often used), and Alaska is notorious for having lots of bears. Another issue: target practice. Electrical boxes are for some reason frequently mistaken for deer apparently because we used to get a lot of 30-06 slugs in some of ours. Someone definitely screwed up in this one. Besides, a plastic above ground J-box for 5kV? Is that even legal?
Posted By: Attic Rat Re: electrocuted bear - 08/15/06 12:59 AM
... What type of wire was that?? It seems kind of thin to be carrying 5kv, no??...Looks like THHN which is only good for 600 volts...
Russ
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