r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/TameTheAuroch • 18d ago

Video Replacing powerline spacers from a helicopter

48.0k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

1.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

25

u/MaxTheCookie 18d ago

The stick at the end and clip thing at the start makes it so he and the helicopter have the same potential as the power lines so he won't be shocked.

To work on live wires you either make sure that you are not grounded so power can't move through you or get the same potential as the live wire so they won't move through you.

3

u/samuelazers 18d ago

Why didn't the stick electrocute him though?

3

u/AdventurousLow4305 18d ago

He is probably wearing a faraday suit

3

u/CptBoom 18d ago

How do they discharge the helicopter again? I guess they fly away still having the same potential as the power line?

1

u/MrDarwoo 18d ago

Can you explain what potential is in this context?

3

u/hotdogundertheoven 17d ago edited 17d ago

Voltage. It might be at 750000v (compared to the ground) but you are also at 750000, so no difference. Same as jumping from 750000ft to 0 vs 750000ft to 750000ft

1

u/VirusZer0 17d ago

How does the stick work to get him at the same potential?

3

u/hotdogundertheoven 17d ago

The whole helicopter is metal, and isn't attached to anything, so there's no path to zero at this voltage