POWER BREAKDOWNS DUE TO LIGHTNING

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 200, 25 November 1955, Page 1

POWER BREAKDOWNS DUE TO LIGHTNING

The matter of power breakdowns due to lightning was raised by Or J. E. Barton at the Borough Goxmeil meeting on Wednesday evening, November 16. Mr Lloyd Mandeno, cdnsulting engineer, was in atteftdance. Cr Barton said that every time there was an electrical disturbance power was cut off, and asked whether anything could be done. Was it unavoidable and could anything be done to minimise it? Mr Mandeno said that the automatic re-closing switch equipment was not yet installed. Had it been, the occurrence of November 8, when two transformer bushes at the power station were burnt out by lightning, would have caused only a flieker. There had been delay owing to the fact that parts of the necessary autematic re-closing switch gear had been broken when recMved from England. Mr Shewood, electrical inspector, replying to a query from Or Barton as to whether installation of the automatic gear was a big job, said that it was a case of working it in with other jobs. Or Vedder asked what were the costs of the damage? The job should be given priority. The remedy should be put into effect irrespective of what other work had to suffer. Mr Sherwood said the costs of the damage were about £5 plus the men's time. Cr Vedder said they had been assured the automatic gear was coming for the past two years. The Mayor pointed out that the gear had been ordered from England and the delay in delivery was beyond control at this end. Cr Lewis asked whether it were not a fact that, even when the automatic gear were installed, there . might be occasions when lightning would perhaps cut off power and nothing could be done about it? Mr Mandeno said that that was so. Cr Stanley asked whether telephonic communication with the power station was needed? Mr Mandeno said that there would be a definite advantage in having radio equipment. Mobile radio was preferable to a telephone line. If the electricity department's trucks were titted with radio, communication between them, and from tliem to the base station in Taupo, could be made from any points in the supply area. Mr Mandeno said he had asked a radio firm nine months ago about an outfit but they had not yet demonstrated it. Such firms very very busy. Radio sets would cost about £140 or £150 each, and the cost in all would be about £500. Answering a query, Mr Mandeno said old Army sets were not suitable. They would want rewiring, and were not as good as the modern sets. Suitable sets had cost about £80 four or five years ago but the latest sets were better.