High voltage learning during the Christchurch earthquakes

Recently I had the opportunity to observe Shaun Baker and Barry Kelly jointing the 1000mm XLPE cable that is being laid to link the McFaddens Rd and Dallington Zone substations. Shaun and Barry (as seen from my previous post's analysis ) have spent a lot of time in Christchurch jointing and terminating 66kV cables since the devastating February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake. The joint I observed being done was in joint hole #1, on Ranger St near the intersection of Nancy Avenue in Mairehau (in my previous post, this is where the cable drum was located). As is typical with all cable jointing, cleanliness is paramount, and the hole is contained inside a 22 foot container supplied by HV contractor Connetics.  The container keeps dust and the weather out, and allows the jointers to work in relative privacy (except when being observed by certain Electrical tutors!). The 'jointing container' The interior of the container is powered and has block and tackle e...

On December 4 I observed the laying of the first part of the strengthening of the Christchurch distribution network by the 'pull' and lay of the first 900 metre section of 66kV by the Connetics underground department. Contractors dug the trench and laid the concrete bedding for the power cables over the last couple of months. My previous post illustrates the map and location of the first joint hole, 900m from the McFadden Zone substation. Having not witnessed the laying of a really heavy power cable before, this was a particularly exciting time for me. Rollers were laid in the trenches and on the corners with cable layers at intervals to assist the passage of the cable. Conduit was installed in sections and guides inserted into the entries of the conduit. Rollers with the nylon pulling cable in place for the first cable. Corner rollers with conduit protective entry A nylon cable was used to pull the cable and was attached using a cable puller and drawn by a tor...