The random rideout pictures thread

[Luckypants]

Unusual to see new pylons going up. Is there new windfarm activity around there?

[DarrenSV650S]

Not that I know of, but there could well be. Not sure of the route of the replacement ones

[Ruffy]

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

Also found some new pylons going up near Schiehallion. Probably not that interesting to most, but I'm a sparky so found it quite interesting

This is right up my street too, so there's at least one appreciative viewer! (I spent 15 years in the Electricity Supply Industry dealing with this sort of stuff, though I moved on to work elsewhere a few years ago.)

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

The cable was suprisingly light

I'm also surprised to see only a twin conductor system - I'd guess at 500mm2 csa each, all aluminium conductor. Larger (greater capacity) bundles are commonplace now

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

The scaffold and net is presumably to catch the cable if it falls onto the road! Bit scary to think of, especially since it was live. I could hear it buzzing underneath.

Two electrical circuits on each tower, 3 conductors each side per circuit - one circuit will usually remain live whilst the other is being replaced. Yes, the net is to stop a conductor unexpectedly falling onto the road. The risk of falling conductor is more from the one being removed or installed, all pulled under tension, but not not energised you'll be pleased to hear!

I can't see running blocks/pulleys on the towers and it all looks put together, tensioned and finished ok, so the stuff on the ground is most likely the old conductor that's been dropped, now waiting for proper clear up.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Unusual to see new pylons going up. Is there new windfarm activity around there?

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

Not that I know of, but there could well be. Not sure of the route of the replacement ones

From a quick browse of the SSEN website, it appears to be reconfiguration of line entries for the new Kinardochy substation that's under construction nearby. (If I were a guessing man I'd say you could see it just in the distance of Darren's 3rd picture - the one with scaffold & bike.)

Reading the blurb, the new substation is to manage power flow effects arising from a number of factors - connections of generation incl. windfarms elsewhere, general power flow pattern change, new switching and reactive power devices to maximise capacity of lines etc.

There's some other progress pics on the SSEN project page too:

https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/...hy-substation/

[DarrenSV650S]

Interesting stuff Ruffy. Thanks for that. I had a quick google but couldn't find anything on the construction.

The road at the top left of this pic is the one I was on, which leads to Loch Rannoch. Pic is from their website. And yes I did see that construction site, which is the one in my pic like you say.

Are the cables solid? It almost felt like it had an inner core. Maybe just because it was aluminium. We removed some 240mm solid core aluminium SWA cables recently and everyone was amazed at how light they were compared to copper.

That road is also where I took this pic back in April. Presumably to monitor the traffic before construction started?

[Ruffy]

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

Interesting stuff Ruffy. Thanks for that. I had a quick google but couldn't find anything on the construction.

Even with the power of Google, it sometimes helps to have a bit of specialist insight and background into what you're looking for. I didn't find it first search either!

Lovely part of the world - I have fond memories of a mountain marathon I did in the Rannoch Moor area about 30 years ago, and also getting out and about while I was working near Stirling for a short while in the mid 90s, but it's a long time since I've been up there. (Flippin' eck, I'm old!)

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

...Are the cables solid? It almost felt like it had an inner core. Maybe just because it was aluminium.

Probably. There's a lot of different stuff out there for overhead conductors, but I'm pretty sure it's Rubus conductor - IIRC a nominal 500mm2 All Aluminium Alloy Conductor AAAC. It's not hollow but has a series of counter-wound layers of smaller aluminum strands. Google images may be better than my explanation.

It's not my area of expertise but I understand that all aluminium conductors have become more commonplace because the alloying technology has improved to allow the elimination of traditionally stronger and heavier steel cores that were found in earlier ACSR (Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced) conductors. Like you say, weight is a factor when hanging stuff in the air, so is cost (copper is comparatively expensive even though it's a better conductor), so is electrical performance (Al is better conductor than steel) and also thermal performance (when Al/Fe metals expand at different rates in combined conductors as electrical load changes and the conductor changes temperature it can cause functional problems over time, accelerated deterioration or need for more maintenance or replacement).

(And before you start thinking I'm amazing , I'm not, I can't really tell by just looking at your photos. I might still be wrong but fortunately, this is Beauly-Denny line, a relatively recent upgrade to GB Transmission System, in essence just rebuilt from 132kV to 275kV but it's physically much bigger structures and higher in the air - it's very well known in the industry because of the consenting challenges it had prior to construction. Some facts/info just sticks in the brain!)

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

...Presumably to monitor the traffic before construction started?

Now I really would be guessing - I don't know what the box is for, but you could very well be right that it's a traffic monitor - certainly looks like a very good hypothesis seeing the induction loops I spy in the road behind your bike.

[redtrummy]

What camera do you use Darren? The photos always look great (must be the super fine weather you have up there). Had many a great holiday in Glen Coe and the surrounding area including catching the train to Rannoch Station and walking back to the Glen Coe campsite via the Kings House hotel

[DarrenSV650S]

Originally Posted by Ruffy

Even with the power of Google, it sometimes helps to have a bit of specialist insight and background into what you're looking for. I didn't find it first search either!

Lovely part of the world - I have fond memories of a mountain marathon I did in the Rannoch Moor area about 30 years ago, and also getting out and about while I was working near Stirling for a short while in the mid 90s, but it's a long time since I've been up there. (Flippin' eck, I'm old!)

Probably. There's a lot of different stuff out there for overhead conductors, but I'm pretty sure it's Rubus conductor - IIRC a nominal 500mm2 All Aluminium Alloy Conductor AAAC. It's not hollow but has a series of counter-wound layers of smaller aluminum strands. Google images may be better than my explanation.

It's not my area of expertise but I understand that all aluminium conductors have become more commonplace because the alloying technology has improved to allow the elimination of traditionally stronger and heavier steel cores that were found in earlier ACSR (Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced) conductors. Like you say, weight is a factor when hanging stuff in the air, so is cost (copper is comparatively expensive even though it's a better conductor), so is electrical performance (Al is better conductor than steel) and also thermal performance (when Al/Fe metals expand at different rates in combined conductors as electrical load changes and the conductor changes temperature it can cause functional problems over time, accelerated deterioration or need for more maintenance or replacement).

(And before you start thinking I'm amazing , I'm not, I can't really tell by just looking at your photos. I might still be wrong but fortunately, this is Beauly-Denny line, a relatively recent upgrade to GB Transmission System, in essence just rebuilt from 132kV to 275kV but it's physically much bigger structures and higher in the air - it's very well known in the industry because of the consenting challenges it had prior to construction. Some facts/info just sticks in the brain!)

Now I really would be guessing - I don't know what the box is for, but you could very well be right that it's a traffic monitor - certainly looks like a very good hypothesis seeing the induction loops I spy in the road behind your bike.

Originally Posted by redtrummy

What camera do you use Darren? The photos always look great (must be the super fine weather you have up there). Had many a great holiday in Glen Coe and the surrounding area including catching the train to Rannoch Station and walking back to the Glen Coe campsite via the Kings House hotel

It is a beautiful area. One of my favourite places to go on the bike.
That's some walk! I'd want an enduro bike for that

Camera is just my phone. Galaxy S21

[redtrummy]

I will own up - Thinking about it we could have driven to Kings House Hotel then caught a bus to the train station, did the walk across the moor and then drove back to the campsite. Too long ago for a clear memory to be honest. but we were pretty active some 40 years ago

[DarrenSV650S]

Had my MOT on Saturday and I've only done 2000 miles this year. Probably the lowest since I started riding!

So I went for a run to get a head start on next year

[admin]

Great photos once again. Looks a lot dryer and warmer than my ride into Wales today.

Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk