muikabochi 208 Posted June 23, 2006 Share Posted June 23, 2006 People round here often tell me that having the electric lines above the ground is because of earthquakes. Is that argument a sound one, or just an excuse? Link to post Share on other sites
daver 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 back home we have them above the ground most of the time too, but i can assure it is not because of earthquakes. it is just cheaper to do. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 some newer areas are doing it, which proves the earthquake thing isn't really a concern. Daver is right, just cost. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted June 24, 2006 Author Share Posted June 24, 2006 So basically people are just believing and repeating "the old story" that everyone has told for ever and ever. Why does no-one seem to question things like this? Things like that really get me annoyed quick here. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 yep, me too mate. But that's the way it goes here. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 So what are the arguments they use for them being better above ground? Surely if they are above ground then they will fall down and hit lots of people? Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 The earthquake argument is false. Having the cables buried in a conduit is far safer and more reliable than flapping around at the top of a 5 metre pole. Plus those tranformers are very heavy too. When the cables do come down you have live wires sparking around on the ground. Very dangerous. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 Is there not any public debate at all on this then seeing as though it seems such a feeble argument? Surely not everyone just accepts this? This is very interesting. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 nope, they whip about like mad! Trust me I have seen it happen, but they rarely fall. Easier to repair above ground. Easier to find where the problem is. Etc, etc. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 same old BS that people hear and regurgitate without actually knowing. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 Surely in a big earthquake if a whole expressway thing can fall over then a wooden electric pole can (and will?) Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 yeah no doubt they do, but structurally there are a lot less forces acting on a pole, which will sway quite a lot (one of they keys to a building not collapsing is it's ability to sway rather than be brittle). I'm only speaking from my own thoughts and observations... anyone want to confirm or blow down my theory? Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by Bushpig: nope, they whip about like mad! Trust me I have seen it happen, but they rarely fall. Easier to repair above ground. Easier to find where the problem is. Etc, etc. Granted, but much more vulnerable too. Not just earthquakes, but lightning strikes, traffic accidents etc. etc. There doesn't seem to be much debate. Some undergrounding is going on, but I'm really disappointed that with the re-development of my neighbourhood, they've missed the opportunity. The built environment in Japan is mostly horrible, so I guess people just put up with it or don't see it. IMO overhead power lines are the worst aspect of Japanese landscapes. Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 The lines may not fall by themselves, but this can happen too: Kobe. Fallen power lines start fires. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 yeah, a big one is gonna do that regardless. Anyway, I don't think it is any safer, just throwing out the excuses often given. I had thought that a pole and wires would withstand a quake, but as you pointed out, that won't stop them being brought down by other things falling. Link to post Share on other sites
slow 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 Who would want to pay this cost? Goverment or TEPCO or developer or customer? TEPCO(electric company in your area) usually is willing to bury wires if developer has a project like "SWITCH! All-Denka" (only electricity, no gas!) houses there. (I definately need fire for cooking!!) I think there are few Japanese people who cares about electric wire. Even my friend architectures don't care about it... Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 Slow. I pay the normal taxes in Japan. I also pay the extra taxes that only apply to foreigners, not Japanese. I would prefer my tax money to be spent burying power lines, improving the safety and beauty of Japan. Not parachuting retired beaurocrats into sinecures. The re-development of my neighbourhood has had a team of artisans spending months precision fitting granite slabs to make a series of gold plated unobtanium footpaths, all at tax payers expense. Buried power lines and concrete paths would have made a much more attractive area, at less expense. Link to post Share on other sites
ncorrenti 0 Posted June 24, 2006 Share Posted June 24, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by BagOfCrisps: So what are the arguments they use for them being better above ground? Maybe things are different in Japan but here people are always jumping up and down about overhead powerlines because they think the low frequency fields cause cancer. I actually remember reading an article a couple of years ago which said underground powerlines are worse in terms of transmitting these frequencies, because they travel more effectively through the ground as opposed to air. Of course, in terms of storms and earthquakes, underground lines are safer. And they're also more aesthetically pleasing. Link to post Share on other sites
69 5 Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 I would rather pay for that with my taxes than lots of the other things they blatantly waste tax money on. It sure would make Japanest towns more appealing to look at. Link to post Share on other sites
giggsy 0 Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 How bad are all these lines? Link to post Share on other sites
slow 0 Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 Don't tell ME, soubriquet! You should say it to your local government or you can do NPO activity to make your town prettier. Citizen action works sometimes. A designer in my office had to do outline design and volume calculation on the site located under the highline. She researched the risk of the cancer. WHO guide says there is very low percentage of causing childhood cancer, it is very low but still there is a possibility. She was reluctant to work for this plan and decided to tell the boss we shouldn't deal with this kind of project/site. I think she did the right thing. Nobody wants to live right under the highline. Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 Ouch Quote: Originally posted by giggsy: How bad are all these lines? Judge for yourself. Link to post Share on other sites
ShinyDiscoBall 2 Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 Nice picture Link to post Share on other sites
jgraves 0 Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 There's something post-war nostalgic about the power lines in that picture. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 lets see massive eathquake with powerlines buried. cant see where its broken and you must then dig them all up or. leave them in the air and you can see every inch off what you need to fix. Link to post Share on other sites
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