Member
If I understood correctly (by inference) - the tangle of overhead electrical wiring
for the trolley system runs at very high currents, and wet fiberglass ladders
have a breakdown voltage that allows current to pass when in contact with this wiring.
I can't verify this, through SFMTA.
The wiring isn't buried, due to seismic activity.
I'm only guessing, but this appears to be the primary reason for choosing wood
over alternatives such as fiberglass or aluminum.
920x920.jpg
Member
The electrical apparatus manufacturers consider anything less than 1000 volts to be low voltage.Originally Posted by Jason Roehl
I don't remember the distance but I do remember that 4160 volts will reach out and get you. I made sure I stayed in the instrumentation cubicles when I had to work on the 4160 and 13.2 kV MCCs, kept the distance at as many feet as possible. And that was indoors.
I had enough electrical safety training to know that I didn't know what I was doing around medium voltage switchgear!
-Tom
Member
The undercurrent of suspicion expressed is laughable.
The presumption that professionals don't know what they're doing, isn't.
It's not an affectation, if they're climbing into burning buildings on them.
Member
2015-1918 = 95 years
$6500/95= $68/year
Oh, the waste.
Horrors.
Guest
$750 billion to $1 trillion (CA debt alone) / 38,000,000 (the population of CA) = $20k to $26k of debt for every single man, woman, and child living in CA.
Of course, many residents (children, many of the elderly, etc.) can't/don't contribute anything towards those obligations, with analysis conducted at the University of CA indicating that the obligation is in excess of $100k for each person that actually does pay taxes in any significant way.
Laugh it up.
[OP]
Contributor
And this is all because the San Francisco Fire Department is using wooden ladders in some Socialist plot to destroy America?
Of course it couldn't have anything to do with the state treasury having its revenue reduced drastically by those who made sure the super wealthy didn't have to pay as much of a percentage of their income in taxes as the rest of us do.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Guest
CA isn't unique, where there is dense population, there is overwhelming debt.
And that debt didn't happen overnight, it accumulated over decades.
What seems like a little bit of waste (the SFFD ladder shop) is actually part of a much larger problem.
And just because I like all things made of wood, I can't turn a blind eye and say this particular waste is okay.
We've all been told to save early, and save often. You can't easily make-up for lost early years of savings when it comes to saving for your retirement.
The same is true of gov't waste. Concentrated efforts to prevent waste may have made what are now mountains of debt, molehills in comparison.
You know, it was once thought that states would outgrow this. Then came the start of rapid industrialization in both China and India (and soon to be the African continent).
Anyone that thinks what is going on in Greece can't happen elsewhere (here) are sadly mistaken. Our stagnant real wage growth, combined with our overall debt loads, will result in a draconian future for our kids. They will never see the kind of growth we've witnessed.
Had we just realized that the party wouldn't last forever, had we just made somewhat of an effort to save where we could, our future might not be so bleak.
Oh and before anyone says this is too political, it absolutely is not a political post. This is common sense.
Last edited by Phil Thien; 06-21-2015 at 11:09 AM.
Member
Since politics isn't allowed,I can't even begin to comment on what is wrong with the way they do things in California. But,it isn't making wooden ladders that is driving them into debt,or the whole country,for that matter.
Contributor
Indeed, I think it's worth preserving things such as that. Cost isnt the only consideration in life and it would be a very dull place if that were the only consideration.
Bumbling forward into the unknown.
Guest
There is an old Chinese proverb that (roughly translated) goes like this: If you watch the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves.
The ladders may be pennies, but waste is waste.
Member
At least they have SOMETHING to show for their money making ladders. And ladders that last for many decades. Beats just giving it away.
I thought you gave up posting on this issue,Phil.
Last edited by george wilson; 06-21-2015 at 4:20 PM.
Guest
I felt Jim's post, directly quoting my text, demanded a response.
I do want to thank you for the tone of your posts, George. It is refreshing to discuss issues such as these with someone that doesn't engage in logical fallacies.
You're a class act, please never go away.
Last edited by Phil Thien; 06-21-2015 at 4:10 PM.
Member
Can't wrap my head around the logic here. Creating a stronger, longer lasting ladder that reaches higher, and safer than other ladders is wasteful because no one else does it?
I guess I need to sell all my woodworking tools. Not many other people do woodworking so clearly it is a bad idea. Even if I can build better, stronger, longer lasting furniture by doing it myself, and I'm helping to keep a craft alive.
Paul
[OP]
Contributor
Paul,
It is clear neither of us have been issued the special "read between the lines" decoder ring nor the special flashlight needed to expose the socialists hiding under our beds and beneath our floor boards.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Guest
Didn't your debate coach ever teach you that hurling insults is tantamount to admitting defeat?Paul,
It is clear neither of us have been issued the special "read between the lines" decoder ring nor the special flashlight needed to expose the socialists hiding under our beds and beneath our floor boards.
jtk
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