GFP concern

[z633]

There is an installation that has my concern. A 34.5kV O/H line extension, dip with fused c/o to a 34.5kV to 4.8kV (1500KVA) dist. transformer X0 grounded to rudimentary ground ring. 3-wires up to another fused c/o and then more O/H secondary distribution line to multiple facilities. No Switch gear. No Ground fault relay. Poor ground conductivity in desert area. This bothers me but can not pin point NESC or NEC code violation. (this was a DB contract that went bad, contractor cut off payment from DOR A/E firm). Contractor running open loop. Is there a code issue, or ANSI (USofA) that is of issue here?

 

[dpc]

Is this owned by an electric utility or someone else?

If it is owned by an electric utility, they can basically do whatever they want. Separate ground fault protection is not required and is often not provided when only fuses are used. If you had a ground fault relay, what would you trip?

Lack of ground fault protection, in and of itself, is probably not a violation of any US codes.

 

[z633]

I disagree, the utilities have to follow NESC, OSHA, RUS, and state CALPUCGEO95 as the case applies, and debatably the NEC. Otherwise the IBEW would be back to the 60% mortality rate of the early years. This is not owned buy a utility, but rather, a federal reservation that the local utility will not currently not engage (privatize) as it is so far below the "do anything they want standards" that the ROI is negative for the infinity of their budgetary system. So... I am a somewhat of a neutered AHJ on a system that is constantly being modified by rouge db contractors and local cowboy linemen replacing failed switchgear with non coordinated reclosers. (often only used to pick up loads, then shunted). My concern, with rotting cross arms, is the downed line of course and the potential consequences of such. A burnt out jumper damages equipment but that is good for the economy I can justify in my pee sized morality. The wise men of the past always enforced MCB with GFP. But maybe that was just a luxury, but I can not imagine a current utility installing OH distribution system with out such a rudementary feature.

 

[z633]

PS. I have 2-more days left. I am so out of here!!!