Is anyone running a cable across a pavement?
Discussion
I'd think that running cable across a private/leasehold pavement would escape problems, or even a quiet housing estate road, but a city/town street will bound to end with a legal letter from the council sooner or later .
Running a 240V cable across a public pavement is fraught with dangers, those cable covers aren't really good enough since they can easily get dislodged by accident, let alone deliberate actions.
Scenario: chavs pick up cable cover and throw it over your car. Early next morning Mr Biggins comes past in his electric scooter and a piece of plastic hanging down scoops up the cable and it gets wound in his scooter's wheels, shredding it and putting live onto the scooter's chassis, electrocuting him instantly.
Scenario 2: A fox chews through the cable's sheath through (it's not armoured of course). It rains, and a puddle of water is made live killing the next person who steps in it.
RCDs could help in some of these cases, but they are not completely reliable and aren't intended to mitigate a dangerous installation such as this.
Running a 240V cable across a public pavement is fraught with dangers, those cable covers aren't really good enough since they can easily get dislodged by accident, let alone deliberate actions.
Scenario: chavs pick up cable cover and throw it over your car. Early next morning Mr Biggins comes past in his electric scooter and a piece of plastic hanging down scoops up the cable and it gets wound in his scooter's wheels, shredding it and putting live onto the scooter's chassis, electrocuting him instantly.
Scenario 2: A fox chews through the cable's sheath through (it's not armoured of course). It rains, and a puddle of water is made live killing the next person who steps in it.
RCDs could help in some of these cases, but they are not completely reliable and aren't intended to mitigate a dangerous installation such as this.
Edited by Gareth79 on Wednesday 13th January 15:37
Still struggling to understand why they allow cars and trucks anywhere in London.
Straightforward wheelbarrows and bikes only legislation for anything delivered or required inside the M25 around London, If you can't manage that tough titty
(Hopefully the death toll won't increase exponentially in line with more lycra louts out on tour)
Straightforward wheelbarrows and bikes only legislation for anything delivered or required inside the M25 around London, If you can't manage that tough titty
(Hopefully the death toll won't increase exponentially in line with more lycra louts out on tour)
squirejo said:
Yes let's close down source london too. Because all of those scenarios persist with on street public chargers.
The posts are at least at the roadside, so the user would have to deliberately run the cable in a dangerous way.Regarding electrical safety, the charge posts will be specifically designed with safety in mind, eg. a decent RCD and and earth rod rather than PME.
Edited by Gareth79 on Thursday 14th January 10:35
Just FYI, I tripped over a cable on a public pavement a couple of years ago and fell really badly.
Smashed my knee cap and took a big lump out of the skin, smashed my watch and ripped my jacket and jeans. Took the skin off my knuckles. I looked like I had been in a car crash.
Its amazing just how bad an uncontrolled fall can be even at walking pace. What was really weird is I remember going along looking forward and then the earth seemed to come up and a floated above it for a second and then KAPOW that was it.
Dusted myself off and tried to carry on but I couldn't walk and ended up in hospital and was off work for a couple of days, couldn't get up or down stairs etc.
I could have easily sued however I was actually working for the company who had left the cable out (it was running to a van) and they are a great client and it was an honest mistake so I spoke to their MD and said they just need to replace my watch and jacket (jeans were old).
Anyway, what I am saying, long story short, is please be careful. I am fit and healthy, had it been an old person I have no doubt it could have been a lot worse.
Smashed my knee cap and took a big lump out of the skin, smashed my watch and ripped my jacket and jeans. Took the skin off my knuckles. I looked like I had been in a car crash.
Its amazing just how bad an uncontrolled fall can be even at walking pace. What was really weird is I remember going along looking forward and then the earth seemed to come up and a floated above it for a second and then KAPOW that was it.
Dusted myself off and tried to carry on but I couldn't walk and ended up in hospital and was off work for a couple of days, couldn't get up or down stairs etc.
I could have easily sued however I was actually working for the company who had left the cable out (it was running to a van) and they are a great client and it was an honest mistake so I spoke to their MD and said they just need to replace my watch and jacket (jeans were old).
Anyway, what I am saying, long story short, is please be careful. I am fit and healthy, had it been an old person I have no doubt it could have been a lot worse.
Part of the problem is that the cable covers are often dark colour, similar to the pavement. They should be bright and reflective for night time. Maybe the cable itself should have built in LED lighting, or the cover could have solar+battery.
Instead they try to make the cover invisible so you trip over it.
Instead they try to make the cover invisible so you trip over it.
That's a fair story, but your right about uncontrolled falls. I guess it depends it's if it is infrequent and during the day, or daily at night.
Loads of the cable covers have bright yellow tops, but if it's pitch black out and your not looking for it the issue remains.
I do like the idea of a 7ft tall pole, on a drive over base, and running it into a first floor window a hook/socket outside, till the first drunk person decides it's a fun game.
Amazing how basic logistical challenges there are with changing tech. Obviously if you can charge at work and get home and back on that, you have sorted 5 of the days.
Daniel
Loads of the cable covers have bright yellow tops, but if it's pitch black out and your not looking for it the issue remains.
I do like the idea of a 7ft tall pole, on a drive over base, and running it into a first floor window a hook/socket outside, till the first drunk person decides it's a fun game.
Amazing how basic logistical challenges there are with changing tech. Obviously if you can charge at work and get home and back on that, you have sorted 5 of the days.
Daniel
dhutch said:
That's a fair story, but your right about uncontrolled falls. I guess it depends it's if it is infrequent and during the day, or daily at night.
Loads of the cable covers have bright yellow tops, but if it's pitch black out and your not looking for it the issue remains.
I do like the idea of a 7ft tall pole, on a drive over base, and running it into a first floor window a hook/socket outside, till the first drunk person decides it's a fun game.
Amazing how basic logistical challenges there are with changing tech. Obviously if you can charge at work and get home and back on that, you have sorted 5 of the days.
Daniel
All of which are going to look great when every other house has one...Loads of the cable covers have bright yellow tops, but if it's pitch black out and your not looking for it the issue remains.
I do like the idea of a 7ft tall pole, on a drive over base, and running it into a first floor window a hook/socket outside, till the first drunk person decides it's a fun game.
Amazing how basic logistical challenges there are with changing tech. Obviously if you can charge at work and get home and back on that, you have sorted 5 of the days.
Daniel
New council money harvesting scheme in sight on this.
jjwilde said:
I'm thinking EVs might finally make a rule that you're allowed to park outside your own house. A bit like the disabled bays. Technically any EV could park in the space, but that seems unlikely.
No changeMost terraces are big enough for one car outside each hose and still have enough space to pull in and out
It's more often 1.3 hours per car leaving approiate gap
This Topic sums up,to me, what a daft idea these EV's really are.
We need better technology until they are rolled out.
Wires running across footpaths up and down terraced streets.
Absolute stupidity.
Deaths,injuries and claims.
Drunks and Teenagers.
And expecting to be able to park outside of your own door?
Never going to happen.
We need better technology until they are rolled out.
Wires running across footpaths up and down terraced streets.
Absolute stupidity.
Deaths,injuries and claims.
Drunks and Teenagers.
And expecting to be able to park outside of your own door?
Never going to happen.
mickyh7 said:
This Topic sums up,to me, what a daft idea these EV's really are.
We need better technology until they are rolled out.
Wires running across footpaths up and down terraced streets.
Absolute stupidity.
Deaths,injuries and claims.
Drunks and Teenagers.
And expecting to be able to park outside of your own door?
Never going to happen.
About the most sensible post on EV's you'll probably read. We need better technology until they are rolled out.
Wires running across footpaths up and down terraced streets.
Absolute stupidity.
Deaths,injuries and claims.
Drunks and Teenagers.
And expecting to be able to park outside of your own door?
Never going to happen.
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