Leaving the fest, anyone else see this??

DCELL

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2002
Location
Sheridan, IN
TDI
'01 GOLF 2DR, ‘15 Passat SEL TDI
As I was leaving the fest Sunday (I left just as it started raining hard, the raffle was still wrapping up), I witnessed a pole transformer explode as I was waiting to turn onto KY4/ new circle road. The stop light blinked a couple times and rain and wind were starting to get very violent. All of a sudden there was a blinding blue flash and a shower of sparks just behind me. At first I thought lightning hit it. Just wondering if anyone else saw it or if I was the only one! Definitely not something I'll forget for a while!
 

MayorDJQ

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 4, 2001
Location
Williamstown, Mass
TDI
'10 Golf 2dr 6m, sold.
Didn't see it, but I work in the electric utility business, and electrical items can make some pretty dramatic displays. Even something as minor as a blowing transformer fuse is enough to kake you jump out of your shoes.
 

TDI Stevestr

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Nov 28, 2009
Location
Aurora (Denver Metro), CO
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Former 2011 Golf 4 Dr TDI DSG; Looking at the '17 Chevy Colorado
Oh man wish I had seen it. They can also be pretty loud when they blow. All I had was some band playing at the bar next door blasting into my room until 11:00 last night.
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, Massachusetts. USA
TDI
idi: 1988 Bolens DGT1700H, the other oil burner: 1967 Saab Sonett II two stroke
I happened to also see it. I was surprised that the hotel didn't lose power, but the book store and seafood restaurant (and probably others) did for about 5 seconds before an alternate supply was connected.
Pretty impressive, I thought.
Oh yeah, the flash was impressive too.
 

MayorDJQ

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 4, 2001
Location
Williamstown, Mass
TDI
'10 Golf 2dr 6m, sold.
The "fault" was probably isolated by the transformer fuse(s) and/or may have been downstream from the hotel or simply on another feeder. Sometimes even a branch across the primaries can make a huge shower of sparks and blow fuses.
 

TDIDaveNH

Left Lane Coal Roller at Large
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Feb 17, 2009
Location
North Conway, NH
TDI
1997 Passat TDI x2 1984 Buick Century 4.3 diesel
I was lying in bed at the time, but recall a peculiar sounding thunder clap which touched down rather close to the hotel and was alarming, but chalked it up to Kentucky thunder just sounding different and went back to bed. :D
 

VeeDubTDI

Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Location
Springfield, VA
TDI
‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
I was looking out the window of the room and saw what looked like lighting out by that stoplight. I guess it was the xformer blowing up! :eek:
 

AndyBees

Top Post Dawg
Joined
May 27, 2003
Location
Southeast Kentucky
TDI
Silver 2003 Jetta TDI, Silver 2000 Jetta TDI (sold), '84 Vanagon with '02 ALH engine
Yeah, I heard it from the room......thought it was Thunder! And, the utility trucks and repairmen were on-site working on it as we drove into town for Breakfast!
 

Ski in NC

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Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Location
Wilmington, NC USA
TDI
2001 Jetta ALH 5sp stock
Just a little tidbit about power lines: The fuses have a little explosive charge inside that does two things: Mechanically separate the fuse so a lineman observing from the road can see the "open load", and also: blow out any arc that that might start if a standard type fuse is used. So a fuse blowing can be really dramatic. BANG and lots of sparks!
 
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