Is it just me or is this a horrible idea?

[x88x]

Long story short, some company has created a hook that taps into power lines. Only thing is, it only works on the power lines after the final transformer before running into a building (bringing it down to 240V), and only if the lines are made in the exact same manner as the ones that the company is expecting..oh, and only if they're actually strung up on utility poles. Did they never hear of induction power coils? It would be much easier to throw an insulated coil up and over a line instead of trying to get this thing aligned just right, and slicing up the insulation trying to hold it in place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQRAiDO7Ltc


http://hackedgadgets.com/2010/07/01/high-voltage-bat-hook-power-tap-remote-auxiliary-power-system/

Also,

RAPS is a connecting device that’s attached to the end of a long cable. When the device is thrown over a power line, a blade at the end pierces the power line and completes the circuit that brings electricity down to the soldier. And that can mean a lot in the desert or jungle.
Really? Where are they going to find the specific lines that they need in the desert or jungle? -_^

[slaveofconvention]

Yeah but, could you use the aforementioned insulated coil to open your beer when you're finished doing whatever you needed power to do?????

[mDust]

Yeah but, could you use the aforementioned insulated coil to open your beer when you're finished doing whatever you needed power to do?????

Yes, after you power up your bulletproof mini-fridge and the beer is cold, you can use the tool at the end of the line to open your beer...provided you can get it back down. :whistler:
I personally wouldn't be comfortable trusting whatever they insulated their line with...
Isn't the line to residential homes in the US at 110-120 volts? I know commercial and industrial places get more, but didn't think private homes did. Or was this video intended for foreign audiences?

...and that can mean a lot when you're in the jungle or the desert, miles away from an outlet......and presumably power lines? lol

[x88x]

Isn't the line to residential homes in the US at 110-120 volts?

IIRC, in some areas they run 240V to the house, in some areas they only run 120V. When they run 240V, there'll be a smaller transformer or something in the house to take it down to 120V for most of the circuits. The need for 240V is for clothes dryers, electric stoves, electric furnaces, and the like (thing giant round-ish three-prong plug). When 240V is run to the house, these lines are fed first, then the voltage is dropped to 120V. When 120V is run to the house, those circuits have to have two 120V lines feeding them in series. It works, it's just a less elegant process.

[slaveofconvention]

I can't speak generally, but I know my wifes house in PA has a "special point" where the power is doubled up (her brothers words) so I'm assuming it's the second method mentioned...

[x88x]

Doh! Sorry, AC is one of my weak points. I just looked it up, and each phase is 120V, but the 240V lines in a standard house will draw on either two or three phases of the 3-phase signal normally sent into the house.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_phase

That would be what I was thinking of when I said 240V gets fed to houses sometimes. In other cases, sometimes however, single-phase power transmission is used, and in that case, two single-phase lines would need to be joined to feed a 240V line.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_phase

[Mark_Hardware]

Wouldn't that be considered stealing power? I mean, if you are getting electricity before the meter box.... If you do that to the cable company, you can get arrested for stealing cable.

[x88x]

Yup. That's why it was developed for the DoD...where that's ok...or something.

[mDust]

Wouldn't that be considered stealing power? I mean, if you are getting electricity before the meter box.... If you do that to the cable company, you can get arrested for stealing cable.

I don't think the electric company is going to come out and try to fine the SPECOPS soldier that's carrying the assault rifle. Try and stop them... :)
The amount of power they'd be stealing would be negligible anyhow...more power is lost due to inefficient transmission methods each second of the day than the soldier is going to be putting in their battery.

[simon275]

The airforce has obivously never been to Thailand where every man and his dog steals power.

http://planeteersinaction.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/crazy-power-lines.jpg

[x88x]

:eek: Yikes! I would hate to be the guy who has to figure that mess out.

[chaksq]

What, we can get electricity from power lines? What's next, will telephone services come from those telephone lines?

I agree though, stupid idea. This device seems rather specific in the power lines it gets power from. Thus making it useless in foreign countries, which would be where our troops might actually need it. Plus it seems like it would cause a good amount of damage in use, and who's going to pay for the damage. I'd like to hear power companies take on this little device.

[crenn]

The airforce has obivously never been to Thailand where every man and his dog steals power.
Ummm... that's not stealing power, that's normal for very very highly populated areas with no underground cabling, look up china one time.

[x88x]

Ummm... that's not stealing power, that's normal for very very highly populated areas with no underground cabling, look up china one time.

Especially Hong Kong City. :eek: Some crazy stuff going on there.

One example:
http://images.travelpod.com/users/danharriet/1.1237291200.power-and-telephone-wires-on-the-street.jpg

[Spawn-Inc]

Doh! Sorry, AC is one of my weak points. I just looked it up, and each phase is 120V, but the 240V lines in a standard house will draw on either two or three phases of the 3-phase signal normally sent into the house.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_phase

That would be what I was thinking of when I said 240V gets fed to houses sometimes. In other cases, sometimes however, single-phase power transmission is used, and in that case, two single-phase lines would need to be joined to feed a 240V line.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_phase

yup most houses (that i've been in, actually all the houses i've been in) have 3 lines coming to the house
line 1 - 110v-120v
line 2 - 110v-120v
Neutral.

then the main panel is grounded.

for normal 110-120v stuff they use line 1 or 2 + the neutral. for 240 (eg stove, dryer, ac) they use line 1 and 2 only.