Manchester MOSI Insulator

[yv47r]

Hello All, last Sunday 29/7 I went along to the Manchester Musuem of Science and Industry (branded as MOSI now) for a Mini Makers Faire, where there were lots of exhibits from people making things and showing things from home-built robots, to 3D rep-rap printing, to geometric paper and card projects. I went to have a look and ask some questions about 3D printing for my model PL1b project I am trying to get restarted.

Anyway, whilst I was there I managed to persuade my girlfriend and brother to come with me into the Electricity Hall and show them something. Now my brother and girlfriend aren't exactly into pylons and think I am somewhat mad about my love for all of the pylons in the UK. And so I took them to show the 400kV insulator string that is suspended from a beam in the corner of one of the rooms.

And so here I am posing alongside the base of the insulator string ;D
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5846a.jpg

A couple of views from the upstairs gallery of the spark arrestor and attachment to the beam
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5839.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5840a.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5841a.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5842a.jpg

Back downstairs you can get right upto the actual conductor clamps that hold the quad bundle in place and secure them to the base of the insulator string itself. I think there were 20 insulator disks so this and the quad bundle is obviously from a L6 series tower
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5847a.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5850.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5851a.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5855a.jpg

Also included are the quad bundle spacers to give and idea of how large these are
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5848a.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5852.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5854a.jpg

Part of the arcing horn shown above in the first photo
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5849.jpg

Closeup of the conductor showing the outer and inner core
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5853.jpg

View from the arcing horn up the insulator string
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5856a.jpg

Close-up of the insulator disks - all made in 1992 I think
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5857.jpg

And finally the two information boards that accompany the insulator and the National Grid information video
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5858a.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2012%2007%20MOSI%20Manchester/DSCF5859a.jpg

Seeing one close up certainly makes you realise just how large they are, I guess the string from top to bottom is easily over 15 feet maybe more I couldn't measure it to be sure!!

Cheers Paul

[12voltCol]

A really good and informative set of photos. Well done, Paul. Thanks for sharing.

Colin.

[yv47r]

Aug 3, 2012 13:51:26 GMT -5 12voltCol said:

A really good and informative set of photos. Well done, Paul. Thanks for sharing.

Colin.

I've been meaning to get a good set of closeup photos for ages and just not got round to it despite MOSI being on my doorstep almost and passing it twice daily on my commute to/from Bolton - Stockport

Cheers Paul

[lesc]

And so here I am posing alongside the base of the insulator string ;D
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/....r/DSCF5846a.jpg

So that's what quad 0.4" ACSR looks like close up The mechanism used to attach the bundle to the insulator looks really complex.

Neat.

Les

[yv47r]

Aug 4, 2012 18:21:54 GMT -5 lesc said:

And so here I am posing alongside the base of the insulator string ;D
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/....r/DSCF5846a.jpg

So that's what quad 0.4" ACSR looks like close up The mechanism used to attach the bundle to the insulator looks really complex.

Neat.

Les

Thanks. Yep I thought it good to try and get a closeup of the actual conductor bundle as well. Camera didn't want to focus on it even on macro mode but got a reasonable result in end.

Cheers Paul

[zulumike]

Hi Fellas, I know that your posts were several years ago now but a I would like to mention the point that the 400kv demo set in the MOSI is not from the original introduction of the technology in 1963 using Doulton F42B setts with Bowthorpe yoke plates and clamps, but the next generation of articles from about 1971/2. zulumike

[yv47r]

Hi zulumike, I had guessed that the the 400kV set in my photos was from the 70s or 80s purely on the basis of the grey porcelain discs as opposed to the dark crimson red that was used before then.

Cheers Paul