Can Working Under Power Lines Charge Up Old Survey Equipment?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around an incident involving survey equipment and the effects of working under power lines. Participants share personal anecdotes related to surveying, humor, and the unexpected consequences of electrical charges affecting old equipment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Humorous anecdotes

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes an experience where an old Sokkia survey instrument picked up an electrical charge while working under power lines, resulting in repeated shocks to their eyebrow.
  • Another participant shares a humorous memory of a surveyor's monument located precariously close to a cliff's edge, highlighting the risks associated with surveying.
  • Several participants engage in light-hearted banter about the original poster's experience, with comments on the nature of pranks and the resilience of the individual involved.
  • There are repeated affirmations of camaraderie among participants, with jokes about the original poster's misfortune and playful suggestions of revenge against the prankster.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the humorous nature of the original incident and share in the light-hearted teasing. However, there is no consensus on the appropriateness of pranks or the implications of the original poster's experience.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes elements of personal storytelling and humor, with no technical resolution or in-depth analysis of the electrical phenomena involved.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in surveying, electrical safety, or those who enjoy humorous anecdotes related to workplace experiences may find this discussion engaging.

tribdog
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I must have sucker written all over my face. Today when I went to work the plan was to have me using the GPS while the guy I work with used the robotic to check some construction that was taking place right underneath some power lines. After we started working he called me on the phone and said the robotic wasn't working and he needed my help. I went down there and saw that he had an old Sokkia set up. He needed me to run the gun while he held the prism rod. I said sure, no problem, I went to the gun and as I leaned forward ZAP a spark shocked me in the eyebrow. I laughed and rubbed the spot then leaned forward ZAP right in the eyebrow. The old Sokkia's have a metal case and I guess being underneath those big powerlines causes it to pick up a charge. Everytime I leaned forward I got zapped. I finally took a piece of electrical tape and taped my eyebrow. Then forgot it was still there. I went to Circle K and got a drink with a Groucho Marx eyebrow.
PS The guy I work with is pretty good at keeping a straight face. He didn't tell me til later that there was nothing wrong with the robotic and he had been planning to zap my eye for about 3 weeks.
 
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:smile: I :smile: just :smile: saw :smile: this :smile: post. :smile:

This reminded me of something else. I was in Oregon quite a few years ago for a conference. A group of us took an extra couple days to drive out to the coast and sightsee along the way. I have no idea where we were, but we found a scenic spot to park overlooking a beach (we headed down to the beach afterward). Over in the corner of the parking area was a monument in the shape of a surveyor's transit, with a plaque on it "in memory of..." and someone's name. What struck me as funny is how very close this monument was to the cliff's edge. At the time I was dating a civil engineer, so I took a picture of it and sent it to him with the added caption, "Just one more step back." :biggrin:
 
tribdog said:
I must have sucker written all over my face. Today when I went to work the plan was to have me using the GPS while the guy I work with used the robotic to check some construction that was taking place right underneath some power lines. After we started working he called me on the phone and said the robotic wasn't working and he needed my help. I went down there and saw that he had an old Sokkia set up. He needed me to run the gun while he held the prism rod. I said sure, no problem, I went to the gun and as I leaned forward ZAP a spark shocked me in the eyebrow. I laughed and rubbed the spot then leaned forward ZAP right in the eyebrow. The old Sokkia's have a metal case and I guess being underneath those big powerlines causes it to pick up a charge. Everytime I leaned forward I got zapped. I finally took a piece of electrical tape and taped my eyebrow. Then forgot it was still there. I went to Circle K and got a drink with a Groucho Marx eyebrow.
PS The guy I work with is pretty good at keeping a straight face. He didn't tell me til later that there was nothing wrong with the robotic and he had been planning to zap my eye for about 3 weeks.

:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

PLEASE DON'T THROW TRIBDOG INTO THE VOLCANO!

:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

I really, really really love these periodic hysterical total-belly-laughs-almost-to-the-point-of-pain that he brings to my life! Don't worry, trib! I won't let them get you! I have a TURBO RV, three full tanks of gas and a lead foot! :biggrin: :devil: :biggrin:
 
Tsunami said:
PLEASE DON'T THROW TRIBDOG INTO THE VOLCANO!
Hasn't he proven himself to be more or less indestructible at this point? I mean sure he gets dinged up a bit, but he always seems to get scraped off the ceiling, or retrieved from the mine shaft, or get all his limbs reattached in time for his next post. You know, sort of like Wile E. Coyote... Just try dropping an anvil on him, you'll see...
:-p :-p :-p
 
plover said:
Hasn't he proven himself to be more or less indestructible at this point? I mean sure he gets dinged up a bit, but he always seems to get scraped off the ceiling, or retrieved from the mine shaft, or get all his limbs reattached in time for his next post. You know, sort of like Wile E. Coyote... Just try dropping an anvil on him, you'll see...
:-p :-p :-p

Oooh, can I? Can I? :smile: My favorite part is that they let him walk around with tape on his eyebrow all day! :smile:
 
Ha what a loser for falling for such a trick!
 
Andy said:
Ha what a loser for falling for such a trick!


HEY! Tribdog may be a loser, but he's our loser!
 
I'm such a jerk. That one comment and I'm going to be a dick to Andy for the rest of my life. I wish I didn't hold grudges, or make snap decisions.
 
Its ok tribdog, you want us to slash his tires real nice-like for ya?
 
  • #10
I was being a dick before you where born.
 

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