POWER BREAKDOWN.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16800, 31 May 1926, Page 4

POWER BREAKDOWN.

CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. ENGINEER EXPLAINS. The electric power supply to Plains farmers was far from satisfactory last week, and at Thursday’s Valley Power Board meeting the engineer gave the following explanation: “During, this month there have been three severe gales, each lasting several days, one during the first few days of May, another from 10th. to 14th., and the last from 19th. to 21st. May. ' “The system in general was very free from main line trouble, during each of the above periods, except on the Hauraki Plains in the second period above-mentioned, when the main line supply to the Plains was cut off from 7.30 p.m. on the 12th. to 2.30 a.m. on the 13th., from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. on the 14th., and on the western side of the Piako River, from- 5 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. on the 14th. “The trouble on the 12th. inst. was finally found on the terminal insulators at McDuff’s corner, and these were eplaced. The trouble on the 14th. was found to be a defective switch at Hayward’s transformer. “The unfortunate part of the business was that tests appeared to indi- • : cate that the marine cable at Pipiroa was defective, and this was isolated. Actually, it was not defective, but .when it was cut off, the real fault had cleared itself for a time, but showed up later. It was still assumed that tho cable was defective, and on this account the duplicate supply that would normally have been given was not made available. Power might have been available for the Turua section earlier, from a further sectionalisation. This was an omission, and the necessary instructions have been given to the responsible men in case of similar future occurrences. “The proposed arrangements for the feeding of the Hauraki Plains area should prove quite satisfactory. However, when the new 50,000 volt line Is built between Bombay and Waikino, a Government feed point is to be established near Kerepeehi, and the Plains will be fed from there. The « present supply from Waikino is difficult on account of the distance, and depends practically on one feeder. Work has already been started in the 500,000-volt line across the Plains, and the Minister states that it is expected co be in operation by the end of the year.” Mr Willy pointed out that the breaks had caused considerable trouble and annoyance to the settlers on the Plains, and he hoped that no further trouble would occur. The report was adopted.