WORK OF THE MONTH

Waipa Post, Volume 36, Issue 2147, 21 April 1928, Page 5

WORK OF THE MONTH

POWER 'BOARD'S' OPERATIONS. REPORTS OF INSPECTOR AND ACTING FOREMAN. The following reports were presented at Friday's meeting of the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board, and adopted:— INSPECTOR'S REPORT. During the period since last meeting I have inspected and tested the following installations and extensions : Lighting plants 9, other power plants 2, water pump motors 1, and electric ranges 5, making a total for the month of 17. This makes a total to date as follows: —Lighting plants, 1267, cowplants 436, other power plants 59, water pump motors 119, shearing plants 6 and electric ranges 82; grand total 1989. Also tested and inspected extensions on 15 lighting plants, representing 42 additional lights, 3 heating installations and alteraions to 1 lighting installation and 1 heating installation. Total number of extensions to date 638.

Inspected and tested 1 large griller. Total number of large grillers installed,to date 211.

Tested and inspected 7 water heaters. Total number of water heaters connected to date 389.

Tested and inspected 1 3 k.w radiator and 1 2 k.w. radiator. Total number of large radiators connected to date 22.

Installed 23 meters on new work; change 5 meters; repaired 10 meters; removed 6 meters; unpacked and indexed 75 new meters; tested 30 meters.

Disconnected 3 heating and I lighting installations. Reconnected 2 lighting and 6 heating installations.

Attended 9 consumers' faults. Repaired 1 electric griller and 1 radiator.

Re-inspected 5 lighting plants, 5 water pumps, 3 heating plants. Assembled and reconditioned Earth Testing- set. Made up Fire Underwriters returns for month. Inspected work to be done on all lines and carried out the duties of foreman during his absence on leave from 24th March to present date. ACTING FOREMAN'S REPORT. Poles.—The following poles were carted, fitted and erected:—4 26ft. dressed hardwood; 14 26ft. ironbark; 28" 30ft. ironbark; 13 35ft. ironbark; total 59. Twelve 35ft. poles on Kaipaki Swamp 11,000 volt line were dug out, straightened up and blocked. One pole near fence Pukeatua Road which was struck by car was dug out and straightened up. Pole testing.—All poles in the Te Awamutu Borough, Kaipaki and upper Ohaupo districts have been tested and reports filed for attention. Two truck loads of poles were received and unloaded during the month. All loose cross-arms on the Kaipaki section were tightened up and where necessary stays were fitted. Lines'.—-Twelve chains of single phase low tension 7/16 B. Cu. were erected on Te Rahu road to serve Mr Harre. Twenty-four chains of three phase and neutral low tension line 7/16 B. Cu. were erected to serve Mr Shaw's stove at Paterangi and the old light line was removed. Twelve chains of 3 phase line running to Rennie's stove, tapped off Hairini, was doubled to suit extra load. Fourteen and a half chains of three phase no. 7/16 B. Cu. and five chains of three phase No. 8 ] B. Cu. were erected on road at Te Kawa to serve Mrs Scholes house and 'stove. :

An insulated crossing was made over the P. and T. lines at the Arapuni Road corner, Pukeatua, with one and a half spans of 7/16 V.I.R. three phase, and the wjre and temporary guard were removed. Two road 3SOO volt earthing guards were erected on the Pukeatua-Ara-puni Road. One 3300 volt air break switch was fitted on the lower end of Pukeatua 3300 volt line. One 3300 Volt AjB.S. in store was repaired. All churches and Public Hall pole fuses in, the Borough were changed during the month. Two broken 3300 volt insulated lines on St. Ledgers Road, Kihikihi, were repaired. The line ends did not touch the ground and the cause of the breaks was due, to the poles at each end moving outwards with the strain of heavy wires. This will receive further attention later. One service on Taylors' Hill circuit was dismantled and re-erected while the owner removed some trees. . The following lines have been patrolled:— Kaipaki 3300 volt and low tension; Pukeatua to Arapuni 3300 volt and low tension; Ohaupo Swamp 11,000 volt line; Te Kawa Swamp 11,000 volt line; Te Kawa Quarry 11,000 volt line; Te Kawa lines, Te Mawhai circuit and Ranby's Swamp Ohaupo. Street lighting: Five street lamps in Ohaupo, five at Kihikihi, and two in the Borough have been renewed. A nunibr of the borough street lamps and shades etc., have been cleaned and painted where rust is showing. An attempt will be made to complete the cleaning and painting of all street lamp fixtures during the next month. The wiring has been run to the Fire Brigade Station for the new light which will be completed when fittings arrive. Community lighting.—The community lighting switches were reset and eight lamp's renewed. All the community lighting shades were cleaned Nine new community lights were donneeted and put in comission durnig the month bem«v Power Beard Offices 2, Salter & Co. 1, E. C. Day 1, Holjnes Bros, (new garage) 5. Four extra Iservice lines were run. to connect these. . Service Lines.—Five single phase house services, two three phase motor services, Six three phase stove services and one single phase pump motor service were erected. Two services were altered to suited P. & T. line alterations and three services for community lights. Consumers' installation faults.— Five faults of the above nature received attention. Line troubles.— Twenty-two transformer fuses and twenty-two pole fuses were renewed. Seven services

requiring attention were made good. The 11,000 volt line to Paterangi and Ohaupo was cut out on the 6th of April between 6.47 p.m. and 7.12 p.m., being 25 minutes, for immediate repairs to an 11,000 volt crossarm which owing to the sap on the pole giving way, had allowed the arm to swing round in a dangerous manner. On the 31st March at B.iq a.m. the' southern 11,000 volt line tripped at the sub-station and brought out the main circuit breaker isolating the whole area for about 15 minutes. The breakers were replaced and held in; the cause of the breakers coming out must have cleared itiself immediately as no further trouble has been experienced on that feeder. At 3.7 p.m. on the afternoon of the 31st of March the northern 11,000 feeder came out but replaced ail right. I had this line patrolled by one faultman and severe arcing on the arcing horn at the Paterangi Substation ,was found due to a bird or some obstruction lodging between the gaps and temporarily earthing the line.

Owing to shortage of water at Hora Hora the Public Works Department dronped parts of our load on the 14th April between 5.53 p.m. and 6.4 p.m. (11 minutes). Reconnections and dis'coiij ections. —Six services were disconnected and five .reconnected during the month. The New Zealand Dairy Co. were disconnected at midnight on the 31st March and the. 11,000 volt Air-break Switch was locked in the off position. Stock.—Eight 3300 volt road earthing guards have been made up ready for installation on certain lines.

One 11,000 volt fuse stick and box has been completed and fitted to No. 1 truck. Earthing; sticks have been repaired. Crossarms have been cut and bored for use. Sub-station relief .—One man relieved the sub-station operator on the 17th and 18h traMhc andohm.sT wl 17th and 18th of March.

Transport.—The transport has covered approximately 2279 miles during the month. One single phase transformer was erected to feed Mrs Ennion's hous? on the upper Ohaupo circuit. One set of three single phase transformers on 2 C circuit Kaipaki vers* dismantled while the nole and structure were changed and were then erected on the new structure. The yard, store, garage and workshop have been cleaned and new metaT has been laid on the yard .and the drive.