Why is there so much spare wire on every 3rd post

[minikev]

I have often wondered how much money could be kept in the local electricity companies within all the councils in all the towns in Thailand by not leaving 5 to 10 metres of coiled up copper wire on just about every third post in Thailand.

Does anyone know of any good reason for doing so.

If youv'e never noticed you will now. Tons and tons of it left spare dangling all over every town in every province.

Why?

[george]

I guess what you see is fiber-optic lines. These needs to be coiled up.

[Crossy]

I think Big G. has it, the coils are telecoms rather than power wires. It's easier pre-make the fibre runs in a clean environment and to coil the excess than to re-fit the connections in the field.

[KhunBENQ]

George says it. Fibre-optic cables come in certain lenghts.

The "cable men" (helpers) are not capable/allowed to cut or join such cables.

Special equipment needed.

So they simply coil the remainder, obtaining a minimum bending radius which depends on the type of fibre.

The thin fibre cable going to our house has a min. radius of 120 mm (249 mm diameter).

The wires along the roads have a higher radius.

Seeing such coils near your place is a good sign.

Chance to get a fibre optic internet connection to your house.

Edited April 7, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[KhunBENQ]

For those who wonder what is this all about.

These "coils" are not power/copper lines:

[Crossy]

KhunBENQ searched Thailand long and hard to find such a neat example of a Thai utility pole

[minikev]

Thanks for the replies.

That was answered easily. I have wondered about this for a long time. I'll now be looking forward to seeing this close to my home as we are not seviced by cable internet yet.

[mikemac]

KhunBENQ searched Thailand long and hard to find such a neat example of a Thai utility pole

I was going to say that looks like one Photoshopped power pole if it is in Thailand !

Edited April 7, 2015 by mikemac

[recycler]

They keep some extra length too in case of repairs, it's not uncommon for truck drivers to forget their height when crossing the cables path.

[prk888]

useful replies as I was always convinced these guys were paid to string the new lines but not paid to remove the old ones.

[how241]

Thanks for the replies.

That was answered easily. I have wondered about this for a long time. I'll now be looking forward to seeing this close to my home as we are not seviced by cable internet yet.

+1...Good to know the answer finally.

[gerry123]

useful replies as I was always convinced these guys were paid to string the new lines but not paid to remove the old ones.

yes a possibility also take in consideration they will fall down on their own also theft is a big risk nothing to do with big coils i know but in the case of F O i will go for the sterile connection theory plus the lack of correct initial measuring techniques

[KhunBENQ]

KhunBENQ searched Thailand long and hard to find such a neat example of a Thai utility pole

I had to drive all the way down to Pattaya

Its on South Pattaya Road in front of Kasikorn Bank left of Tukcom.

And the original purpose of this photo session was to proof that everywhere isolated(!) power(!) lines run in arms reach.

(not to be seen in this zoom in)

In reality the next coil is 1.3 km from our house at some Isan rural road.

But not that spectacular

Edited April 7, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[gerry123]

Thanks for the replies.

That was answered easily. I have wondered about this for a long time. I'll now be looking forward to seeing this close to my home as we are not seviced by cable internet yet.

+1...Good to know the answer finally.

glad to hear your happy with the outcome just a point (a final answer) in LOS NOT POSSIBLE

[Daniel Ingalls]

And looking at all those wires coming from all directions, (OSHA) the American Occupational Safety Hazard Agency, would if had the power, shut down the whole country in a heart beat. I've never seen so many violations not just wiring, but plumbing,

structural integrity and the number of electrical outlets per room.

I am simply amazed we don't have numerous electrocutions daily reported on the news. They seem to be ignorant on grounding appliances, or the number of/ size of fuse boxes need for an average household. The height of steps on stairwells, also seem to be a problem. Yes this is definitely a third world country compared to rules and regulations of Britain, United States, and Australia. I guess building codes are not enforced or even approved, or is there such a thing?

Edited April 7, 2015 by Daniel Ingalls

[gerry123]

( I am simply amazed we don't have numerous electrocutions daily ) why? because it is so an every an hour occurrence that is no longer news its just one of the many

hazards encountered in LOS user beware is my motto it seems a few of these are being addressed but alas no real action

[opalred]

dont tell people in my area where there are

as when wires gets low to ground the cut and are sold for scrap and we have blackouts and phone loss

[gregdtx]

It could also be in case the wires get cut you have enough to rejoin the cable at the post instead of having a joint midway between the posts

[fred Kubasa]

Measure TWICE cut once ?

[gregdtx]

Ok sorry broken

[mikemac]

And looking at all those wires coming from all directions, (OSHA) the American Occupational Safety Hazard Agency, would if had the power, shut down the whole country in a heart beat. I've never seen so many violations not just wiring, but plumbing,

structural integrity and the number of electrical outlets per room.

I am simply amazed we don't have numerous electrocutions daily reported on the news. They seem to be ignorant on grounding appliances, or the number of/ size of fuse boxes need for an average household. The height of steps on stairwells, also seem to be a problem. Yes this is definitely a third world country compared to rules and regulations of Britain, United States, and Australia. I guess building codes are not enforced or even approved, or is there such a thing?

..............."Yes this is definitely a third world country compared to rules and regulations of Britain, United States, and Australia."..........................

Which i why I suspect a lot of foreigners prefer living in Thailand compared to their "first world" home countries. Some of us were fed up with the over-policing of safety regulations and road rules and decided to risk what is left of our lives in a country which is a bit more "free and easy".

Nobody likes to hear about people being injured or electrocuted but it will happen no matter where you live.

About 3 years ago I was lured back to the mining industry in Australia because of the mining boom and big money. Despite all the strict and anal safety rules there is always someone on leave due to a workplace injury.

I am surprised some people are brave enough to even visit Thailand for a short visit, let mind live there, considering all the dangers.

[Langsuan Man]

You know that they are not copper because if they were you would not see them

Copper wire lasts about 60 seconds in this country if not electrified or so high up that the "scrap" dealers can't get to it

[carter1882]

I thought everybody knew...there is a lot of spare in Thailand.

[PEAP]

I do not think this is possible with the current expertise of our local "Expert" installers?

Fiber Optic Splicing Guide

What is Fiber Optic Splicing

Knowledge of fiber optic splicing methods is vital to any company or fiber optic technician involved in Telecommunications or LAN and networking projects.

Simply put, fiber optic splicing involves joining two fiber optic cables together. The other, more common, method of joining fibers is called termination or connectorization. Fiber splicing typically results in lower light loss and back reflection than termination making it the preferred method when the cable runs are too long for a single length of fiber or when joining two different types of cable together, such as a 48-fiber cable to four 12-fiber cables. Splicing is also used to restore fiber optic cables when a buried cable is accidentally severed.

There are two methods of fiber optic splicing, fusion splicing & mechanical splicing. If you are just beginning to splice fiber, you might want to look at your long-term goals in this field in order to chose which technique best fits your economic and performance objectives.

Mechanical Splicing vs. Fusion Splicing

Mechanical Splicing:

Mechanical splices are simply alignment devices, designed to

hold the two fiber ends in a precisely aligned position thus enabling light to pass from one fiber into the other. (Typical loss: 0.3 dB)

Fusion Splicing:

In fusion splicing a machine is used to precisely align the two fiber ends then the glass ends are "fused" or "welded" together using some type of heat or electric arc. This produces a continuous connection between the fibers enabling very low loss light transmission. (Typical loss: 0.1 dB)

Which method is better?

The typical reason for choosing one method over the other is economics. Mechanical splicing has a low initial investment ($1,000 - $2,000) but costs more per splice ($12-$40 each). While the cost per splice for fusion splicing is lower ($0.50 - $1.50 each), the initial investment is much higher ($15,000 - $50,000 depending on the accuracy and features of the fusion splicing machine being purchased). The more precise you need the alignment (better alignment results in lower loss) the more you pay for the machine.

As for the performance of each splicing method, the decision is often based on what industry you are working in. Fusion splicing produces lower loss and less back reflection than mechanical splicing because the resulting fusion splice points are almost seamless. Fusion splices are used primarily with single mode fiber where as Mechanical splices work with both single and multi mode fiber.

Many Telecommunications and CATV companies invest in fusion splicing for their long haul singlemode networks, but will still use mechanical splicing for shorter, local cable runs. Since analog video signals require minimal reflection for optimal performance, fusion splicing is preferred for this application as well. The LAN industry has the choice of either method, as signal loss and reflection are minor concerns for most LAN applications.

Fusion Splicing Method

As mentioned previously, fusion splicing is a junction of two or more optical fibers that have been permanently affixed by welding them together by an electronic arc.

Four basic steps to completing a proper fusion splice:

Step 1: Preparing the fiber - Strip the protective coatings, jackets, tubes, strength members, etc. leaving only the bare fiber showing. The main concern here is cleanliness.

Step 2: Cleave the fiber - Using a good fiber cleaver here is essential to a successful fusion splice. The cleaved end must be mirror-smooth and perpendicular to the fiber axis to obtain a proper splice. NOTE: The cleaver does not cut the fiber! It merely nicks the fiber and then pulls or flexes it to cause a clean break. The goal is to produce a cleaved end that is as perfectly perpendicular as possible. That is why a good cleaver for fusion splicing can often cost $1,000 to $3,000. These cleavers can consistently produce a cleave angle of 0.5 degree or less.

Step 3: Fuse the fiber - There are two steps within this step, alignment and heating. Alignment can be manual or automatic depending on what equipment you have. The higher priced equipment you use, the more accurate the alignment becomes. Once properly aligned the fusion splicer unit then uses an electrical arc to melt the fibers, permanently welding the two fiber ends together.

Step 4: Protect the fiber - Protecting the fiber from bending and tensile forces will ensure the splice not break during normal handling. A typical fusion splice has a tensile strength between 0.5 and 1.5 lbs and will not break during normal handling but it still requires protection from excessive bending and pulling forces. Using heat shrink tubing, silicone gel and/or mechanical crimp protectors will keep the splice protected from outside elements and breakage.

Mechanical Splicing Method

Mechanical splicing is an optical junction where the fibers are precisely aligned and held in place by a self-contained assembly, not a permanent bond. This method aligns the two fiber ends to a common centerline, aligning their cores so the light can pass from one fiber to another.

Four steps to performing a mechanical splice:

Step 1: Preparing the fiber - Strip the protective coatings, jackets, tubes, strength members, etc. leaving only the bare fiber showing. The main concern here is cleanliness.

Step 2: Cleave the fiber - The process is identical to the cleaving for fusion splicing but the cleave precision is not as critical.

Step 3: Mechanically join the fibers - There is no heat used in this method. Simply position the fiber ends together inside the mechanical splice unit. The index matching gel inside the mechanical splice apparatus will help couple the light from one fiber end to the other. Older apparatus will have an epoxy rather than the index matching gel holding the cores together.

Step 4: Protect the fiber - the completed mechanical splice provides its own protection for the splice.

Tips for Better Splices:

1. Thoroughly and frequently clean your splicing tools. When working with fiber, keep in mind that particles not visible to the naked eye could cause tremendous problems when working with fiber optics. "Excessive" cleaning of your fiber and tools will save you time and money down the road.

2. Properly maintain and operate your cleaver. The cleaver is your most valuable tool in fiber splicing. Within mechanical splicing you need the proper angle to insure proper end faces or too much light escaping into the air gaps between the two fibers will occur. The index matching gel will eliminate most of the light escape but cannot overcome a low quality cleave. You should expect to spend around $200 to $1,000 for a good quality cleaver suitable for mechanical splicing.

For Fusion splicing, you need an even more precise cleaver to achieve the exceptional low loss (0.05 dB and less). If you have a poor cleave the fiber ends might not melt together properly causing light loss and high reflection problems. Expect to pay $1,000 to $4,000 for a good cleaver to handle the precision required for fusion splicing. Maintaining your cleaver by following manufacturer instructions for cleaning as well as using the tool properly will provide you with a long lasting piece of equipment and ensuring the job is done right the first time.

3. Fusion parameters must be adjusted minimally and methodically (fusion splicing only). If you start changing the fusion parameters on the splicer as soon as there is a hint of a problem you might lose your desired setting. Dirty equipment should be your first check and them continue with the parameters. Fusion time and fusion current are the two key factors for splicing. Different variables of these two factors can produce the same splice results. High time and low current result in the same outcome as high current and low time. Make sure to change one variable at a time and keep checking until you have found the right fusion parameters for your fiber type.

[minikev]

I'm with mikemac I would rather take my chances here than UK for example. Nothing can be acheived over there without mountains of health and safety paperwork.

Also I couldn't help thinking if these were copper cables on every other post they wouldn't last one night in England before the lads had chopped and burned off the plastic for a weigh in at the local scrap yard.

[Thongkorn]

I'm with mikemac I would rather take my chances here than UK for example. Nothing can be acheived over there without mountains of health and safety paperwork.

Also I couldn't help thinking if these were copper cables on every other post they wouldn't last one night in England before the lads had chopped and burned off the plastic for a weigh in at the local scrap yard.

The health and safety has saved 1000s of lives, yes over the top, but it works, Thailand does not even know how many people die from stupid actions at work or else where. They don't use copper cables anymore, they are fazing them out. and if if you take scrap to the scrap yard it has to be paid into a Bank account now. that way they can trace where the money has gone and for what for,

Edited April 8, 2015 by Thongkorn

[opalred]

if not copper or other metals what do you use so they wont scrap smoke signals and candles again