Announce The Vintage Computer Forum 1103

Dr. Richard E. Hawkins

The answer is simple - place the lines in concrete vaults, just as they are in the cities. Or, as an alternative, use very sturdy (and thick) pvc pipes.

I have seen fiberoptic lines buried only two feet deep many times. This usually happens in a hurry, along abandoned or condemned railroad rights of way. Then, after the tracks are cleared, and the land leveled, construction begins and no one knows where the lines are buried.

Everything should be mapped, and marked well on the surface. Nothing, which is intended for long term use should be done in haste.

It shouldn't be too difficult to enforce a few simple rules and create some standards. I think the time has come that we are going to have to go underground.

It was mentioned earlier that the cost of "copper" would be substantial, having to use a larger wire gauge underground. But not so.

We use copperweld now, which is steel plated with copper. The current travels on the outside of the wire and the steel is used for strength, hence the term "high tension line" (This is called the "Skin Effect").

Besides, if the wires are vaulted, and not in direct contact with the earth, the heat should dissipate the same way that it would in the air, except that it would have to be vented to the surface. At the same time, we would have to keep the vaults waterproof. We do this now by pressurizing the vaults with nitrogen gas.

How shall we accomplish ventilation in the case of long distance transmission lines?

-- No trees were end in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were highly agitated.