Big, noisy transformers

[Muse]

I've been bothered for quite some time by a hum in my neighborhood and just determined that it's caused by a couple of transformers almost 1/2 way up a telephone pole (below the first wires) a couple of doors down from my house. I notice this early in the morning and it's no doubt contributing to my early bird status. Today, for instance, I was up at 4:00 AM.

During the day, the ambient noises drown this out, but at 3:00 AM - 5:00 AM, it really bugs me. I live in Berkeley, CA, a small city in the midst of bigger cities. Ambient noise is inescapable in such a place, but I don't think I should have to put up with the constant hum of those transformers if they could be replaced with quieter ones. One's a bit bigger than the other, and they are about 2' x 2' and maybe 10" thick, just guessing, and they are in grey boxes and they say "Antec" on the front. Is there some best way I can approach putting some pressure on some agencies (PG&E, cable, municipality, whoever) to alleviate this problem? There are a few residences closer to this than I am, including an appartment complex. I can't believe that some of these residences don't have occupants who are also bothered by this.

I didn't always used to notice this (would this necessarily be a 24/7 thing?), but I think the noise has been getting louder.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[fs5]

I thought this thread was going to be about optimus prime.

 

[CFster]

Eh, don't worry about it until you grow a third nut.

 

[Ornery]

Contact your city councilman.

 

[mobobuff]

Whoa Antec makes grid transformer cases too?? What don't they do!?

Maybe try filing a complaint to someone... the township, or your energy/electric company. I've got one of those large gray transformers 20 feet from my house, quiet as the dickens.

 

[Wallydraigle]

When I was little and I would hear people talk about transformers, I thought that there were Transformer robots running around outside.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: mobobuff
Whoa Antec makes grid transformer cases too?? What don't they do!?

Maybe try filing a complaint to someone... the township, or your energy/electric company. I've got one of those large gray transformers 20 feet from my house, quiet as the dickens.

Ah, then they probably can replace the noisy one (or both) with quiet ones. I was thinking of getting on my bike and riding around the neighborhood to satisfy myself that these things aren't on every block, or if they are, that they aren't always so noisy. Thanks!

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Contact your city councilman.

Hey, Ornery, that is some link! How the devil did you come up with that? Thanks!!!

 

[Ornery]

I've been in touch with my own councilman and city law director about noise issues. They do respond, and have the means to get action.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: mobobuff
Whoa Antec makes grid transformer cases too?? What don't they do!?

Maybe try filing a complaint to someone... the township, or your energy/electric company. I've got one of those large gray transformers 20 feet from my house, quiet as the dickens.

But dig: That thing could be putting out a huge amount of electromagnetic radiation. I once called PG&E and had them send out an agent (for free) to measure that radiation in my girlfriend's apartment. She lived next door to a substation. It turned out the levels were threshhold dangerous (over 2 milligauss), in most of the apartment. Don't know if it was contributory, but her beloved cat died from feline lukemia.

 

[mobobuff]

Yeah, come to think of it... that one outside my house has been replaced before... one night when we came home to find the top of the pole on fire. The fire department came to put it out, and they notified Consumers Energy who then came out a few hours later and replaced the transformer, took them all of about an hour I think.

I wouldn't think radiation would be much of a problem... they're a good 30 feet in the air and SHOULD be properly shielded.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: mobobuff
Yeah, come to think of it... that one outside my house has been replaced before... one night when we came home to find the top of the pole on fire. The fire department came to put it out, and they notified Consumers Energy who then came out a few hours later and replaced the transformer, took them all of about an hour I think.

I wouldn't think radiation would be much of a problem... they're a good 30 feet in the air and SHOULD be properly shielded.

I wouldn't just assume that, personally. I have a detection device I bought when I was into researching the EMF issue. Plugs into a digital multimeter. These days there are sources everywhere. I don't obsess about it, but if it occurs to me, I sometimes measure. You could probably get your local electric company to send out an inspector for free who would make measurements, and with equipment very superior to what I have.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Ornery
I've been in touch with my own councilman and city law director about noise issues. They do respond, and have the means to get action.

I notice you are in Ohio. I've never been there, but I've met an amazing number of great people from Ohio who now live in my area. I concluded that there must be something a little special about Ohio. It may not be great (I don't know), but some great people from Ohio come to live here. I figured, therefore, that Ohio would go for Kerry (I was hoping). It wasn't to be. :roll: I live in the area of the USA that is the bluest of the blue, understand... I was looking at the voter roll tacked on the door of my polling place and I had to scan through probably over 100 voters before I spied a Republican.

Edit: Yeah, I know, I just hijacked my own thread. Forgiveness, please.....

 

[Ornery]

I live in a Democrat stronghold, but it went to Bush last week, which shocked me. Location and cost of living is great, but it's cold in the winter. Wife is ALWAYS bitching about the cold, and wants to move south. Western North Carolina would be our first choice, but there's not a whole lot of work for me there.

 

[mobobuff]

All of my trips to Ohio have been pleasant, ignoring that most of the trips are for hundreds of dollars worth of fireworks Though I did meet a very nice (and very hot) girl there many a summer ago... ahhh... Char.


Just like sunny days, that, we ignore because, we're all dumb and jaaaaaaaaaaaded. :music: *sigh*

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Contact your city councilman.

My city councilman is a 93 year-old woman. She just lost her reelection bid (she's been my councilwoman for a LONG time!!!) in large part due to a filing error made by one of her aids that resulted on her not being on the ballot. Her campaign was a write-in, therefore, and she lost. The new councilman probably won't be sworn in for some time, I don't know. Anyway, I wonder about the efficacy of going that route at this point. I figure odds are those transformers are for the power and I could try contacting my electric company first. If that doesn't work, I could try the political route (i.e. the councilman).

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: mobobuff
All of my trips to Ohio have been pleasant, ignoring that most of the trips are for hundreds of dollars worth of fireworks Though I did meet a very nice (and very hot) girl there many a summer ago... ahhh... Char.


Just like sunny days, that, we ignore because, we're all dumb and jaaaaaaaaaaaded. :music: *sigh*

Yes, I don't always appreciate the sunny weather, and we get a fair amount of that where I live. However, the sunny days in September and October here are often so spectacularly wonderful that you feel great, no matter what you do... even if you stay indoors, they are so fine.

Work isn't too easy to find where I live, Ornery, but it is a great place to live in terms of accessibility of things you need, beautiful and interesting places to visit, diversity of the populace (you never know what language you will be hearing), open-minded attitudes of the populace, and probably most importantly the weather is by and large some of the very best anywhere.

Char: I LOVE fireworks! I also love very nice and hot girls!!! :laugh:

Edit: I keep meeting people around here who tell me they've been all over and they've concluded that this is the best place to live they've found.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Ornery
I live in a Democrat stronghold, but it went to Bush last week, which shocked me. Location and cost of living is great, but it's cold in the winter. Wife is ALWAYS bitching about the cold, and wants to move south. Western North Carolina would be our first choice, but there's not a whole lot of work for me there.

Hey, what's wrong with democrats?!

 

[IamElectro]

I would not hold my breath on a replacement. Chances are that the transformers noise level is still under what is considered a nuisance. Depending on the type of transfromer it is they can be quite expensive and utilites have a habit of not replacing these things until absolutely have to. You may have to live with it. Try your luck with your councilman.

 

[JulesMaximus]

All the electricity runs underground in my neighborhood. We have a big green box a few houses down from here but it doesn't hum.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

shoot the bottom of it. if you puncture it the oil will drain out and it will short out, then you'll get a shiny new one.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: IamElectro
I would not hold my breath on a replacement. Chances are that the transformers noise level is still under what is considered a nuisance. Depending on the type of transfromer it is they can be quite expensive and utilites have a habit of not replacing these things until absolutely have to. You may have to live with it. Try your luck with your councilman.

The problem's been getting noticeably worse, IMO. I think there's a good chance I can get action. I do live in a city that takes a lot of pride in being politically correct, and noise pollution is on the wrong side of that fence. I won't hold my "breath." I know that it's better to accept what you can't change than get bent out of shape. But I think this issue is just, and I can probably get justice. Also, I don't give up easily when it matters, and this does matter. Like I said, my councilman is 93 years old and a lame duck. I think I'll try my utility first.

 

[pac1085]

Doesnt noise indicate failure on small transformers?

Heh, I remember when one of those big green ones on the ground f'd up, you could hear it from 3 miles away...

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: Eli
Hey, what's wrong with democrats?!

Other than continually wanting to raise taxes to pay for endless lists of social programs, including Social Security, national health care, child care, welfare, and every other type of "entitlement" you can dream up... saddling us and businesses with reams of rules, regulations and bureaucracies and the tremendous added cost of compliance... uh, other than that, nothing!

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
shoot the bottom of it. if you puncture it the oil will drain out and it will short out, then you'll get a shiny new one.

Yup. This would be your best bet.... If you're a freaking moron. Yeah, let's just take a gun outside and start shooting at electrical equipment. Good choice.