[Richard Stevenson]

Hi all, I recently phoned Gardiner to order a base cap  to cut my slx 47 down to a 35, only to be told I need to buy the correct insulated base  section( lots more money) for the slx 35 due to the risk of electocution. My question,  what power lines are you likely to hit with your pole. Tram lines are all I can think of.

[Llaaww]

Lucky you, getting them to answer the phone.  It took me three days to get somebody to talk to.

[Cookie]

The electricity supply for some older houses comes in from overhead. The wires may not be insulated and there is a risk of hitting these with longer poles. I have some houses like this on my round.

Very good advice from Gardiner IMO.

[Cookie]

Take a look at this:

http://www.windowcleaningmagazine.co.uk/we-had-the-reach-it-shock-now-listen-to-the-gardiner-shock%E2%80%A6/

[The Jester of Wibbly]

And you never know when some odd lightning strikes starts. 

[nathankaye]

We sell ourselves as being professional window cleaners but if we skip corners to safe a couple of quid then we're just cowboys in disguise 😂😂

Ild sooner be safer than sorry

[Shrek]

Take a look at this:

http://www.windowcleaningmagazine.co.uk/we-had-the-reach-it-shock-now-listen-to-the-gardiner-shock%E2%80%A6/

What a stupid question- ‘did you replace Adams pole?’ 

[matthewprice]

Guy here hit an overhead cable , 3 phase .had internal burns to to organs .doctor on call didn’t hold out much hope .scottish hydro guy still can’t believe he lived .might have been the base end that saved his life .i think I would spend the extra

[Splash & dash]

All seams a bit strange to me if the pole is dry then you might not get a shock with an insulated handle , but as we all know it’s not unusual to have water running down the pole to your hands especially when doing gfs cleans using the pole upside down no insulated handle will give protection then as the water will conduct the electricity down to you doesn’t mater what the pole is made of water conducts electricity and you will get a shock , I think the guy was very lucky not to be hurt , you don’t neeed to have any contact with the electrical supply to get a shock firefighters have been electrocuted by using a fire hose under power cables and the power has gone down the mist vapour to them smoke will also do the same thing in conducting electricity as that to is a carbon based item

[the king]

my friend many years ago hit 4 power lines with a double alli ladder it blow holes in the ladder but he was fine  i dont no how walked away with out geting a shock ?

[Spruce]

All seams a bit strange to me if the pole is dry then you might not get a shock with an insulated handle , but as we all know it’s not unusual to have water running down the pole to your hands especially when doing gfs cleans using the pole upside down no insulated handle will give protection then as the water will conduct the electricity down to you doesn’t mater what the pole is made of water conducts electricity and you will get a shock , I think the guy was very lucky not to be hurt , you don’t neeed to have any contact with the electrical supply to get a shock firefighters have been electrocuted by using a fire hose under power cables and the power has gone down the mist vapour to them smoke will also do the same thing in conducting electricity as that to is a carbon based item

Someone recently pointed out that pure water doesn't conduct electricity. Your tds meter seems to prove this to be true.

[kiral1404]

Pure water itself isn't a conductor, think of distilled water in older car batteries.
Not sure what the base pole of slx are made from.  If it's glass fiber it's not a conductor if it's carbon fiber if us.
Years ago poles were all glass fiber, but guess carbon are cheaper to produce and stronger.

Regarding overhead lines
In an average road with overhead lines the voltage is 415v 3 phase with 240/415v running into people's houses.
If you take a look at the road and see 3/4 or sometimes 5 separate wires then they would be uninsulated look greenish more than likely.
The wire from the mains to the house if they are not black plastic looking generally separate copper looking treat as uninsulated
Newer service cable should be insulated twisting cables (aerial bunched conductors) 240/415.

I've hopefully attached 3 photos that should help identify some of the different types of cable types and poles and voltages,  hopefully it makes sense.
 
Above all if in doubt treat as uninsulated  and wear appropriate PPE

[Spruce]

Pure water itself isn't a conductor, think of distilled water in older car batteries.
Not sure what the base pole of slx are made from.  If it's glass fiber it's not a conductor if it's carbon fiber if us.
Years ago poles were all glass fiber, but guess carbon are cheaper to produce and stronger.

Regarding overhead lines
In an average road with overhead lines the voltage is 415v 3 phase with 240/415v running into people's houses.
If you take a look at the road and see 3/4 or sometimes 5 separate wires then they would be uninsulated look greenish more than likely.
The wire from the mains to the house if they are not black plastic looking generally separate copper looking treat as uninsulated
Newer service cable should be insulated twisting cables (aerial bunched conductors) 240/415.

I've hopefully attached 3 photos that should help identify some of the different types of cable types and poles and voltages,  hopefully it makes sense.
 
Above all if in doubt treat as uninsulated  and wear appropriate PPE

The SLX has carbon fibre sections but the base section is also carbon fibre but with an outer layer of fiberglass as an insulation against electrical current. This is why they don't recommend one buying a longer pole and using it in a broken down version by removing sections. If one does this then they recommend the right base section is purchased and used.

.

[Splash & dash]

All seams a bit strange to me if the pole is dry then you might not get a shock with an insulated handle , but as we all know it’s not unusual to have water running down the pole to your hands especially when doing gfs cleans using the pole upside down no insulated handle will give protection then as the water will conduct the electricity down to you doesn’t mater what the pole is made of water conducts electricity and you will get a shock , I think the guy was very lucky not to be hurt , you don’t neeed to have any contact with the electrical supply to get a shock firefighters have been electrocuted by using a fire hose under power cables and the power has gone down the mist vapour to them smoke will also do the same thing in conducting electricity as that to is a carbon based item

Someone recently pointed out that pure water doesn't conduct electricity. Your tds meter seems to prove this to be true.

Intresting point that , but I wouldn’t want to put it to the test though 😂😂😂😂

[Michael Peterson]

Alex Gardiner is one of those people who when he says something it will be for a reason, he's built that reputation over years, if he says you need an insulated base section i wouldn't even question it or look it up, that's what you need

[richard groves]

Right, you can shoot me down all you like for this but I've used my supermax 40 for years now broken down to a 25 for most my work. Its set up tubeless and is a doddle to add or remove sections. Like you mentioned Richard , I just bought an additional end cap.
If, however, I were to be working anywhere where there was a risk to myself I would buy an additional insulated base section or maybe avoid the risk altogether by not even taking the job on.
But I live on south coast. There are no trams or overhead power lines down here. It would be a complete waste of my money and just isn't needed.
Of course Gardiners are going to say you need to buy a new insulated base section. Not only will they earn from it but they need to cover themselves in the event of an accident and keep up their good responsible reputation. Use some common sense , evaluate the risk  and decide for yourself.

[dazmond]

each to their own but id rather have the insulated base section on my poles thank you....

some of you really are skinflints when in comes to investing in gear for your business.......

[Perfect Windows]

Right, you can shoot me down all you like for this but I've used my supermax 40 for years now broken down to a 25 for most my work. Its set up tubeless and is a doddle to add or remove sections. Like you mentioned Richard , I just bought an additional end cap.
If, however, I were to be working anywhere where there was a risk to myself I would buy an additional insulated base section or maybe avoid the risk altogether by not even taking the job on.
But I live on south coast. There are no trams or overhead power lines down here. It would be a complete waste of my money and just isn't needed.
Of course Gardiners are going to say you need to buy a new insulated base section. Not only will they earn from it but they need to cover themselves in the event of an accident and keep up their good responsible reputation. Use some common sense , evaluate the risk  and decide for yourself.

Not going to shoot you down but do beware if you do any rural houses - properties out in the sticks often have overhead cables.

Vin

[richard groves]

Right, you can shoot me down all you like for this but I've used my supermax 40 for years now broken down to a 25 for most my work. Its set up tubeless and is a doddle to add or remove sections. Like you mentioned Richard , I just bought an additional end cap.
If, however, I were to be working anywhere where there was a risk to myself I would buy an additional insulated base section or maybe avoid the risk altogether by not even taking the job on.
But I live on south coast. There are no trams or overhead power lines down here. It would be a complete waste of my money and just isn't needed.
Of course Gardiners are going to say you need to buy a new insulated base section. Not only will they earn from it but they need to cover themselves in the event of an accident and keep up their good responsible reputation. Use some common sense , evaluate the risk  and decide for yourself.

Not going to shoot you down but do beware if you do any rural houses - properties out in the sticks often have overhead cables.

Vin

Absolutely Vin, but I don't. I have only one what you would call rural and that's a new build without so much as even an overhead telephone line. Maybe Richard, the op, is the same hence my reply. Its really going to depend on where you are in the country and your round. Gardiners gave the right advice. I wouldn't have expected them to say otherwise - they have to cover themselves and their excellent reputation.

[nathankaye]

The silly thing about this, is we are not talking high amounts of money here for this purchase either.
Not even hundreds and were talking about safety of the operator and hes moaning at this.
Each to their own but come on!!