What is this thingy?

[DonTom]

I often do a little hike close to the RV just before dinner time. I noticed this thingy right at the entrance to this place and I could not figure out what it is.

Anybody here know?

One wire going underground to or from it:

Has a label, but I could not find out what it is in a search:

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[Tom]

Based on the diagrams on the label, it looks like a center tapped transformer. Or, more correctly, an adjustable tap transformer aka tap changer.

 

[DonTom]

Based on the diagrams on the label, it looks like a center tapped transformer. Or, more correctly, an adjustable tap transformer aka tap changer.

But my main curiosity are those thingies on top. And there is no electricity here for anything, unless there is something electric in the locked building on the opposite side of the john which isn't that far from the transformer thingy. You can see the building in the photo just above the label photo, across the roads on the far left.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[Lou Schneider]

I often do a little hike close to the RV just before dinner time. I noticed this thingy right at the entrance to this place and I could not figure out what it is.

Anybody here know?

View attachment 2446048View attachment 2446050View attachment 2446051

One wire going underground to or from it:
View attachment 2446052View attachment 2446053View attachment 2446054

Has a label, but I could not find out what it is in a search:
View attachment 2446055



-Don- Sac Pass, NV

Single wire power transformer with a standard 120/240 3 wire output. The transformer frame and the earth itself is the high voltage return. Used to be fairly common in rural areas where the power company was willing to live with some power loss on the return path to avoid the expense of having to run a neutral conductor. If that pole is as short as it appears it's a good thing it's out of service - I'd hate to have a 25kv or 14kv primary wire that close to the ground.

 

[DonTom]

Single wire power transformer. The earth is the neutral return.

What are the thigies on top?

And what could it all be used for in a place with no electricity (AFAIK),

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[Lou Schneider]

What are the thigies on top?

And what could it all be used for in a place with no electricity (AFAIK),

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

Supports for high voltage supply wires. Looks like the wires were cut and the pole was transplanted from another location since only one of the former 3 wires is used. My guess is the project was abandoned before grid power got there.

 

[DonTom]

Not much since there aren't any wires running to it. The cut off wires suggest there was electricity at one time.

OIC. I think you figured it out. Perhaps it was used at one time and there were HV wires on top that were cut. That would explain the insulators.

Now that I have an idea what it is, I will look at it again tomorrow and see if I can figure out a bit more.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[John From Detroit]

A voltage correcting isolation transformer is my "Guess" IT can transform either to or from about 120 volts to 120 volts or 240 volt split phase or the other way around.

An early version of the autoformer (Manual not auto)

 

[triplethreat]

A voltage correcting isolation transformer is my "Guess" IT can transform either to or from about 120 volts to 120 volts or 240 volt split phase or the other way around.

An early version of the autoformer (Manual not auto)

The taps on that transformer are for the utility company to be able to provide the correct secondary voltage (120/240 VAC), based on the actual voltage for the primary side winding from the power source... as well as transformer losses. It allows them to "fine tune" if you will, depending on the actual primary voltage at a given location of installation. An example might be a transformer that is located close to the power source or substation, vs. one that may be many miles from the power source or substation....resulting in a different primary voltage because of line losses over distance.

 

[ddm502001]

Many times a Random Install Transformer is for Smoothing a unstable line voltage, Long Runs can lead to a Less than Stable Sine wave Frequency, can be detrimental to appliances and electronics. Essentially becomes a Capacitor.

 

[triplethreat]

Many times a Random Install Transformer is for Smoothing a unstable line voltage, Long Runs can lead to a Less than Stable Sine wave Frequency, can be detrimental to appliances and electronics. Essentially becomes a Capacitor.

But.......in the case of the above transformer, it's a completely moot point because......well, there are no primary lines connecting it to a grid anywhere.

 

[meierjn]

There may have been power there at one time and its been abandoned.

 

[DonTom]

There may have been power there at one time and its been abandoned.

Even it that were the case, I wonder what they used it for.

If used temporarily just to help build up this place, I would think it would be a lot cheaper to just bring a generator.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[DonTom]

There may have been power there at one time and its been abandoned.

But used for what? I doubt the RV sites as this is all free to use BLM land. No evidence of any other electricity at the RV sites or anywhere else here.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[triplethreat]

Many times a Random Install Transformer is for Smoothing a unstable line voltage, Long Runs can lead to a Less than Stable Sine wave Frequency, can be detrimental to appliances and electronics. Essentially becomes a Capacitor.

I have never heard of something like a pole mounted transformer (in the case of the above, a pretty small 15Kva transformer) being used to "smooth an unstable line voltage...and transformers cannot effect changes in line frequency.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

I'll bet it's one of those new wireless EV chargers.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[DonTom]

There are poles running through this place, but not near or in the direction of the transformer thingy. And the wires are VERY thin on the poles and they cannot handle more than a few amps. Notice the wires end on the right below--but NOT really, they are on the ground, broken so I was able to get a close look at the thin wires. 14 AWG perhaps. Certainly thinner than 10 gauge.

The three very thick cut wires on top of the transformer thingy are NOT pointed in direction of these poles which are around a quarter mile away. No evidence of other poles in the area.

This plate is next to the restroom, I have no idea what is under it:

Small solar thingies on the roof on each side of the restroom only go to the boxes below (see photo below this one for a clearer view):

These two boxes. Nothing on the other side of the wall, which is the rear of the restroom inside. Nothing electric in there. So what are these thingies which are ran by solar?

-Don- Sacramento Pass, NV

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Clearly those are government surveillance devices. You could take a peek under that hatch but consider it's a vault toilet. Anything that goes in comes out somewhere.

My guess for the panels is power for lights or maybe low volume fans.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[DonTom]

You could take a peek under that hatch but consider it's a vault toilet. Anything that goes in comes out somewhere.

Yeah, that was my thought also, but I am not going to find out.

My guess for the panels is power for lights or maybe low volume fans.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Nothing in there no lights or fans. At least none that I could see. Put perhaps that is correct, small LED lights to just give enough light, but not visible in the daytime when they are not lit.

It's dark here now but cold outside, so I am not going back there to find out. But that does make sense, Perhaps just enough light at night to use the john.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[triplethreat]

There are poles running through this place, but not near or in the direction of the transformer thingy. And the wires are VERY thin on the poles and they cannot handle more than a few amps. Notice the wires end on the right below--but NOT really, they are on the ground, broken so I was able to get a close look at the thin wires. 14 AWG perhaps. Certainly thinner than 10 gauge.

The three very thick cut wires on top of the transformer thingy are NOT pointed in direction of these poles which are around a quarter mile away. No evidence of other poles in the area.
View attachment 2446349

This plate is next to the restroom, I have no idea what is under it:
View attachment 2446350

Small solar thingies on the roof on each side of the restroom only go to the boxes below (see photo below this one for a clearer view):
View attachment 2446351

These two boxes. Nothing on the other side of the wall, which is the rear of the restroom inside. Nothing electric in there. So what are these thingies which are ran by solar?
View attachment 2446352

-Don- Sacramento Pass, NV

The wire doesn't need to be large. When you are dealing with roughly 25,000 volts and I'll assume a 14ga wire that should be able to carry 15 amps. Voltage x amps = Watts of power. So doing the math on those numbers (25,000 and 15), that is 375,000 Watts of power.....and that is on the primary side of the transformer. So if that transformer steps the voltage down to 120VAC, we divide that number into 375,000 watts and you get....3,125 amps available on the secondary side of the transformer......minus any losses in the transformer itself.