What is this thingy?

[CharlesinGA]

Its a common 14400v to 120/240v transformer, 15kva, would run a couple of houses. Basically the same thing that is on a pole in my yard to run my shop (house has a different feed). Why its there, no telling.

Charles

 

[DonTom]

Its a common 14400v to 120/240v transformer, 15kva, would run a couple of houses. Basically the same thing that is on a pole in my yard to run my shop (house has a different feed). Why its there, no telling.

Charles

Yeah, I never saw one so close to the ground before where I could get a good look at them. Now I know what they look like.

What threw me off was the cut wires. I didn't realize that was all they were when I first looked,

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[OldWEB]

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.

Those wires in post #17 are signal wires, on collectable glass insulators, used typically on telephone or telegraph lines seen beside old railway lines.
Maybe there was a rail line and the transformer was powering the crossing arms controlling the paved hyway through there, while the conductor was talking to the control center over the signal wires....

 

[OldWEB]

Maybe with the lettering on the outide of the can "Box 6490" it is a mailbox, it sure would keep prying eyes away! Did you open the round hatch on it?

 

[DonTom]

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.

But look at the size of the wires on top of the transformer (primary) that were cut. No comparison. And I would expect thick wires just for the extra strength.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[DonTom]

Maybe with the lettering on the outide of the can "Box 6490" it is a mailbox, it sure would keep prying eyes away! Did you open the round hatch on it?

That is a possibility! Even makes some sense. A mailbox--but I wonder who it was for.

IRRC to cover/latch was locked. I will look again tomorrow and will be thinking if a mailbox was made out of the transformer. That sure would explain everything else that is NOT there.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[OldWEB]

Two covers, one looks locked, not the other.

 

[DonTom]

Two covers, one looks locked, not the other.

I will check better in the morning.

BTW, the location is perfect for a mailbox. Right next to Hwy 50. Without your message, I would have never guess that it was used for a mailbox!

Now I will see if I can prove it tomorrow.

If it is a mailbox, I wonder when the last time it was used. I assume it is not currently being used as nobody lives here. I am often the only person in this entire place. But once in a while a car comes --to fish in the pond. I hear that pond is stocked with fish, but I have yet to see anybody catch one there, but I am not often looking.

I think I will head for Great Basin National Park on Monday. Or perhaps an RV park first, in Baker, NV. No firm plans, as usual for me.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[Lou Schneider]

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.

The insulators on the poles are for telephone wires - no way would they withstand 25,000 volts, Multiple insulator crossarms are to add additional circuits if needed in the future.

 

[triplethreat]

Those wires in post #17 are signal wires, on collectable glass insulators, used typically on telephone or telegraph lines seen beside old railway lines.
Maybe there was a rail line and the transformer was powering the crossing arms controlling the paved hyway through there, while the conductor was talking to the control center over the signal wires....

I was NOT referring to the wires that are pictured in post #17. I was referring to the wires in the original post by Dom......the ones that are clearly cut off on both sides of the insulator and one having a fuse jack/tap attached to it, which is what is dropping down to feed the primary side bushing/insulator of the transformer.....or should I say "Was" feeding the transformer. And yes, you are probably correct on the wires you are referring to...likely telegraph or telephone lines from a long time ago.

 

[Oldgator73]

It’s an out of service distribution line. Why they left the pole and transformer there who knows. The bare wire snaking down the the pole from the transformer is the ground wire. It is coiled on the bottom of the pole prior to setting the pole. The wires on the insulators on the cross arm were jut cut because the service is no longer in use. Again, no clue as to why this po,e was left here. There were other poles before and after this one that were obviously removed.

 

[John From Detroit]

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

Today perhaps. 50 years ago No the transformer was cheaper plus it does not eat fuel. Just KWH and very little sound. HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

 

[CharlesinGA]

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

Batteries to run lights inside possibly.

That is a vault toilet as evidenced by the large vent stacks on the building. The diamond tread steel hatch in the slab is probably for the septic guy to pump out the tank underneath the building.

 

[DonTom]

Batteries to run lights inside possibly.

Yes, I just came back to take a 2nd look. I did NOT notice this yesterday, a little LED light on the rear wall of the john:

 

[DonTom]

Maybe with the lettering on the outide of the can "Box 6490" it is a mailbox, it sure would keep prying eyes away! Did you open the round hatch on it?

The entire mystery is now solved, thanks to your guess!

It is a currently used mailbox, and I now can prove it. This explains everything, such as why it is next to Hwy 50, and very close to the ground. It even has mail in it, and I know who it is for!

Here are some more photos with proof:

Low and next to Highway 50:

Mailbox number 6490: This is the unlocked side for mail to go in:

Letters inside mailbox I could see from the ingoing side (I could read the address which is on Osceola Road):

Mail to be picked up is locked:

Osceola Road is where I took a hike the last time I was here, last month up this unpaved road:

:

The mail is for the place shown here, a mile up the unpaved road:

The entire mystery is now solved!


-Don- Sacramento Pass, NV

 

[triplethreat]

Well, I have to say...that is one of the most unusual mailboxes I've ever seen. That would be a great mailbox to have for a retired Electrician like myself.

 

[DonTom]

Well, I have to say...that is one of the most unusual mailboxes I've ever seen. That would be a great mailbox to have for a retired Electrician like myself.

And a locking mailbox. I too could use a mailbox like that. I have had mail ripped off from both of my houses in the last year or so. But the Reno HOA Nazis probably won't like a mailbox like it. No HOA at my Auburn, CA home, but it uses a central mailbox (yeah, they too can get mail ripped off).

The mail would be difficult to get from the ingoing side, but not impossible. I doubt the mail thieves would bother trying.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[triplethreat]

And a locking mailbox. I too could use a mailbox like that. I have had mail ripped off from both of my houses in the last year or so. But the Reno HOA Nazis probably won't like a mailbox like it. No HOA at my Auburn, CA home, but it uses a central mailbox (yeah, they too can get mail ripped off).

The mail would be difficult to get from the ingoing side, but not impossible. I doubt the mail thieves would bother trying.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

We live in a rural area and we've had some mailbox theft issues too. I put an alarm on mine about 3 or 4 years ago with some Yolink brand equipment. Basically a door sensor that transmits a long range radio frequency to the receiver/hub in the house. That in turn, turns on a nightlight in the hallway that has a red bulb in it. It also sends me a text notification anytime the mailbox door opens and then closes.

 

[Oldgator73]

Wonder if he gets his electric bill in that box.

 

[CharlesinGA]

The owner of the mailbox probably was a lineman at one time.