What is this thing?

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mykl@lemmy.world

[SOLVED] Found on a telephone pole in GTA, Canada (lemmy.ca)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by glandrid@lemmy.ca to c/whatisthisthing@lemmy.world

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I assume it has something to do with grounding, but I've never seen this before, so I'm curious of its function and need on a particular pole.

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[–] jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works 40 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Not in use. I'm going to guess a lineman either hung it there or dropped it nearby and forgot about it.

Edit: Example of one in use

[–] CommissarVulpin@lemmy.world 28 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is what it should look like when installed:

And this is what it does when it blows, or when a lineman disconnects it:

[–] MysteryMeatbag@mander.xyz 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I learned about these when a snake climbed the utility pole and blew the fuse leading to our house. Charred snake bits everywhere.

[–] magnetosphere@fedia.io 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

“I’d like some Snake McNuggets. Extra crispy, please.”

[–] gws@programming.dev 2 points 1 month ago

Snakon Bits

[–] FaceDeer@fedia.io 10 points 2 months ago

Here's a video where electricians break down the fuse and how it's installed and operated in detail.

It is literally just a big fuse, there's a segment of wire inside that grey tube designed to melt if too much current is going through it. Here's video of one blowing.