National Crane boom trucks construct high-voltage power line poles in the Texas panhandle.
National Crane boom trucks construct high-voltage power line poles in the Texas panhandle.
National Crane boom trucks construct high-voltage power line poles in the Texas panhandle.
Service Electric Company, (SEC), based in Chattanooga, Tenn., has enlisted a fleet of National Crane boom trucks to install 133 miles of high-voltage transmission lines in the Texas panhandle.
Chris Forsythe, western regional manager for SEC, said the versatility and dependability of boom trucks provide a more-efficient way to perform power line work than other methods used in the past.
“Previously, we would climb each pole and do the work by hand, which took much longer,” Forsythe said. “The design of boom trucks allows our crews versatility in multiple facets: lifting capacity, boom use and reach capabilities.”
National Crane models on site include the NBT45, NBT40 and the 1400H. The cranes are lifting structural components of the poles such as pole sections, arms and insulating hardware, as well as work baskets that lift company technicians to the poles’ tops.
The lifts that the National Cranes are performing on site range from 10,000 lbs to more than 27,000 lbs. The soft, sandy soil at the job site requires that pads be placed under the outriggers to give a wider footprint and to help disperse the load dynamics over a larger area.
The National Crane NBT40 has a 4o USt maximum capacity and is available with three optional boom lengths: 103 ft, 127 ft or 142 ft. It comes equipped with a 1,900 lb tailswing counterweight. The NBT45 is similar, but has a 45 USt capacity and a 161 ft boom, which makes it very compatible to those working in power line construction. The National Crane 1400H has a 33 USt capacity and a 127 ft, five-section boom, the longest in its class.
The use of boom trucks for power line work also adds maneuverability on the job site. Setup and teardown times are greatly reduced, allowing workers to move more quickly from pole to pole. Also, additional permitting is not usually required for highway travel, saving time and money.
“We don’t need additional highway permits. I can just get on the highway and move on down the road,” Forsythe said. “It’s been very efficient to use the boom truck cranes for our work.”
The Texas panhandle project began in spring and is expected to finish this winter.
Service Electric Company was founded in 1945 as an industrial-commercial electrical contractor specializing in the construction of electric transmission and distribution systems, power substations and switchyards. The company’s expert crews are equipped to build and maintain transmission lines up to 765kV and distribution lines up to 35 kV. SEC also performs rapid-response storm restoration and substation services.