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High Voltage Electricity

Power lines are very dangerous. They carry high voltage electricity that is even more powerful that the electricity that comes through your plugs at home. The electricity that comes out of the power station is very high voltage, which has to be reduced before it gets to our homes. In order to do this the electricity passes through transformers and substations. You have probably seen a substation in a street near your house. There are pictures of two types of substations in my book of wisdom. Substations are very dangerous places and you should never play near them or climb into them.

There are many different types of transformers and substations in our towns and countryside from small transformers mounted on wooden poles to larger transformers, which are enclosed by high fences for safety.

High voltage electricity is very dangerous. The force of electricity is measured in volts so the higher the voltage the bigger the force of electricity.

High voltage electricity is very dangerous because it is so powerful it can jump. Electricity is always looking for the shortest route towards the earth. If you get too close to a high voltage supply that shortest route could be you. If you fly kites or metallic balloons with long strings near high voltage electricity the electricity may jump to the kite, travel down the string and to the earth through you. This is an electric shock and it can cause severe burns and death.

Sometimes birds perch on high voltage power lines. They are not hurt when they do this because they have both feet on the line so the electricity cannot pass through them to the earth.

Some of the places you can find high voltage electricity include electricity substations, transformers, and electric railways (either in overhead wires or electrified rails). These places are very dangerous and carry the danger of death sign to warn people to keep away.

Next page: Danger of death

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