User talk:2605:AD80:20:C35:F018:BA8B:E575:1A15

Addition to Hot Stick, History
After reading the material already posted on the "Hot Stick" I have decided to add onto it by talking about its history. The purpose of doing so will provide readers with a more in depth understanding of why this device was created. The intended audience for this subject is anyone wanting to know specific tools used in electrical related fields or jobs. Jtbradford2 (talk) 01:56, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

History
During the year 1916 in Atlanta, Georgia a tool that was known as an "electrical hook" was introduced. "This was essentially a spring-type clamp for tapping energized circuits. The electrical hook necessitated a hot  stick for installation purposed, and its use suggested additional tools which were soon developed for grounding and jumper service, applying parallel groove clamps, handling conductors, pulling cotter pins and manipulating tie wires.  There soon followed a hack saw, a hot line "cum-a-long," and saddles which could be attached to poles for supporting certain tools". The first accepted hot line tools were rated for 34kv but many linemen were hesitant to use the hot stick in such operations with this high of voltage. With fear from workers hot line maintenance was restricted to 22kv, and less. Linemen later began to realize that using hot line tools kept them at a safe distance from lines that were energized and slowly began to lose their fear of hot line work. Years later "restrictions were gradually relaxed until 1930 when several companies began permitting hot line operations to be performed on 66kv lines. This soon rose to 110kv until in the late Thirties the astonishing news was circulated that a West Coast line of 220kv had been successfully worked "hot" . During March of 1948 a milestone was passed "when O.G. Anderson and M.R. Parkin, Hot Line Tool Specialistsof the A.B. Chance Company, changed suspension insulators on the 287kv Hoover Dam,  Los Angeles Line, using tools specially designed for the job. The A.B. Chance Company is now (1954) building tools that will successfully handle the 345kv lines, presently under construction. At the present time there are few jobs that cannot be performed hot, and about the only limitation to this type of work results form the type of construction employed ".

Early hot sticks were made from wood and need to be lightweight to prevent fatigue on linemen. Sitka spruce is the most popular wood used in the construction of hot sticks due to its light weight, strength, and excellent electrical properties. Hot sticks are now generally made from high strength plastics with an aluminum alloy head. This makes for an even lighter hot stick. "Insulation characteristics and strength of the tools are of major importance, as the linemen's safety depends upon these things. The ease with which the tool handles, the relief from fatigue, the manner in which it operates when engaging a tie wire, strain clamp insulator, or conductor are also important considerations '.