It has been a long time since I updated my blog as there were many things to do and had too little time. Anyway I am back with some hot issues about Live Line Unit and it will be a pleasure to share it with you guys.
Before that, I would like to make a short briefing and highlight some important information that everyone should know. I believe this would an eye opener for whomever reads this blog.
Before that, I would like to make a short briefing and highlight some important information that everyone should know. I believe this would an eye opener for whomever reads this blog.
Live Line Unit was formed in 1998 in conjunctions with the training attended by our Tenaga Nasional staff in Canada. This objective to form this unit is to sustain the 500kV power supplied to the country, nonstop. As we all already know, if there is any maintenance work needs to be done, the power supply has to be switched OFF. It may cause power interruption to the country, therefore Live Line Unit has embarked on this new effort which is doing maintenance work without having to switch OFF the power supply. In other words, " the work goes on, so does the power ".
At the initial stage, Live Line Unit was on progress only with two teams. One based in Ipoh and the other in Kuala Lumpur. Due to the success and efficiency achieved by Live Line Unit , another team was formed in 2002 and later one more in 2006. Currently, Live Line Unit is built with 4 teams, with all the staff known as competent workers. With all the experiences and working skill they posses, its not a big issue for them to deal with the hazard of electricity.
At the initial stage, Live Line Unit was on progress only with two teams. One based in Ipoh and the other in Kuala Lumpur. Due to the success and efficiency achieved by Live Line Unit , another team was formed in 2002 and later one more in 2006. Currently, Live Line Unit is built with 4 teams, with all the staff known as competent workers. With all the experiences and working skill they posses, its not a big issue for them to deal with the hazard of electricity.
Now, Live Line Unit is spreading its wings to certain region to provide better and spontaneous service to all over the country. I am highlighting about Live Line Unit because not many out there know and aware of the existence of this unique unit. They are one of the reasons, our country astonishes everyone full of brightness and colourful.
Here are some attachments I would like to share with everyone during our work in Bukit Kepong, Segamat. The objective for us to be based there, was to replace the wooden cross arm on 132kV transmission line connecting from Chaah to Segamat. Bukit Kepong has its tragic history which I believe everyone knows in contribution of the film ' Peristiwa Bukit Kepong '.
It was a golden opportunity for us to visit the location of the tragic moment where our warriors sacrificed their lives reluctantly in the battle against the communist. The place was still eerie when we entered the Bukit Kepong police station. It was interesting and relaxing after a long day completing our job. Macam release tension la tu....
- candid moment -
- Live Life Unit -Team B -
- I wonder what would be the fuel capacity of the tank -
.jpg)
- Is that a mini TITANIC behind us? -.jpg)
- Posing habis! -
The second session of our 500kV refresher training was held in Ayer Tawar, Perak. We pass by this place on the way to Lumut. The roads are now wider compared to few years back and drivers will feel safe using this road in any purposes. This second session of training was more challenging because we were dealing with energized transmission line.
Our meeting point was in Ayer Tawar substation where we would carry out the morning briefing and discussion regarding the work and tasks which has to be done for the day. The red and white painted structure is the transmission tower and those gigantic pillars are the busbars. The power will pass by the busbars, breakers, isolators and transformers before it could be distributed to the customers and industrial zones.
Part of the training was to replace upper string insulators at this tower. This tower carries the voltage of 500kV from Ayer Tawar to Junjung.It is a ST type tower and the angle of the tower is 45 degrees. Photos displayed below shows the process of and progress of replacing the insulators.
Handlines being placed and measurements are taken to ensure the appropriate location to assemble the boom. Boom is an assembly of 4 poles which will play the role of being like crane to hoist up the craddle and lower it down.
The final part of assemblying the boom is mounting the Gin Boom. The length of this Gin Boom is 19 feet and it plays the important role of controlling the craddle.
Boom assembly is completed and final checks being done to ensure the Boom is safe.
Lineman in position and waiting for the next task which is mounting the ladder. The 24 feet ladder will be mounted parrallel with the conductor in order to send hotmen to approach the 'live' conductor.
Ladder mounting in progress. There are two ways for hotmen to approach the conductor. One is by assemblying ladder and the other is by rope access where only insulated ropes used to swing hotmen towards the conductors. In this case, we decided to assemble the ladder.
The ladder will be hoisted up in level with the conductors by using 2/3 rope blocks and two control ropes will be tied both sides of the ladder to swing the ladder to left and right.
Aerial view of Boom from the tower.
Here is the hotmen in his position to start the task of replacing the insulators.
The arching horn has to be removed in order to mount the yoke which will be attached with strain poles to remove the insulator socket from it's clevis.
The dismantled arching horn will be lowered to the ground and will be fixed upon completion of the task. 
Craddle been hoisted up and the process of changing insulators in progress.
The insulators has removed from the clevis and its ready to be replaced with the new insulators. The insulators prevent the current from flowing to the body of the tower and tests have to be done before replacing the insulators.
Victim being lowered to ground by using rope.
BOOM installing in progress.
Overall view at work site. 
Final checks before hoisting craddle. 
The process of changing insulators in progress.
Fortunately, with the help of the winch at the other land rover, we managed to pull the land rover out from the ditch. It was an interesting experience and challenging as well. The six hours off road journey ended at a hilltop and I was told if we follow the access further, we would reach Grik. I was suprised to know that we were at the Kedah-Perak border at that time. Unbelievable ah....
The wheels had been'rescued' after an hour being stuck in the ditch. Those wheels still look tough the journey in that challenging route. 
