Substation
Apprentice
Substation
What would you do ?
Bonus round
100
Why do experienced substation workers statistically suffer more serious injuries than new apprentices?
The biggest factor.
Experienced workers:
Have done the task hundreds of times
Have done it safely 99% of the time
Start to associate the task with success, not danger
100
What document shows how all substation equipment is electrically connected?
The one-line diagram.
100
if i use a insulated extendo and have a conductive attachment and use it in between a open G switch will it flash over ?
YES — it absolutely can flash over.
Insulated tools do NOT guarantee protection inside an open G-switch.
If you wouldn’t stick your hand there, don’t stick a tool there.
“Insulation protects the worker — clearances protect the system.”
100
If you are up in the air and a co-worker is gassy what would you do ?
A. Log it as a near-miss to my sinuses
B. Request an immediate controlled descent due to air-quality concerns
C. Let it rip disregarding where the air is blowing
D. Blame it someones truck in regen
C. gas them out
200
With a breaker and half scheme what would happen if the mid breaker fails to open during a fault ?
Shared breaker, shared outage
Both the bus breakers will open
200
What equipment is designed to interrupt heavy fault current?
A circuit breaker
200
What happens if batteries fail but the battery charger is still operations ?
If the station batteries fail but the battery charger is still operating, the DC system may stay energized, but it becomes unstable and unreliable. You lose your backup capability.
200
You are behind a apprentice in a rickety bucket truck on a bumpy road, what would you do ?
A. slow it down, and wait it out because were ending up at the same place.
B. Redline it dusting the apprentice while flicking the bird.
C. reach 88 mph to activate the flux capacitor and initiate time travel.
B.
200
Who likes to turn pads into bananas ?
300
Why would a NLTC step down transformer have its ability to tap on the highside instead of the lowside?
NLTC taps are on the high-voltage side because the current is lower, which makes the tap changer smaller, and more reliable.
300
What are A & B. contacts
breaker control circuits, “A” and “B” contacts are auxiliary contacts that change state based on the position of the breaker. They are critical for indication, interlocking, and protection logic.
A Contacts (52a)
Definition:
- Closed when the breaker is CLOSED
- Open when the breaker is OPEN
B Contacts (52b)
Definition:
Closed when the breaker is OPEN
Open when the breaker is CLOSED
300
How does a ABB RMAG operate it's open and close positions.
300
A journeyman messes up your grease brush. what would you do ?
A. Politely say, "thank you may i have another"
B. Hold a moment of silence for the brush.
C. "accidentally" drop their grease from the manlift
C. DUH
300
There was a fail to operate where is the journeyman at ?
400
On a gas detector gauge what limit will alarm will be shown ?
200cc
400
Fault pressure relay & the test port cap is secured
400
What is the proper PPE that should be worn when troubleshooting / working on a throwover ?
Minimum PPE:
- Arc-rated clothing appropriate for the arc flash boundary and incident energy level
- Arc-rated face shield (typically 8-12 cal/cm²)
- Arc-rated balaclava/hood for full head and neck protection
- Voltage-rated gloves with leather protectors (class determined by system voltage)
- Safety glasses (underneath face shield)
- Leather work boots (steel/composite toe)
- Hard hat with arc-rated chin strap
400
You are putting together a switch and we discussed not to tighten anything until we close the switch, but the apprentice tightened everything anyway. What would you do ?
A. say "Did you not listen to the tailboard"
B. Ask can we take back levels.
C. Congratulate them on inventing the tighten-first, think-later’ method.
D. Say, ‘Congratulations, you just earned Round Two.
B.
400
Who has a hard time keeping things in the basket ?
500
Why does solar site GSU have a 3rd winding ?
Tertiary (Delta) Winding – The “Extra” One
This is the winding most people ask about 👇
What the tertiary winding does:
🔹 Handles Triplen Harmonics
3rd harmonics circulate in the delta
Prevents distortion on generator and transmission windings
🔹 Improves Stability During Unbalanced Faults
Provides a path for zero-sequence and unbalanced currents
Keeps voltages from floating during SLG faults
🔹 Supports Auxiliary Equipment (Sometimes)
Can feed:
Station service transformers
Reactors
Resistors
Even if unused, it still serves a stabilizing role
500
When transformer experiences a ground instantaneous fault what is the process of events that occur. what is most important regarding the lowside GB ?
The F switch will open, then the GB. The GB must fully clear the receiver / interrupter arm before the bus tie closes.
500
Phase-to-Phase vs Phase-to-Ground Faults
Which fault produces higher fault current
Which one typically causes more equipment damage?
Which fault produces HIGHER fault current?
Phase-to-Ground fault
WHY
In a solidly grounded system, the system neutral is intentionally connected to ground with very low impedance.
Which fault causes MORE equipment damage?
Phase-to-Phase fault
WHY
Even though phase-to-phase faults often have slightly lower current, they are far more mechanically and thermally destructive
500
You send up a apprentice to change out a fan. The apprentices hands are cramping. What would you do ?
A. Lower them down and prescribe a mandatory grip-strength break.
B. Ask them if they need a journeyman to do it.
C. We’re here to change a fan, not invent new sign language.
D. Take disrespect because the gang signs he throwing up aren't part of your set.
D.