What is this?

[stuckmotor]

I think it was sometime last fall when this device turned up on a utility pole near my house. There is no line going to the wires up the pole and I don't think we have underground utilities. Can someone please tell me what's under the sheet metal?

 

[txdon]

The pole should have a number on it. Call your electric company and ask them about that pole. That is a good mystery.

 

[smstonypoint]

The pole should have a number on it. Call your electric company and ask them about that pole. That is a good mystery.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This offers the prospect of endless speculation, some of which may be "unscientific." You should change the thread title to "Sheet metal on poles." Also, it looks like the "item" would have a "numeral 1 formation" if viewed in profile.

Steve

 

[kirkawilson]

Copper ground cable covered to prevent theft?

 

[oosik]

There is a lot of stuff attached to utility poles but I've never seen something like that. My latest - a signal boost system to send my current meter reading to a receiver/repeater somewhere. For 35+ years I've had to report my monthly electric meter reading. Initially by phone and for the last fifteen years or so - over the internet. The electric utility company installed "transmitting meters". I'm remote enough that the signal has to be boosted to reach a receiver/repeater.

All of a sudden that picture on the right gave me an idea - there is something under that metal contraption that the utility company needs to protect from chewing rodents. Its a "rodent shield".

Underneath that metal shield is a high frequency receiver/transmitter. It receives signals transmitted by FIELD PALLETS and sends them on to the mother ship.

 

[kenlip]

It's a reinforcing truss.

For example: Pole Restoration

 

[smstonypoint]

It's a reinforcing truss.

For example: Pole Restoration

Rats. You took all of the fun out of it.

Steve

PS

As a relative newcomer. you may not have seen http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/299453-pallets-fields.html.

 

[zzvyb6]

If you lift up the lid on top, there will be a cylindrical canister parked there. You can use it to send your bill payments directly to a bank anywhere in the world from there. This saves you the trouble of having to buy gift cards, cash payment cards to the IRS, internet security people, Microsoft and the local sheriffs office who call about your computer problems, grand-daughter's jail bond, Lottery winnings and Craigslist tractor payment options.

 

[stuckmotor]

Kenlip,
Thank you very much! This forum not only provides lots of fun but an occasional correct answer like yours.
Stuck

 

[oosik]

Huh - learn something new every day. The utilities do have pole restoration around here but not using those devices. I've seen where they will cut the bottom off a bad pole - sink a new "shorty" base - strap the good top to the shorty base.

 

[smstonypoint]

It's a reinforcing truss.

For example: Pole Restoration

Upon reflection, the "reinforcing truss" explanation is "scientific," but those of a conspiratorial bent might argue that the "reinforcing truss" cover, in a "numeral 1 formation," is being used to camouflage another device, perhaps nefarious in nature.

Steve

 

[oosik]

Ah, thank goodness, a man who appreciates the "alternate" explanation. Good work Steve.

 

[EddieWalker]

It's a reinforcing truss.

For example: Pole Restoration

Thanks. I've never seen this before and found the link to be interesting.

 

[bcp]

It's a lost robotic tree hugger.

Bruce

 

[stuckmotor]

I must have driven up right after the truss was installed and noticed a strange smell. There was a utility truck near the pole and I asked the man sitting in it if there had been a chemical spill. I thought he said they'd been replacing a pole. Maybe he said "reinforcing" a pole. He didn't mention the spray paint on the truss cover. The paint was obviously the source of the strong smell. It was nearly dark at the time and I don't think I even noticed the device or the paint until days later. After examining the strange device, a few conspiracy theories went through my head.
Had I realized that Steve, the king of scientific reasoning would become involved, I'd have posted the pix much sooner in hopes getting the gang back together for another "Pallets in Fields" thread.

 

[/pine]

..."Pallets in Fields" thread.

AKA the biggest waste of bandwidth in the history of the Internet...!

 

[stuckmotor]

AKA the biggest waste of bandwidth in the history of the Internet...!

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

 

[Jstpssng]

It's a reinforcing truss.

For example: Pole Restoration

That just shows how wide spread the conspiracy is; they've even made up a website to "explain" it's presence. It's probably related to this headline:
Scientists claim octopuses came from outer space.

 

[kenlip]

Rats. You took all of the fun out of it.

Steve

PS

As a relative newcomer. you may not have seen http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/299453-pallets-fields.html.

Knowing what is it doesn't answer the exact reason why it is there. After all, everyone knows what a pallet is. Only the naive would accept that this contraption is there to brace a failing utility pole. ;-)

Why does it need a little 'roof'? What are they hiding under it? What is it protecting from the elements?

Ken

 

[aczlan]

Why does it need a little 'roof'? What are they hiding under it? What is it protecting from the elements?

The roof is probably there to keep snow and ice from going in there in a slushy state and freezing solid which would tend to separate the pole truss from the pole.

Aaron Z