From: k.type@example.invalid   
      
   In article ,   
   moroney@world.std.spaamtrap.com says...   
   >   
   > >   
   > > In Europe, distribution is a 3 phase 4-wire system.   
   > >   
   > > Volage in the UK used to be 240V between any phase and neutral   
   > > and 415V 3-phase.   
   > >   
   > >   
   >   
   > Out of curiosity, what is the typical maximum distance from the   
   > transformer to the most distant residence?   
   >   
      
   To be quite honest, I don't know.   
      
   I grew up and, until recently, lived and worked in areas where   
   all supplies were underground. This would be the same for   
   towns and cities all over the UK, so the area I live in now is   
   an exception.   
      
      
   If you look here:   
      
   https://goo.gl/maps/qRi2Dqw66XMBwk2K7   
      
   we live in the road going off to the left just a short way   
   down, and our feed is underground but the road didn't exist   
   until about 60 - 70 years ago whereas the main road straight   
   ahead has overhead feeds. There were always a few houses along   
   this road at the time it was electrified but there were long   
   distances between them and the area was very rural.   
      
   As you can see, these houses are pole fed but I've no idea   
   where the sub station (transformer) is hidden - there is   
   denitely nothing large on any of the poles.   
      
   About a year or so ago,I was having a peaceful pint or three   
   in the local pub when my wife phoned me in a panic to say that   
   the power had gone off. (We'd just had a lot of electrical   
   work done and I think she suspected that was the cause!)   
      
   However, when she looked outside, the entire street was in   
   darkness, so there was nothing either of us could do, so I   
   went back to my pint!   
      
   When I left, I found somone on a cherry picker at the top of   
   this pole:   
      
   https://goo.gl/maps/VrBfM3phhmS1yPmp8.   
      
   As the lorry blocked the footpath, there was a man ensuring   
   that every body got past safely and he explained that a   
   transformer had failed and his colleague was patching   
   everybody over to a different one.   
      
   I'd walked on about 25 yards when the streetlights came back   
   on, which was very useful!   
      
   My wife told me that our power had come back quite quickly, so   
   I assumed we'd been transferred to a much more accessible   
   feed. I can't really see our street being fed from that pole -   
   also, I don't know how much of our estate was affected.   
      
   If you follow my route back down the road you'll see the   
   distance involved.   
      
   --   
      
   Terry   
      
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