Real Life EMF Experiences?

ilander asks: "I've been looking to buy my first home recently and found one that seemed perfect. The one downside is that there are power lines directly overhead (in the yard) as well as a high tension power line tower in the empty lot in back, less than 200 feet away from the house. So does anyone have any personal experience working/living near power lines? Aside from the possible health risks, which may or not exist (depending on who you ask), will I run into any problems with my monitors and TVs? What about DSL, cable and my 802.11b network? How about digital satellite reception? Any help is appreciated!"

Comments

At the old house

[MImeKillEr]

Our first house was in close proximity to overhead powerlines. They were less than 200 ft away. More like less than 50.

The three years we lived there, we didn't notice anything strange health-wise.

I recall seeing some people do the following (not sure if this is indicative of possible health issues):

1.Take a florescent light bulb - like the overhead lights in most garages and offices. Make sure its dark out.

2. Stand under the powerline.

3. Grab the light fixture with both hands - one at either contact point (the metal ring around the outside, not the pins).

4. See if the light glows.

The theory (I guess) was that this indicated power/voltage/whatever was 'bleeding' from the powerlines. The folks who did this swore this was proof that the area wasn't safe to live in.

YMMV.

Real life induced charge

[chrisatslashdot]

I worked my way through college installing sprinkler systems for lawns and landscapes. We used a 16' metal trailer with an expanded steel deck, a steel pipe rack, and several metal lockers. On one job we parked the trailer under high voltage powerlines and got a sizeable shock if we touched the trailer with damp boots or sweaty hands.

I have also head of people filling a 55 gallon drum with coils of copper wire and stealing power from high-tension wires.

Re:Real life induced charge

[bill_mcgonigle]

I have also head of people filling a 55 gallon drum with coils of copper wire and stealing power from high-tension wires.

Very clever - I'd heard of 'clothes lines' but not drums full of coils. If they were burried with just the ends exposed they'd be pretty hard to track down.

So, what kind of electricity do you get out of such a drum? Is it clean enough to run through an inverter onto your home grid? Heh, in a reverse-metered state you could sell it back to the electric company (install a solar panel for cover).