BGE Tools & Equipment Operation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of pressure gauge is required when conducting a gas service line pressure test at 1.5 times the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP)?
- Bourdon tube gauge accurate to ±5%
- Dead-weight tester or calibrated digital gauge accurate to ±1% (Correct answer)
- Residential diaphragm gauge
- Simple dial gauge rated at least twice MAOP
Correct answer: Dead-weight tester or calibrated digital gauge accurate to ±1%
Pressure testing to DOT and state regulations requires instrumentation accurate to within ±1% of full scale; dead-weight testers or calibrated digital gauges meet this standard.
Question 2: When using a flame ionization detector (FID) survey instrument for bar-hole testing, what condition requires immediate action?
- Reading of 10 ppm methane in ambient air
- Reading of 50 ppm above background at the bar hole
- A steady background reading of 1 ppm
- Reading that exceeds 1% LEL at the bar hole (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Reading that exceeds 1% LEL at the bar hole
A reading exceeding 1% LEL (Lower Explosive Limit) at a bar hole indicates a significant gas accumulation requiring immediate leak classification and repair procedures.
Question 3: A lineman is using a hot stick (live-line tool) rated for 69kV. The tool's rating refers to:
- The maximum fault current it can withstand
- The maximum system voltage for which it is tested and labeled (Correct answer)
- The minimum voltage it must be used on
- The insulation resistance in megaohms
Correct answer: The maximum system voltage for which it is tested and labeled
Hot stick voltage ratings indicate the maximum system voltage class for which the tool has been dielectrically tested and certified safe by the manufacturer.
Question 4: What is the correct way to store fiberglass hot sticks (live-line tools) when not in use?
- Horizontally in a sealed, moisture-controlled bag or tube (Correct answer)
- Vertically in an open rack exposed to sunlight for UV curing
- Wrapped in steel-reinforced cases
- Submerged in dielectric oil
Correct answer: Horizontally in a sealed, moisture-controlled bag or tube
Fiberglass hot sticks must be stored horizontally in protective, moisture-sealed bags or tubes to prevent warping, moisture absorption, and UV degradation that could compromise dielectric integrity.
Question 5: A BGE crew is installing a new gas meter set. Which tool is used to verify the meter outlet pressure after installation?
- Ultrasonic flow meter
- Manometer or magnehelic gauge calibrated in inches of water column (Correct answer)
- 4-20mA loop tester
- Combustible gas indicator set to volume percent
Correct answer: Manometer or magnehelic gauge calibrated in inches of water column
Residential and commercial meter outlet pressure is measured in inches of water column (typically 7" W.C. for residential), requiring a manometer or magnehelic gauge for accurate readings.
Question 6: During a transformer change-out, a lineman needs to cut a heavily loaded primary conductor. Which tool is used to make this cut safely while maintaining circuit continuity?
- Live-line cutter with bypass jumper in place (Correct answer)
- Hydraulic cable cutter without jumper
- Insulated bolt cutter at arm's length
- Wire stripper rated for the conductor size
Correct answer: Live-line cutter with bypass jumper in place
A bypass jumper is installed before cutting to maintain circuit continuity and prevent an outage; the cut is then made with a live-line cutter from the appropriate safe distance.
Question 7: A technician is using a torque wrench to tighten a meter set union connection. The specification calls for 80 ft-lb. After reaching 80 ft-lb, the technician should:
- Apply an additional 10% torque for safety margin
- Stop and mark the fastener as torqued (Correct answer)
- Back off and re-torque twice to seat the connection
- Switch to an impact wrench to verify the value
Correct answer: Stop and mark the fastener as torqued
Once the specified torque value is reached, the fastener is complete and should be marked to indicate it has been properly torqued; over-torquing risks stripping threads or damaging fittings.
BGE Tools & Equipment Operation 3
Which type of pressure gauge is required when conducting a gas service line pressure test at 1.5 times the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP)?