iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

We are not the BEST commissioning engineers on the British power system, but we are in the top two 💁🏻‍♂️ !⃝ 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 ⚡️👆🏻

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Michael Shanks MP @michaelshanksmp.co.uk · 10/06/2026

For too long, energy projects were stuck waiting years for grid connections. Thanks to our reforms more than 700 projects have now been offered connections - delivering clean power, unlocking investment and building the energy system Britain needs. Getting on with delivery. 👇

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

David 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @davidsheryn.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Indeed, but I still have a soft spot for a retro L2 tower… Watched them being built across granny’s farm 🙂 (@engineerlondon.bsky.social)

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Transmission actually. Routes ZBC and ZBD. The former we are upgrading to 400 kV with new wires etc

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Paul Allen @marsflyerpaul.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Distribution infrastructure old and "new" - the Lee Valley Navigation

Electricity pylons alongside a wide canalised river, with a grey narrow boat.

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

If you work at night - it is really hard to see overhead powerlines. You need to go to site in the daytime! www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY5l...

youtube.com

CCTV shows moment tree surgeon suffers life‑threatening electric shock from overhead power line

YouTube video by Health and Safety Executive

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

It’s current. SW historically low demand and relatively weak ties to the MIS. For years low volts was the fear, now it’s often high volts on steady state but worries about collapse with high solar gain at DNO level. Also running out of taps some days

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Noel Dolphin @noeldolphin.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Short-circuit testing - in electrification, it is the 100% most exciting thing we ever see or do.

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Today’s views. Hard at it on bus zone maintenance ☀️

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

The great Robert Carradine has gone. Naturally I spun the Nerds soundtrack this evening ☺️

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

The GB system ran this way from 1881-1926 ish and it proved inefficient so we built a so-called national grid instead. It’s given me a good living! I find trends do come full circle in history. Let’s see how this one pans out eh

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Fitted an annunciator today in Essex. A “spare” unit was donated from London, pending a new one from the OEM. Another transformer back in service and pumping amps to society 💪🏻

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Fans. Cooling fans. And possibly the odd tube train trundling along above

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

40 metres (248 steps) under our capital are arterial cable tunnels carrying the Supergrid MIS circuits around and through London. I’ve spent much of the last 15 years building them, commissioning them, maintaining them, and showing the odd party of politicians around 💁🏻‍♂️😘

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Simulated a mesh corner fault after some trip relay reset mods. Long day. One disconnector automatically isolates and the two mesh bus section disconnectors sequentially isolate as the mesh corner is locked out. More people need to grasp the difference between auto and sequential isolation 💪🏻☺️

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

It’s a transition from two double circuit routes going north - south to a single east - west double circuit route. The way the circuits were strung out of Dungeness 400 means one of the Sellindge circuits needs to fly over one of the Ninfield circuits. Duck unders / flyovers are quite common

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

petersharding.bsky.social @petersharding.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

@engineerlondon.bsky.social I was in Lydd (near Dungeness) recently and there’s a section of 400kV line that dives under another. I can’t work it out, but I’m sure you know the reason.

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Such hallowed ground on which we tread 🙏🏻

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Holiday in Britain folks. The beer is much better anyway 😆🍺🍺

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Amy Swift @aswiftceramics.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Flexed my culinary fingers today. Homemade English muffins and hollandaise sauce for a stella Eggs Benedict. 😋🤤 #cooking #cook #food #baking #eggs #bacon

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

AEI A Unit MCU removed from service 2009. On my office wall 💪🏻

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

GMB Union @gmb.org.uk · 01/01/2026

From everyone at GMB - we wish you all the best for 2026!

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

2025 has been a historic year for clean energy in UK, with renewable project approvals reaching a record-high 45 GW — nearly double of 2024. This surge was driven by an exceptional rise in battery storage capacity, which almost doubled to 28.6 GW, alongside strong growth in offshore wind & solar.

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Tidying up my man cave with a Fullers BR1 by @fullersjohn.bsky.social 👌🏻 Still drinking beautifully 😍 Sure it’s got darker and stronger but the single malt notes are coming through nicely. Only got half a case left now. But one cannot take good beer with one 🤷🏻‍♂️🍺🥰

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Reclaim time on a T4DA1 J Unit Always have a variety of lolly pop sticks in my line of work

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

The electrical widow and idol of my life in front of England’s only Grade II listed transmission substation 😍

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Lars @o1ars.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

@engineerlondon.bsky.social - saw this and thought of you... Since I first saw your feed I have become an engineer in corporate and now know exactly what you, and this book, mean 🤣

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

The perfect beer before a transient feeder simulation with reversion and hot standby auto close 👌🏻 As our saviour taught us- TPSO be damned!!!

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Many congratulations Madeleine 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 (I showed you around London Power Tunnels a few years back- we are still energised ⚡️💡)

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Simulated a feeder fault on the overhead line with Ferroresonance. An automatic suppression system quenches it by flapping the two 400 kV transformer disconnectors. This breaks the tuned circuit. After that, the circuit DARs as normal 💪🏻

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Transient feeder fault with FR. Double F3 flap to quench and then auto restoration. This is what it’s all about 💪🏻🙌🏻👌🏻😍

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

I’d have to look into this… more Rob’s remit tbh and he’s been on holiday 😆

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Mark Annand @markannand.eurosky.social · 16/10/2025

The other afternoon, a small-scale electricity supply failure to a domestic supply run at shallow depth beneath the pavement, just the sort of thing that, were it to happen on his patch, wouldn't be @engineerlondon.bsky.social's concern.

Electricity supply cable, no longer beneath the pavement..

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Neil Hardiman @neilhardiman.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

@engineerlondon.bsky.social Well-designed transformer with convenient mug shelf.

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Dan Grey @dangrey.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

How do you isolate a gas main? Pinch it! 😬

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Case of my 1967 ‘A Unit’ having a cheeky respray ready for the new installation in my study, under construction

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Most houses connect between one phase and neutral. Bigger comsumers will have a three phase supply

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Typically 11 kV (or 6.6 kV) to 400 volt. Capacity ranges from 300 kVA to 2 MVA. In London we call them TCs (transformer chambers) and there are 30,000 of them. Elsewhere they are known as distribution substations, mostly fed via cable, a few by woodpole OHL in rural areas

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Just examining the phasing on a tee off as I was trying to find an every day regular phase cross for my trainees. But this is a single phase tee off so it’s arbitrary. Still worth surveying tho. My wife loves our walks ⚡️

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Reposted by James Watson CEng, FIET

Justin on eurostar @eurostarjustin.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Ceci n'est pas une usine! The Brush factory in Loughborough has a distinguished history building locomotives. It also supplied electrical equipment for the original eurostar class 373 (TMST) trains. #Rail200

A neon sign on the Brush factory and the builder's plate mentioning Brush on a eurostar train.

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

That’s air. Compressed air. Leaving the exhaust valves quickly and blowing away dust and contaminants

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Op test on Reyrolle OBYR-14 132 kV, 5000 MVA, 2000 A ABCB 💥

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James Watson CEng, FIET @engineerlondon.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

I like Translay-S because few know how to test it. Also the old EE DAR units are quite something/ VAR series of relays 👇🏻

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