Motorized hot stick system for clamping grounding devices on overhead lines

A method of connecting a grounding clamp to an overhead electrical conductor, the method comprising the steps of:

• engaging a rotatable member of a grounding clamp in an adapter carried on the end of a hot stick;
• inserting an overhead electrical conductor into the grounding clamp with the grounding clamp in an open condition and the rotatable member engaged in the adapter;
• operating a motor carried on the hot stick to rotate the adapter and the rotatable member together to actuate the grounding clamp from the open condition to a clamped condition wherein an electrically conductive connection is created between the grounding clamp and the overhead electrical conductor and the grounding clamp is clamped to the overhead electrical conductor;
• and
• disengaging the rotatable member from the adapter while leaving the grounding clamp clamped to the overhead electrical conductor.

A method of disconnecting a grounding clamp to an overhead electrical conductor, the method comprising the steps of;

• engaging a rotatable member of a grounding clamp in an adapter carried on the end of a hot stick while the grounding clamp is in a clamped condition wherein the grounding clamp is clamped to the overhead electrical conductor to provide an electrically conductive connection between the grounding clamp and the overhead electrical conductor;
• operating a motor carried on the hot stick to rotate the adapter and the rotatable member together to actuate the grounding clamp from the clamped condition to an open condition wherein the grounding clamp and the overhead electrical conductor can be disengaged;
• and
• disengaging the overhead electrical conductor and the grounding clamp.