Insulating lower controls device

A system comprising:

• a low voltage aerial device comprising:
• an upper portion including a boom assembly with at least one electrically conductive structure;
• and
• a lower portion positioned on a ground surface,
• wherein the low voltage aerial device does not include an electrically isolating dielectric gap such that the lower portion of the low voltage aerial device is not electrically isolated from the upper portion of the low voltage aerial device,
• a user control device for the low voltage aerial device, the user control device disposed at the lower portion of the low voltage aerial device and comprising:
• an electrically insulating enclosure encapsulating an internal portion of the user control device;
• at least one user control disposed on the electrically insulating enclosure with at least a portion of the at least one user control external to the electrically insulating enclosure, the at least one user control operable to control the low voltage aerial device from the lower portion responsive to user inputs from an operator standing on the ground surface near the lower portion;
• at least one electrical cable coupled to the at least one user control within the internal portion of the user control device and electrically coupled to the upper portion of the low voltage aerial device, the at least one electrical cable operable to transmit electrical control signals associated with the at least one user control to the upper portion of the low voltage aerial device;
• and
• at least one electrically insulating cable cover disposed around the at least one electrical cable,
• wherein an end portion of the at least one electrically insulating cable cover extends into the electrically insulating enclosure,
• wherein the electrically insulating enclosure and the at least one electrically insulating cable cover prevent an electrical path to ground from the boom assembly through the user control device to thereby prevent electrical shock at the lower portion.

A lower controls system the lower controls system comprising:

• a low voltage aerial device comprising:
• an upper portion including a boom assembly with at least one electrically conductive structure;
• and
• a lower portion positioned on a ground surface,
• a lower controls device operable to be held by an operator standing on the ground surface to control the low voltage aerial device from the lower portion of the low voltage aerial device, the lower controls device comprising:
• an electrically insulating enclosure encapsulating an internal portion of the lower controls device;
• a plurality of user controls disposed on the electrically insulating enclosure with at least a portion of each user control of the plurality of user controls external to the electrically insulating enclosure, the plurality of user controls operable to receive user inputs from the operator;
• at least one electrical cable coupled to the lower controls device and electrically coupled to the upper portion of the low voltage aerial device, the at least one electrical cable operable to transmit electrical control signals associated with the plurality of user controls to the low voltage aerial device;
• and
• at least one electrically insulating cable cover disposed around the at least one electrical cable,
• wherein the low voltage aerial device does not include an electrically isolated dielectric gap and the lower portion of the low voltage aerial device is not fully electrically isolated from the upper portion of the low voltage aerial device, and
• wherein the electrically insulating enclosure and the at least one electrically insulating cable cover prevent an electrical path to ground through the lower controls device from the upper portion of the low voltage aerial device such that electrical shock at the lower portion is prevented.