[SGVLUG] Calling the brightest of cal tech and other nerds!

[Michael Rubel]

On Sat, 23 Dec 2006, David Lawyer wrote:
...
> pipes.  In fact, highest of all was current flowing in pipes under
> California St. by Caltech (in conduit pipes ??).  Somehow, I never got
> around to reporting it to Caltech.  I was going to investigate it in
> more detail before reporting it but never did since I had borrowed the
> flux meter and had to return it.  If you are interested, you might
> check this out on California St. west of Wilson.
...

David,

There is a Caltech steam tunnel which runs under California Blvd., just 
west of Wilson.  In addition to steam, it carries electrical power to the 
campus from the physical plant building, which is near the gym.  I've seen 
the conduits myself.  If I understand correctly, they have a generating 
capacity of about 15 MW.  Not sure how much of that runs to campus, but 
anything close to 15 MW would create quite a magnetic field.  :)

Cheers,
-Mike