why dont overhead wires (powerlines) have insulators on the outside of them??
2006-09-20 05:20:00 · 8 answers · asked by Xx_Kaylee_xX 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Yes they do but the main insulation is the 100 feet of air between them and anything likely to touch them. They are insulated from the pylons and each other but they carry so much electricity I would not advise touching them even if they had a lot more insulation
2006-09-20 05:25:46 · answer #1 · answered by xpatgary 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of the hundreds of thousands of miles of high-voltage transmission lines in this country are made solely of metal—either aluminum or aluminum wrapped around a steel core. Adding a layer of insulation to every line would be pricey and has been deemed unnecessary given how high the lines are off the ground. (Underground lines are insulated, both for the safety of the walkers above and to protect the lines from shovels and the like.)
2006-09-20 05:29:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are insulated from the ground at the pylons otherwise by the air. I wet weather they 'leak' electricity down the insulator and 'hum'.
RoyS
2006-09-20 05:29:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Air is the ultimate insulator.
2006-09-20 05:31:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
With the high voltage they carry, no insulator would be effective.
Air is the most effective.
2006-09-20 05:33:17 · answer #5 · answered by savs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because in theory no one should touch them. they do at the pylons but in general they do not need them, think of the cost of insulating each wire and how it would look
2006-09-20 05:23:26 · answer #6 · answered by jo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i wasn't aware that they were not insulated. If they aren't then it is to reduce the cost and weight, thus reducing the cost of the pilon as it does not have to support as much weight.
2006-09-20 05:28:24 · answer #7 · answered by gbiaki 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
um people arent gonna touch em
2006-09-20 06:01:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋