why isn't there any protective covering on the high tention power lines out side..any answers?
2006-10-09 07:41:40 · 7 answers · asked by tazzle 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
because everyone with 2 brain cells to rub together knows it's dangerous to climb the towers or interfere with them. Besides, the wires are insulated - they are not bare metal. The wires are also mounted or suspended from the tower by insulators, so that the metal tower is (hopefully) not electrified. Finally, the few I've seen have the rungs on the ladder cut off well above ground level, so that someone can't just arbitrarily climb one without a fair amount of work. You can't say, "Oops, I don't know how I got up there", or "It was an accident".
2006-10-09 07:50:33 · answer #1 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because if you just touch one you'll be okay, like birds sitting on the wire. If you touch the wire alone you become temporarily charges, but you will not have completed a circuit.
If you accidentally touch an electrical "ground" while in contact with the high-voltage wire, you will complete an electrical circuit. A ground is a region of approximately zero voltage. The earth, and anything touching it that can conduct current, is the ground. At that time electricity will flow trough you and electrocute you.
That's why a squirrel can run across an electrical line, but sadly die when its foot makes contact with the (grounded) transformer on the pole at wire's end.
It's also why drivers and passengers are warned to stay inside the car if it runs into a downed power line. Touching the ground with your foot would complete the circuit: Electrons would flow from the wire, into the car, and through you on their way into the earth. (Inside the car you are usually protected by the car's four rubber tires, which act as insulators between car and ground.)
Even if the wires were shielded or coverd the danger would still exist, additionally a line pushing that much voltage would probably melt the covering at the connectors. That and they pose no real danger unless they are on the ground, where covered or not they would still pose an equal threat. Plus as stated before me the weight would be considerable and wind and ice accumulation would more easily bring them down
2006-10-09 15:00:56 · answer #2 · answered by JCRbama 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What the other guy said. Plus, additional coverings increases the wind loading meaning everything has to be beefed up considerably. Just tell your boyfriend to stay off the lines.
2006-10-09 14:50:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like the first commentor said, the cost of insulating electical wires is too high to justify it.
2006-10-09 14:51:02 · answer #4 · answered by Wundt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are air-insulated if you consider the proper clearances.
As the other blokes have answered; weight, cost, and thermal considerations are the primary factors.
2006-10-09 15:42:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are insulated, by AIR. For the reasons already stated by others.
2006-10-09 18:25:04 · answer #6 · answered by billswingle 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it´s a matter of costs and benefits.
Why spoend money on covering if you can just inform people not to touch?
2006-10-09 14:45:17 · answer #7 · answered by koke84 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋