I have noticed a spherical piece of equipment that is attached to the upper lightning arrestor lines of 3-phase transmission line systems. Usually, they are orange and attached directly to the lightning arrestor lines (the line passes directly through the sphere).
*** So, what are these things? How do they work?
Sorry, if I can't think of a formal name for these devices, but I do want to learn more about them (and as much as I can about power systems in general). Thanks!
2007-01-10 00:48:58 · 3 answers · asked by Ubi 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
edit: Oh, and I have noticed this piece of equipment in my area of the USA. I don't know if such equipment would be used abroad.
2007-01-10 00:50:04 · update #1
Surprisingly, it is not an equipment and has no function in electricity whatsoever!
... There are big, light, brightly coloured plastic balls, reflective to radar, to be VISIBLE at great distance, for low flying aircrafts (and some big birds like the stokes!)
A fighter jet pilot will NOT see the wires, but will see the balls and will have just the time to pull up the stick and avoid the power lines.
2007-01-10 00:58:31 · answer #1 · answered by just "JR" 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Current (North American) Federal Aviation Regulations require proponents of new construction to notify the FAA of all structures proposed to be built to a height of 200 feet AGL or higher, and current FAA orders direct the FAA to recommend to proponents that an object proposed to be constructed between 200 feet AGL and 500 feet AGL be marked and/or lighted according to the standards of FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 70/7460-1J, "Obstruction Marking and Lighting." Marking standards contained in AC 70/7460-1J generally specify placement of conspicuously-colored (e.g. aviation orange, white, or yellow) spherical markers of not less than 36 inches diameter (or other shape markers of equivalent projected area), at intervals not to exceed 200 feet, on the highest wire of catenary structures which cross rivers.
2007-01-10 09:27:55 · answer #2 · answered by CanTexan 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
they are indicators for the aviation signals , so aerial traffic people like helicopters and aero planes can easily notice the power lines and keep away from the power lines
2007-01-10 08:53:49 · answer #3 · answered by david j 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋