Ceramic Things On Power Poles

Metal and concrete poles can last much longer but eventually all utility poles need to be replaced.

Ceramic things on power poles.

It leaks if you don t seal it. Those are the insulators. What s on an electric power pole. I could not find any information regarding this particular shape though.

Their purpose is to insulate the electrical wires they carry so that electricity or telephone calls don t all leak into the pole and into the earth. It lowers the voltage from the higher voltage in the supply lines to the power used in your house. Electricity is like water. Primary wires are on top of the pole and usually carry 12 000 volts of electricity from a substation.

From what i ve noticed high voltage ceramic insulators only insulate conductors end to end not inside to outside like traditional plastic insulators. Cutouts act like a fuse and open when there is a problem with the line or a section of it. Insulators are those glass or porcelain things you see on the tops and crossarms of telephone poles. It s a distribution transformer aka pole pig.

Ever notice that power lines don t actually touch the poles. From the length of the insulators probably towards the higher end of that spectrum. The distribution lines that run down your street are probably 5 15kv. You definitely don t want the power lines connecting to the poles.

I ve seen these stacked disc structures on high voltage power lines everywhere.