FON; what is the voltage on the top set of wires in a street supply

6.6 & 11 in older areas, 22 in metro and 33 in country areas. The most common in the metro area is the 22,000V distribution feeder running at up to 300Amps per phase near the substation but usually much less than that.

Should see the big towers near me (St Marys) They have barbed wire on them and signs (in picture form) that state that climbing the towers will kill you. OUCH...

Mitch..

the big towers could be 66, 132 or 330 kV let the idiots climb the tower - - it helps stop the inbreeds from breeding

hehe helps raise the national average IQ

11000 or more.

If you look closely at the devices they're hooked to and the poles you'll sometimes see labels or warning plaques.

--

Bye.
   Jasen

I asked that question of an electrical engineer a while ago about some high voltage transmission lines. The top wire was significantly smaller in diameter than the other wires. He said it was a sacrifical earth wire for protecting the high voltage wires from lightning strikes.

I've been informed that the big towers are 330KV (OUCH!)

Mitch..

In NSW they are increasingly tubes with fibe optic inside. My understanding is the Transgrid (?) is becoming a big dark fibre provider.

>

Hmm.. cool.... Is that what they mean by "broadband over powerlines"? 8)

No.

Highest voltage used in aus is 500kV, runs through NSW, VIC and SA QLD uses 275kV and 330kV, Basslink runs at 400kV DC

Barbed wire and spikes stops people fiddling with the line, Climbs up and touches a wire it will also trip the breakers and potentially cause a lot of other problems. The line of course would also have to be put out of service for a little while which would cost a huge amount of money

For original question, distribution voltages used are 3.3kV, 6.6kV,

11kV, 22kV, 33kV and even 66kV is sometimes transformed directly down to 240/415 on a pole transformer...

Most common voltage by far in aus is 11kV. 3.3 and 6.6 are old and getting rare. 3.3kV is used in industry for larger motors and things - carries a lot more punch than 415 but easier to handle than 11kV. VFD's are available for 3.3kV but not 11kV as well...

Somes states use 22kV and some don't. Mainly used in rural areas but also in newer towns and in areas which have been upgraded. 33kV is mainly used as subtransmission and in rural areas - all the equipment costs significantly more than for 11 or 22kV. 22kV equipment only costs marginally more than 11kV equipment

: > I've been informed that the big towers are 330KV (OUCH!) : >

: > Mitch.. : : Highest voltage used in aus is 500kV, runs through NSW, VIC and SA : QLD uses 275kV and 330kV, Basslink runs at 400kV DC : : Barbed wire and spikes stops people fiddling with the line, Climbs up : and touches a wire it will also trip the breakers and potentially cause : a lot of other problems. The line of course would also have to be put : out of service for a little while which would cost a huge amount of : money : : For original question, distribution voltages used are 3.3kV, 6.6kV, : 11kV, 22kV, 33kV and even 66kV is sometimes transformed directly down : to 240/415 on a pole transformer... : : Most common voltage by far in aus is 11kV. 3.3 and 6.6 are old and : getting rare. 3.3kV is used in industry for larger motors and things - : carries a lot more punch than 415 but easier to handle than 11kV. VFD's : are available for 3.3kV but not 11kV as well... : : Somes states use 22kV and some don't. Mainly used in rural areas but : also in newer towns and in areas which have been upgraded. 33kV is : mainly used as subtransmission and in rural areas - all the equipment : costs significantly more than for 11 or 22kV. 22kV equipment only costs : marginally more than 11kV equipment

As loads (Amps) increase due to higher infill housing densities and cheap inefficient Chinese aircons, older areas with the lower distribution voltages are being upgraded to the higher voltages.

Often transformers have dual windings to accept the higher voltages and all it needs is the overhead line to have the insulators changed.

Older underground areas with "paper-lead" cables are being maxed out with the higher current demands, damage from multiple faults and high voltage fault testing / detection. these areas are often replaced with new XLPE cables and upgraded to higher voltages, with the old cables abandoned.

As for the basslink cable - how is anyone going to climb it? Like. what has it got to do with the price of eggs!

No, 230 and 400. But thats another story.