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Sometimes cables between utility poles make a loop and do a U-turn. What is the purpose of such loops? The loop I'm asking about is in the lower set of wires towards the left of the picture. The...
Question
utility-cables
#2: Post edited
by
Olin Lathrop
·
2021-01-10T21:37:58Z (almost 4 years ago)
- Sometimes cables between utility poles make a loop and do a U-turn. What is the purpose of such loops?
- The loop I'm asking about is in the lower set of wires towards the left of the picture. These must be communication cables. The 3-phase power is clearly evident at the top of the pole.
- <img src="https://electrical.codidact.com/uploads/Qomfts5uDQPcxMP18LuvEUiC">
- Here is the other end of the same span.
- <img src="https://electrical.codidact.com/uploads/SATdYjj83Lkzp5sTgzr7gLcR">
- Is this just extra cable for some possible future connection or maintenance use? Or is there something else going on?
- These pictures were taken 5 Jan 2021 in north-central Massachusetts, but I've seen loops like this for years and in many places in the US.
- Sometimes cables between utility poles make a loop and do a U-turn. What is the purpose of such loops?
- The loop I'm asking about is in the lower set of wires towards the left of the picture. These must be communication cables. The 3-phase power is clearly evident at the top of the pole.
- <img src="https://electrical.codidact.com/uploads/Qomfts5uDQPcxMP18LuvEUiC">
- Here is the other end of the same span.
- <img src="https://electrical.codidact.com/uploads/SATdYjj83Lkzp5sTgzr7gLcR">
- Is this just extra cable for some possible future connection or maintenance use? Or is there something else going on?
- These pictures were taken 5 Jan 2021 in north-central Massachusetts, but I've seen loops like this for years and in many places in the US.
- <hr>
- <h2>Update, 9 Jan 2021</h2>
- I went back today to have a more detailed look. Here is a closeup of one of the loops:
- 
- And here is a view of the whole span:
- 
- I know its not clear in the pictures, but both loops are in the top of the two communication cables, and have nothing to do with the lower cable. Each loop appears to be simply a cable turning around to head back in the direction it came from. The snowshoe-shaped racks appear to just be mechanical support for the loop, and to guarantee some minimum bend radius.
- So is this really just a way to store some slack, or is there some other purpose? It seems like rather a lot of slack, but I'm not sure what all the reasons might be that slack is required.
#1: Initial revision
by
Olin Lathrop
·
2021-01-06T14:36:28Z (almost 4 years ago)
Cable loops between utility poles?
Sometimes cables between utility poles make a loop and do a U-turn. What is the purpose of such loops? The loop I'm asking about is in the lower set of wires towards the left of the picture. These must be communication cables. The 3-phase power is clearly evident at the top of the pole. <img src="https://electrical.codidact.com/uploads/Qomfts5uDQPcxMP18LuvEUiC"> Here is the other end of the same span. <img src="https://electrical.codidact.com/uploads/SATdYjj83Lkzp5sTgzr7gLcR"> Is this just extra cable for some possible future connection or maintenance use? Or is there something else going on? These pictures were taken 5 Jan 2021 in north-central Massachusetts, but I've seen loops like this for years and in many places in the US.