What is an overhead line?
Overhead lines are a common infrastructure in power transmission and communication transmission and are widely used in cities, rural areas and industrial areas. It realizes long-distance transmission of electrical energy or signals through wires erected on telephone poles or towers. Overhead lines have become an important part of power systems and communication networks due to their low cost, convenient construction, and easy maintenance.
1. Composition of overhead lines

Overhead lines mainly consist of the following parts:
| components | Function description |
|---|---|
| Wire | Used to transmit electrical energy or signals, usually made of copper, aluminum or aluminum alloys. |
| insulator | Supports wires and prevents current leakage to ensure safe line operation. |
| Telephone pole/tower | Support wires and insulators to maintain line stability and height. |
| cross arm | Secure insulators and conductors to distribute the weight of the conductors. |
| Grounding device | Prevent damage to lines caused by lightning strikes and overvoltage. |
2. Classification of overhead lines
Depending on their purpose and voltage level, overhead lines can be divided into the following categories:
| Classification criteria | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|
| By use | Electric power overhead lines | Used to transmit electrical energy, with voltage levels ranging from low voltage to ultra-high voltage. |
| By use | Communication overhead lines | Used to transmit telephone, Internet and other communication signals. |
| According to voltage level | low voltage lines | The voltage level is lower than 1kV and is commonly used in residential areas and rural areas. |
| According to voltage level | high voltage lines | The voltage level is between 1kV-330kV and is used for urban and industrial power supply. |
| According to voltage level | Extra high voltage lines | The voltage level is higher than 330kV and is used for long-distance power transmission. |
3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Overhead Lines
Although overhead lines are widely used, they also have their advantages and disadvantages:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Low cost and short construction period | Affected by weather, it is easily damaged by natural disasters such as lightning strikes, wind and snow, etc. |
| Easy maintenance and simple troubleshooting | It occupies a large area and may affect the appearance of the city. |
| Suitable for complex terrain | Electromagnetic radiation may affect the surrounding environment |
4. Application scenarios of overhead lines
Overhead lines are particularly common in the following scenarios:
| Application scenarios | Description |
|---|---|
| rural areas | Because of the vast area and sparse population, overhead lines are cheap and easy to lay. |
| city suburbs | As a supplement to the power supply, it meets the power needs of suburban areas. |
| mountains and hills | Adapt to complex terrain and facilitate long-distance power transmission. |
| temporary power supply | Quickly set up on construction sites or in emergency situations. |
5. Future development trends of overhead lines
With the advancement of technology and the improvement of environmental protection requirements, overhead lines are also constantly evolving:
| Trend | Description |
|---|---|
| Material upgrade | Use high-strength, lightweight new wire materials to improve transmission efficiency. |
| Intelligent | Introduce sensors and monitoring systems to realize real-time monitoring of line status. |
| Environmentally friendly design | Reduce electromagnetic radiation and impact on the ecological environment. |
| Combined with underground lines | Gradually convert to underground lines in the city center, and retain overhead lines in the suburbs. |
Summary
As an important means of power transmission and communication transmission, overhead lines have the advantages of low cost and convenient construction, but they also have the disadvantage of being greatly affected by the environment. In the future, with the development of material technology and intelligence, overhead lines will be more efficient and environmentally friendly, providing strong support for the stable operation of energy and communication networks.
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