Appendix C – Glossary
- bonding
- making a mechanically secure electrical connection between two or more objects to ensure they are at the same potential
- capacitor
- device that improves power quality
- cascade lighting
- method of switching street lights in the first circuit, which, upon being energized, activates a relay that, in turn, energizes the second; the second then energizes the third, and so on
- communication lines
- lines that transmit communication data; may be fibreoptic, coaxial or telephone lines
- company standards
- local or utility-based structural designs
- conductor
- that part of a cable, overhead line or apparatus intended to conduct the flow of electrical energy
- counterpoise
- method of bonding transmission towers, either to ground or to each other
- cribbing
- method of increasing pole stability in poor soil conditions
- delta system
- three-wire system with one possible voltage
- de-energized
- where any potential electrical energy has been discharged through a mechanically secure connection to an effective ground potential
- distribution system
- operating system which delivers energy from substation to customers and generally operates between 2400 volts and 34,500 volts
- energized
- capable of delivering energy by reason of being dynamically alive or charged
- fault indicators
- device which indicates a defect or abnormal condition in a conductor
- fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) tool
- insulated live-line tools; also known as hot stick
- footing
- concrete or grillage support for a structure; the base
- grillage
- buried portion of a steel tower acting as a footing
- grounding
- placing interconnected parts at ground/earth potential
- guys
- devices used to offset conductor tension and equipment load
- guy wires
- high tensile steel wire attached to an anchor point which is installed to offset conductor tension and equipment load
- hydro-vacuum excavation
- excavating with high-pressure water and a vacuum system
- isolated
- separated from all sources of dynamic energy
- laminate poles
- poles made of laminated wood
- lock-out and tag-out
- procedure to prevent unauthorised operation of equipment
- maintenance programs
- preventative or pro-active programs to ensure reliability of system
- meggering
- to apply potential to test electrical equipment for continuity and insulation
- metering equipment
- equipment used to track consumption of electricity
- network systems
- connecting points of generation or supply sources
- nomenclature
- powerlines and electrical apparatus designated by alphabetic and numeric codes
- peening
- deformation of threads to prevent nuts from loosening due to vibration
- potential
- latent energy (potential presence of voltage)
- powder-actuated tools
- tools that requires an explosive charge to operate
- primary
- voltage above 750 volts
- reactor
- equipment that limits over-current and over-voltage conditions
- recloser
- equipment that is used to detect and interrupt momentary transient faults, allowing downstream devices to operate; they clear temporary faults and isolate permanent faults
- secondary
- voltage 750 volts and below
- sectionalize
- to isolate or separate sections of line
- splicing
- the joining of two conductors together end to end
- structure
- a device used to support conductors or cables and related equipment
- switching
- an operation that affects or modifies the status of an electrical system
- transformer
- equipment used to step down or step up voltage and current to desired level
- transmission line
- power line with an operating voltage over 34,500 volts
- transmission system
- system that transmits electricity from the generating station to substations that deliver power to customers
- voltage regulator
- equipment used to maintain a desired voltage
- wye system
- four-wire system with two possible voltages