These devices, which are similar to Poke-balls, are called “warning spheres”. It is usually seen near airports because it is placed on electrical wires to warn vehicles such as low-flying aircraft, helicopters.
They are also used in electrical wires passing over rivers, lakes, fjords, valleys, roads, railways, construction sites and pipelines. It is also placed near military bases and police stations.
Warning spheres, consisting of two hemispheres, are UV and ozone resistant materials.
It is connected to the air-going conductor with two bolt clamps. Thanks to its special installation mechanism, it can be easily placed on the conductor by a single line technician. Thanks to the design of the clamp structure, the deformation caused by the tightening of the bolts is prevented.
It is made of Polyethylene. Since the jaws are made of aluminum and contain grooved channels, situations such as slippage will never occur. Drainage holes in the sphere prevent the accumulation of rain in the sphere.
Color selection is very important in the warning spheres that make high voltage lines easy to see.
Attention should be paid to the color of the background in the area where the sphere is placed. Generally, colors such as white, red, orange are preferred. A contrast must be maintained between the background and the warning spheres. Sometimes the colors can be changed according to the seasons.
The place where they are mounted is the suspension rope of the lightning protection ground of the tower. The diameter of the spheres is usually 600 mm, the distance between them is 30 m. The distance increases with the size of the diameter.
Since it is very difficult to see high voltage lines, especially in foggy and cloudy weather, helicopter accidents have been prevented thanks to these red-white balls. However, there are generally high voltage line LED warning lamps in the world. They are much more visible than spheres, especially at night.
Sources: Electric Port, RM Electric
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