OVERHEAD (OH)

DISTRIBUTION
FACILITY STANDARDS
 OVERHEAD (OH)
DISTRIBUTION LINE
ABSTRACT
The presentation contains typical standard requirements
for the design of overhead distribution facility.
Standard distribution materials, equipments, procedures, and
construction types are thoroughly discussed herein.

The content will enable the participants to have a common

understanding of the technical major components of the
subject overhead distribution facility.

All standard materials and guidelines requirements

herein conform with the provisions of the Philippine
Electrical Code Part 2 (P.E.C 2) latest edition, Philippine
Distribution Code (PDC), and Regulations of other government
authorities. However, should the local authorities having jurisdiction
over the area of work are more restrictive, the local
government regulations will govern.
OUTLINE OF TOPICS

I. Distribution Voltages
II. Conductors
III. Insulators
IV. Poles, Structure & Supports
V. Line Equipment & Devices
VI. Guying
VII. Grounding
VIII. Overhead Line Clearances
IX. Overhead Line Configuration
I. DISTRIBUTION VOLTAGES

PRIMARY VOLTAGES

Standard Non-Standard
 34500 Y / 19920 V  13800 V (or 13200 V) delta

 13800 Y / 7970 V  6240 Y / 3600 V

 Other less prominent

voltages found in rural
areas
I. DISTRIBUTION VOLTAGES

SECONDARY/SERVICE VOLTAGES

Standard Non-Standard
 230/115 V L-L, 1Ø, 3W  230 V L-G, 1Ø, 2W

 230Y/133 V, 3Ø, 4W

 460Y/265 V, 3Ø, 4W

 400Y/230 V, 3Ø, 4W
VOLTAGE DROP

THE ULTIMATE VOLTAGE DROP SHOULD BE WITHIN THE

TOLERABLE LIMITS OF THE DITRIBUTION EQUIPMENT
AND ALSO THAT OF THE CUSTOMER’S UTILIZATION EQUIPMENT.

VOLTAGE DROP REQUIREMENT (REGULATORY) IS 10%

 II. CONDUCTORS

A. OVERHEAD SHIELD WIRE

7-#8 ALUMOWELD
ULTIMATE STRENGTH - 15,930 lbs.

B. PRIMARY LINE

• MAIN LINE – 336.4MCM ACSR

AMPACITY – 530 A
UL. STRENGTH – 14,100 lbs.
• LATERAL LINE – 3/0 AWG ACSR
AMPACITY – 300 A
UL. STRENGTH – 6,620 lbs.
C. NEUTRAL CONDUCTOR - 3/0 AWG ACSR
AMPACITY – 300 A
UL. STRENGTH – 6,620 lbs.

D. SECONDARY
- 3/0 TRIPLEX AL.
AMPACITY – 200 A
UL. STRENGTH – 6,675 lbs.
Conductor Tension

For extreme wind load, operating condition

Tension should not exceed 80% of the ultimate
strength of conductor.

Initial unloaded tension - 35%

Final unloaded tension - 25%

Ref : PEC 2 3.7.2.8

 II. CONDUCTORS
D. SERVICE WIRES

• 1 –PHASE Tapped to a secondary line

8kW and below - #6 Al triplex (Insulated)
9 to 20 kW – 3/0 Al Triplex (Insulated)

• 1-PHASE Tapped directly to a Distribution Transformer (DT)

25kW and below or when served solely from 25kVA DT
#2 Cu Triplex (Insulated)

26kW – 50kW or when served solely from 50kVA DT

2 - 4/0 Cu (Insulated) w/ #2 Bare Cu Messenger

51 – 75 kW or when served solely from 75kVA DT

2 – 500 MCM Cu (Insulated) with #2 Bare Cu Messenger
 II. CONDUCTORS

• 3 –PHASE Application
3-Phase loads shall be served directly from 3PH DT
Banks, there shall be no extension of 3PH secondary lines

43 KVA and below

#2 Quadruplex cu. cable

Above 43kVA
See Table 1
III. INSULATORS

PIN TYPE
INSULATOR
(for Tangent
Run)

STEEL PIN

TRANSITORY ITEM
HORIZONTAL POST
INSULATOR
(for Tangent Run)

TRANSITORY ITEM
 PIN-POST
INSULATOR
(170KV BIL / 200KV
BIL)
SUSPENSION INSULATOR
SPOOL INSULATOR
Mechanical Strength of Insulators

Insulators should not exceed the ff. percentages

of their ultimate strength.

CANTILIVER40%
COMPRESSION 50%
TENSION 50%

Ref : PEC 2 3.8.8

IV. POLES, STRUCTURES AND SUPPORT
 Pole Characteristic - Strength

Top pull is applied 600mm (2 ft) from the top of the pole.
Standard Distribution Poles
Top pull is applied 600mm (2 ft)
from the top of the pole.
DISTRIBUTION CONCRETE POLE – Pre-stressed
CONCRETE POLE APPLICATION

• 9.5 M
1. Secondary Pole
2. Stub Pole
Allowable Span : 40M

• 13.5M
1. Lateral Line (1-3Ph)
2. Max. of 3-100kVA DT
w/ Communication
Attachment
Allowable Span : 40M
CONCRETE POLE APPLICATION

• 15.0M and 16.5M

1. Main Line (2 - 3Ph Ckt.)
2. Max. of 3-100kVA DT
w/ Communication
Attachment
Allowable Span : 36M

• 18.0M
1. Main Line
2. Max. of 3-100kVA DT
3. Special clearance application
w/ Communication
Attachment
Allowable Span : 36M
DISTRIBUTION STEEL POLE – Galvanized Steel
Steel Pole Application

• 9.0M
1. Secondary Pole
2. Where pole hauling is a problem
due to narrow road / limited space /
inaccessible areas.
Allowable Span : 40M w/o
Communication Attachment

• 12.0M
1. Lateral Line, 3-Phase w/o DT
2. Max. of 1-75kVA DT w/ 1-phase line
3. Where pole hauling is a problem due to narrow
road / limited space / inaccessible areas.
Allowable Span : 40M w/o Communication
Attachment
 WOOD POLES
Pole Size Class General Max. Span Remarks
m (ft) Application Length, m
9.0 (30) 4 Secondary lines w/ 40 Use in inaccessible areas only where
provision for telecom concrete pole is not practical
attachments

12.0 (40) 4 • Lateral lines w/ or 40 Use in inaccessible areas only where

w/o DT concrete pole is not practical
• Max. of 1-100 kVA
DT attachment

21.0 (70) 1 • Main lines w/ or w/o 40 Special applications only such as

DT those with clearance problems
• Max. of 3-100 kVA
DT bank

24.0 (80) 1 • Main lines w/ or w/o 40 Special applications only such as

DT those with clearance problems
• Max. of 3-100 kVA
DT bank
Sag (Conductor)

The difference in elevation between the highest point of support of

the conductor and the lowest point of the conductor in the span.

3% Span – Regulatory Requirement

Ruling Span (Conductor)

A chosen span for which conductor tension under changes of

temperature and loading, best represents the average tension in
the conductor, in a particular series of spans between deadends. It
may be calculated as follows:

Ruling Span = Average Span + 2/3 (Maximum Span – Average Span)

CROSSARM / ALLEYARM
SUPPORT

• Insulator support
• Galvanized Steel
• Sizes : 1.2M, 2.4M and 3M Long
(75mmx100mm)
ALLEY ARM

CROSS ARM
1.2 M Communication Alleyarm
V. LINE EQUIPMENT & DEVICES

A. SWITCHING EQUIPMENT

B. POWER CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT

A. SWITCHING EQUIPMENT

LOAD BREAK SWITCH

(MANUAL)
REMOTE CONTROLLED LINE
SWITCH (SCADAMATE)
 REMOTE CONTROLLED
LINE SWITCH (SCADAMATE)
SECTIONALIZER
SECTIONALIZER
RECLOSER
RECLOSER –SINGLE PHASE
RECLOSER – 3 Phase
B. POWER CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT

VOLTAGE
REGULATOR
VOLTAGE REGULATOR
(PLATFORM MOUNTED)
LINE CAPACITOR
 DISTRIBUTION
TRANSFORMER (DT)
HOT LINE CLAMP

FUSE CUT-OUT

DISTRIBUTION
TRANSFORMER (DT)
 STRAIN CLAMP

SURGE ARRESTER
CURRENT LIMITING FUSE
(CLF)

CLF 12A 25A

Application ≤ 100 kVA 167 – 333

kVA
• All 20 kV DTs

• Below 20 kV - for high-

fault and very high-fault
areas, ≤ 1 MVA LOAD
 KV Rating

 34.5/20 kV
 13.2 kV
 13.2/7.62kV
 4.8 Kv
 3.6/6.24 kV
STANDARD DT KVA
SIZES
 Standard sizes

 10 kVA *

 25 kVA *

 50 kVA *

 75 kVA *

 100 kVA
 167 kVA
 250 kVA
 333 kVA

* 1-phase Application
 Standard combination 2-DTs

240/120V Sec
 2 - 25 kVA
 2 - 50 kVA
 2 - 75 kVA
 Standard combination 3 - DTs

240V , 277/480V, 416/240V

Sec
 3 – 37.5 kVA
 3 - 75 kVA
 3 – 100 kVA
 3 – 167 KVA
 3 – 250 KVA
 3 – 333 KVA
TRANSFORMER LOADINGS

• 1-phase Application
INITIAL LOADING
40% to 80% for secondary distribution
100% Solely-serve customer

CHANGE-OUT LOADING - 130%

• 3-phase Application
INITIAL LOADING – 100% Maximum

CHANGE-OUT LOADING – 130%

 VI. GUYING
A. GUY WIRE
• 3/8 “ DIA. – HIGH STRENGTH GALVANIZED
STEEL WIRE
ULTIMATE STRENGTH – 10,800 lbs.

B. ANCHOR ROD
• 16MM DIA. 1.8M
• 19mm DIA. 2.4M

C. ANCHOR BLOCK

D. THREE-BOLT GUY CLAMP

E. BONDING CLAMP
 BONDING
CLAMP

ANCHOR ROD

ANCHOR BLOCK
F. TYPES OF GUY ASSEMBLIES

1. DOWN GUY – wherein the guy wire terminates to

an anchor rod in the ground

2. TRUSS GUY – used when access-constraints

limit the installation of
anchor, based on the lead distance
requirement of the pole

3. HEAD GUY – wherein the guy wire terminates to

the other pole in the vicinity or
to a stub pole.

4. ARM GUY – a type of head guy but designed for

cross arm.

5. STORM GUY – combination of anchor & head guy

For open space area in along straight
run.
 DOWN GUY
 Guying of
electric poles is
required to
counteract the
unbalanced pull
of wires such as
in angle run,
corner run or
dead end
constructions.
 The most
effective guying
can be attained
when the the
guy wire makes
a 45-deg. angle
with the pole
and ground line
as shown.
 The number of guys
TOP VIEW OF HOLE
required to secure a
pole vary depending
on the number of
wires attached to
the particular pole.

Multiple Down Guy Installation

 TRUSS GUY
A truss guy is
usually employed in
lieu of down guy
when the lead angle
of the down guy
could not be met in
the field or where
ROW is a problem.
However, a down
guy should be used
as much as possible
under normal
situations.
THREE-BOLT GUY
CLAMP

HEAD GUY

GUY-WRE
ARM GUY
VII. POLE & EQUIPMENT GROUNDING

Poles must always carry a ground conductor that

extends from the overhead static wire (if present)
or to the system neutral to the ground coil
electrode or ground rod normally situated near
the pole butt.
POLE GROUND RESISTANCE :

1. 5 ohms at the first two (2) poles from the

substation.
2. 10 ohms within the protected zone which is 500
meters or 10 spans from the substation
whichever is longer.
3. 15 ohms outside the protected zone.
Grounding
Importance of Pole Ground Resistance
Lightning flashover percentages for the crossarm design
with a shield wire
90
80
Percentage of Flashovers

70
60
50
Per Strike

40
30
20
10
0
0 25 100 250 500 1000 2000
Ground Resistance (ohm s)

Reference: P. Garcia, T. Short and J. Burke, “Lightning Effects Studied,”

Transmission and Distribution World, May 1996, pp. 17-33.
The deeper the grounding rod the lesser the
ground resistance

Depth of Ground
Grounding Resistance
Rod (ft.) (ohms)
1 34.7
2 33.1
3 29.5
4 19.64
5 13.28
6 11.48
7 10.51
8 9.68
Ground Resistance Measurements using
Different Methods

Grounding Method

Pole ground connected to system

neutral (Existing)
Round plate with grounding rod
installed below the pole
Steel sheet wrapped around the
pole
Grounding rod installed beside
the pole
Pole ground connected to system neutral
Ground Resistance Measurements using
Different Methods

Ground Total Depth

Method Resistance (feet) Observation
(ohms)
Pole ground 32.20 6.5 shows high ground
connected to system resistance
neutral (Existing)
Round plate with
grounding rod installed
below the pole
Steel sheet wrapped
around the pole
Grounding rod
installed beside the
pole
Round plate with grounding rod installed below
the pole
Ground Resistance Measurements using
Different Methods

Ground Total Depth

Method Resistance (feet) Observation
(ohms)
Pole ground 32.20 6.5 shows high ground
connected to system resistance
neutral (Existing)
Round plate with 10.70 10.5 shows good ground
grounding rod installed resistance; requires
below the pole deeper installation
Steel sheet wrapped
around the pole
Grounding rod
installed beside the
pole
Steel sheet wrapped
around the pole
Ground Resistance Measurements
using Different Methods
Ground Total Depth
Method Resistance (feet) Observation
(ohms)
Pole ground 32.20 6.5 shows high ground
connected to system resistance
neutral (Existing)
Round plate with 10.70 10.5 shows good ground
grounding rod installed resistance; requires
below the pole deeper installation
Steel sheet wrapped 11.38 7.5 shows good ground
around the pole resistance; tedious
to install
Grounding rod
installed beside the
pole
Grounding rod installed beside the pole
Ground Resistance Measurements using
Different Methods

Ground Total Depth

Method Resistance (feet) Observation
(ohms)
Pole ground 32.20 6.5 shows high ground
connected to system resistance
neutral (Existing)
Round plate with 10.70 10.5 shows good ground
grounding rod installed resistance; requires
below the pole deeper installation
Steel sheet wrapped 11.38 7.5 shows good ground
around the pole resistance; tedious
to install
Grounding rod 10.76 8.0 shows good ground
installed beside the resistance
pole
Recommendation
The installation of grounding rod beside the pole is
recommended due to the following:
•shows good ground resistance
•easy to install
•cost-effective
VIII. OVERHEAD LINE CLEARANCES
1200 Primary Primary

200
1050 850

1200 1200

1300 1300

Fiber Optic Sec

150 150 200
400
Sec
1400 1400
1225
Typical 300 Tel1 300 Tel1

OH Installation
375 Telecoms 300 Tel2
Telecoms
300 Tel2
Telecoms

5800 5800 5800

13.5-m Class 3A Concrete Pole

Typical Overhead Construction

1500
2100 2000
OVERHEAD LINE CLEARANCES
OVERHEAD LINE CLEARANCES
OVERHEAD LINE CLEARANCES
 OVERHEAD LINE CLEARANCES

REFER TO TECHNICAL GUIDELINES : BASIC CLEARANCES FOR OH FACILITIES

TG-DDC-300.11 May 12, 2003
IX. OVERHEAD LINE CONFIGURATION
STRAIGHT RUN CONSTRUCTION
STRAIGHT RUN CONSTRUCTION
STRAIGHT RUN
CONSTRUCTION
STRAIGHT RUN CONSTRUCTION
STRAIGHT RUN CONSTRUCTION
STRAIGHT RUN / TANGENT
UNDERBUILT
STRAIGHT RUN / TANGENT
2-LEVEL CONSTRUCTION
DEAD-END CONSTRUCTION
DOUBLE DEAD-END
CONSTRUCTION
DOUBLE DEAD-END CONSTRUCTION
DOUBLE DEAD-END
CONSTRUCTION
DOUBLE DEAD-END
(WITH PIN-POST)
ANGLE RUN
CORNER RUN
END OF PRESENTATION