Aerial bundled conductors

Low voltage aerial bundled conductor (ABC) lines were first installed on the rural Irish distribution networks in 1981. The type chosen was the fully self supporting design closely following type NFA2X according to the VDE specification 0274. ABC is now the standard LV line type installed in the Republic of Ireland with over 17000 km of line length in service. This is growing at a rate of 1500 km per year. 25% of the LV overhead network is now comprised of ABC. This paper deals briefly with the countrywide introduction programme of low voltage ABC, the design choices made, problems encountered, developments made and assesses the economic and technical performance to date. It also touches on HV ABC and sets out the Irish utility position on this developing technology