Discussion at Pacific Coast convention: Mechanical electrical construction of modern power transmission lines insulators for high-voltage lines: Special features in the design of transmission tower lines as imposed by electrical conditions

E.V. Pannell: Mr. Dreyer, on the fourth page of his paper, makes particular reference to the matter of excessive swinging of insulator strings where the vertical loading disappears. On the subject of dangerous swing of insulators where the horizontal load is unbalanced, the facts seem to show that the tie-down string is somewhat unsatisfactory, but Mr. Dreyer makes no mention of the possibility of using weights and I would like to know whether he has made any experiments in this respect. The use of a weight in place of a tie-down string has the advantages that a vertical component is provided at the same time the flexible characteristics of the line are not impaired and the arrangement would seem to be inherently superior to imposing dead-end stresses on a point which is not designed as a dead-end. In several installations in this country weights are being used instead of downs and I also know of work in Japan where weights have superseded tie-downs with greater satisfaction. It is necessary, of course, that clearances shall not be impaired but if this condition is satisfied I believe weights will be found the most satisfactory device.