1.

CONDUCTORS

 Only all aluminum conductor steel reinforced (ACSR) to IEC 61089; Part 3
shall be used for the overhead lines. The cross-sectional area shall comply
with the Detail Technical Specification.
 Unless otherwise specified in Design Data, Paragraph 1, the minimum
clearances of electrical conductors shall be in accordance with DRC Minerals
Act
 Appropriate sag and tensioning charts shall be used to string conductors.
Conductors shall not be tensioned to more than 25% of the breaking strength
of the conductor at –5,5ºC with 1100 Pa wind pressure (IEC 60826:2017).
 Tensioning of conductors shall be carried out using only approved tackle and
hardware.
 Conductor running blocks shall be installed on all suspension pole positions to
run out the conductors. Conductors shall not be dragged along the ground
and the Engineer reserves the right to reject any section of the line that is badly
kinked, scored, or bird-caged.
 The contractor shall string all conductors and earth conductors to sag and
tension charts approved by the Engineer. For this purpose the contractor shall
provide and maintain in good condition, suitable Dynamometers, sag boards
or other approved apparatus for the proper tensioning of the line.
 The minimum conductor to ground clearances shall be as stipulated in the
Occupational Health and Safety Act and an additional 600mm must be allowed
for the stringing of a long span optical fiber where indicated in BOQ. Allowance
shall be made for conductor creepage and subsequent increased sag after a
period.
 Conductors shall be pre-stressed for not less than one hour before binding in.
 Joints in conductors shall be located at strain structures only and conductor
joints shall be made with two bolt-parallel groove clamps of a type approved
by the Engineer. The current carrying capacity of the clamps shall be at least
equal to that of the conductor.
 Non-oxidizing conducting paste shall be liberally applied to the inside of these
clamps.
 Where aluminum to copper connections are made, suitable bi-metal clamps
shall be used.
  Line guards shall be fitted all points where insulators are clamped to the
conductors.

Appendix E: Conductor Properties (ACSR)

Standing & Overall Aluminium Mass Ultimate Breaking DC Current Standard

wire diameter area tensile load resistance at rating drum
diameter (Kg/km) strength 20°C length
(mm) (mm)
(mm) (Newton) (kg) (ohms/km) (Amps) (m)
FOX 6/1/2,79 8,73 36,68 149 13100 1340 0,7822 190 2500
MINK 6/1/3,36 10,98 63,13 257 21900 2230 0,4546 260 1500
HARE 6/1/4,72 14,16 104,98 427 36000 3670 0,2733 360 1500
COYOTE 26/7/1,91 15,89 131,74 524 47300 4820 0,3035 420 2000
WOLF 30/7/2,59 18,13 158,06 730 69200 7050 0,1828 470 2000
BEAR 30/7/3,35 23,45 264,72 1220 112000 11400 0,1092 650 2000
BISON 54/7/3,00 27,00 381,70 1450 119000 12100 0,0757 800 2000
MOOSE 54/7/3,35 31,77 528,49 2000 162000 16500 0,0547 980 2000
GOAT 30/7/3.71 25.9 324.3 1488 135700 0.0891 596 2000

1.1 Appendix A: Factors of Safety

Regulation 21.12.1 OVERHEAD POWER LINE SUPPORTS – MINIMUM FACTOR OF SAFETY

FACTOR OF SAFETY BASED ON
TYPE OF SUPPORT Type tested Calculated Modules of
failing load failing load rapture
Steel lattice towers and cross-arms 2.5 2.5 -
Solid drawn steel poles 2 2.5 -
Welded steel poles and steel poles with swaged or telescopic joints 2.2 2.5 -
Stay assemblies 2.5 2.5 -
Reinforced concrete spun poles 2.4 3.5 -
Mechanically vibrated reinforced concrete structures and components 2.5 3.5 -
Other types of reinforced concrete structures and components 2.75 3.75 -
Wooden members not continuously loaded 3.5 - 2.7
Wooden members subjected to continuous loading 5.5 - 4.5

2. OPTICAL FIBRE

The main conductor shall be OPGW 24 core single mode (9/125µm). The OPGW wire
is to maintain the electrical fault carrying capacity (steel tube fibre carrier preferred for
strength and fault capacity). The OPGW wire must be capable of spans up to 150m and
shall be arranged so as to efficiently shield the line conductors. The fibre splice box
shall be installed at every consumer (e.g. conveyor transfer point or pump station).
Splicing and OTDR testing shall be allowed for. Splice domes shall be used on pylons
or equivalent outdoor rated equipment. The equipment should be adequately rated from
the application. Battery limits shall be at the splice tray.

All fibre optic cables shall be subject to an OTDR test (Optical Time Deflection Relay)
which shall ascertain the core length and quality of signal. Print-outs from OTDR tests
shall be retained for hand-over. The OTDR test should be completed and cleared at the
time of delivery and before commissioning.