Aerial bundled conductor replaces bare overhead wires with insulated aluminium cores twisted together into a single compact bundle strung from poles. Because every core is insulated, vegetation contact, conductor clashing in wind and accidental contact no longer cause faults, which substantially reduces unplanned outages on rural low voltage networks. The bundle is lighter and needs narrower wayleaves than a bare open-wire line and is far cheaper to install than underground cable.
Key applications
- Low voltage overhead distribution in rural areas
- Overhead reinforcement in built-up areas with limited clearance
- Service connections and street lighting supplies
- Replacement of ageing bare open-wire LV lines
- Temporary overhead supplies on construction and event sites
- Routes through or near trees where bare conductor is impractical
Features and benefits
- Insulated cores remove the risk of faults from vegetation and conductor clashing
- UV resistant black XLPE withstands long-term outdoor exposure
- Narrower safety and wayleave corridor than a bare overhead line
- Much lower installed cost than an equivalent buried cable
- Raised ribs on the core surface give permanent phase identification
Specification notes and limitations
ABC is insulated but it is not safe to touch: it must be treated as live at all times, and the insulation is not rated for the stresses of being handled energised. Mechanical design matters — sag, tension, pole spacing and the type of suspension and anchor clamps all have to suit the bundle, and using inappropriate clamps will cut into the insulation and cause failure. Do not install below -5°C, as XLPE is less tolerant of handling when cold, and avoid tight bends at poles and terminations. The insulation protects against incidental vegetation contact but it is not a substitute for tree clearance management, and the bundle must not be buried or used as an underground cable.
