Power lines, are they bare?

[TheSiege]

Text

ok so this guy hits some power lines, if they were insulated there would be no real problem right? how come they arent?

 

[BigJ]

Why? Cost.

And he's an idiot. He headed straight towards the power lines.

 

[BZeto]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Why? Cost.

And he's an idiot. He headed straight towards the power lines.

It was his first jump, I dont think he had much practice steering yet.

 

[KMurphy]

Because air insulation is cheap and easy. How would you propose insulating 250, 500, 1000 KV?

 

[FoBoT]

if you don't complete the circuit (with the ground), then no current flows


like birds sitting on a power line, no problem

 

[Pepsi90919]

power lines usually aren't
power drops to the house are

 

[Qacer]

Originally posted by: TheSiege
Text

ok so this guy hits some power lines, if they were insulated there would be no real problem right? how come they arent?

Power lines are bare because of heat. They leave out the insulation because with so much current flowing especially at high voltage lines the insulation will just interfere with cooling the lines.