ELi5: How do they connect electricity pylons? How do they join the lines?

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How do they connect lines between the pylons? especially in areas where they go over mountains covered in large forests? I live in Japan and they are up on mountains where there are no roads and just loads of trees. I think about it every time when I see them! How do they join them? Is it drones? How did they used to do it? Am I the only one who thinks about this? Thank you in advance.

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3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Modern times they use a helicopter to fly a small, strong messenger wire between the pylons. They use the ropes to then pull progressively larger and stronger wires between the poles. By using helicopters, you can fly the materials and crew in saving hours of hiking to the site in remote locations.

Before helicopters were common or if they weren’t available, workers would hike the valley to run the first line, then repeat the same process. They would also be required to build pylons closer together or even down into the valley since the largest cables were not able to go the far distances common today.

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