A heavily reinforced transmission tower built to withstand the full longitudinal tension of the conductors. These are placed at the ends of a transmission line, at major turning angles, or at intervals along a straight run to prevent a cascading collapse if a conductor snaps.
Heard on the job
The line route takes a sharp ninety-degree turn at the river crossing, so we need a heavy anchor pylon there.
Also heard as
- tension tower
- dead-end tower
- strain tower
Related terms
Pylon
A tall steel lattice structure that supports overhead high-voltage transmission lines.
Conductor
A physical material or wire designed to carry electric current with minimal resistance.
Sag
Brief drop in RMS supply voltage, usually to between 10 and 90 percent of nominal, lasting up to about a minute.