Can anyone tell me what these are and what they're for please?

[sparc]

I've seen these plastic balls - or what look like plastic balls - on overhead power lines in a number of places. Usually above water, but not in this case. I've not been able to find out what they are by Googling, but presume someone with power distribution expertise will recognise them instantly.

 

[Rockingit]

AND.....as you're asking questions..... I saw something on a 44kV overhead the other day that looked like some sort of cable pulley system, a bit like what you'd find for a cable car - what was that all about?!

 

[Knobhead]

The ball cock floats are to make the lines easily visible, but to what ? ? ? ? ?

 

[telectrix]

crows..

 

[jaresquire]

They are Shreks fairy lights, leave them alone..

 

[Rockingit]

The ball cock floats are to make the lines easily visible, but to what ? ? ? ? ?

Just an extension of thought.... there's not a ditch/stream/drainage behind that hedge by any chance??

 

[sparc]

Yes! It's the River Kennet just behind there. Behind the camera is Newbury Race Course, which has a lake/pond in it - so maybe someone's suggestion about stopping wildfowl flying into cables is the answer.... although given amount of water around there, not sure why these 'ballcock floats' are only on a couple of sections of line.

Here we go - I can google it now I know what to ask for!

http://www.obstacle-lights.com/day-marking-spheres.html

 

[sparc]

Final word from me - there called 'bird deflectors' ... now I can get on with something more useful!

 

[Rockingit]

Final word from me - there called 'bird deflectors' ...

I used to hang around with this really ugly guy when I was a lad, he did much the same thing.

 

[jumpin jax]

They have these near Welney which has a swan sanctuary, did some work out there and often saw dead swans lying in the field after they hit lower unmarked lines

 

[Doomed]

You get them alot near swannarys - swans are clumsy buggers when they fly, get them breaking their wings on lamp posts and other clumsy mishaps.

 

[Guest111]

There are some large ones on the earth line of some cables near me just down the m62 near manchester,they are due to barton aerodrome being nearby they are also bright orange.

 

[oldtimer]

Go to Florida and the pylons around Disney land are shaped like Mickey Mouses head I kid you not

 

[Rockingit]

Go to Florida and the pylons around Disney land are shaped like Mickey Mouses head I kid you not

I saw it when I was out there a couple of months ago! Only the Yanks.