Why not just talk to a real life lineman?

They do this stuff for a living and don't need simulator software in order to put some poles in the ground and do their jobs correctly.

Yes, line crews do the work daily and it is difficult work. Generally they are not concerned with ruling spans, ground line moments, wood fiber strength, etc. That is why we have technical folks like engineers.

You must be in the wrong forum.

So who do suppose the simulations software programmers talk to to get their information in regards to the installation of the line systems?

To me the installers just seemed like the logical choice!

My apologies for assuming that some place somewhere someone other than an engineer may just have knowledge about what it is that they do for a living.

For distribution one generally doesn't need software. The rules and formulae are pretty straightforward. Electrical Engineering Handbooks are useful and (in the US) the National Electrical Safety Code (ANSI C2). There are also a couple of Design Manuals published by the US RUS (formerly REA).

All major electric utilities also have their own engineering design, construction, and safety standards and procedures.

Finally, if you really want to use design software you might take a look at PLS-CAD (which is also used by many electric utilities and consultants).

Yes, I understand all of the codes. I designed and approved designs of many pole lines for many years for a large utility. I also worked on site with crews installing UG and OH systems.

Based on my experience, having the line crew design the job also does not make economic sense. The fully loaded cost for a line crew is around $125 per hour while an engineer/tech is around $90 per hour. I believe tcmtech is confusing the design of a pole line with construction of the pole line. To be a good designer you must understand construction. The line crew is more interested in construction techniques. I agree that the designer must understand construction but that is not the whole story.

I can do the calculations manually but it gets tedious when you have a 40, 50, 60, ? pole line project. Typically every pole may have multiple primary circuits, neutral, secondary, and multiple communication circuits with taps to other pole lines. Soil types, conductor size, pole mounted equipment, and line angle will vary over the project route.

Anyway, if anyone has any experience with pole line design software please post with your experience. Pro or Con? Thanks

Give a call/email to Fortis (Alberta) or Atco Electric, both private firms here in Alberta. I know they have software that just requires the line profile, wind loading, angles and wire size, then spits out the required information. Things like pole sizes, classes, number of bolts, insulators, ties, wire length,... I think it even does an estimate on man hours required and cost!

Thank you for the information

Disclaimer: I am no longer affiliated with this company but did work there for several years.

Have you considered Itron's Distribution Design Solutions software? They develop several software applications including a LD-Field, LD-Pro, Distribution Staker, and Distribution Design Studio. This software is designed and used by electrical and line design engineers for small and large utility companies. It might be what you're looking for. Good luck! Itron's Web site, focused on DDS products:

http://www.itron.com/pages/products_category.asp?id=itr_000386.xml