"Jasen Betts" wrote to "Roy J. Tellason" (26 Dec 02  12:59:28)
 --- on the topic of "HVDC Transmission Lines"

 JB>> you to see something really wierd, in some places they distribute
 JB>> the power to consumers with a single conductor and use a ground
 JB>> return,

 RJT> Wouldn't there be some nontrivial resistance there?

 JB> yeah, that doesn't seem to stop them doing it though.

In my metropolitan area the distribution wire branches off one of the
3-phases and carries a few thousand volts along the top of the poles.
Every few homes there will be a transformer (pole pig) to reduce the
voltage to household levels and it is grounded. It may seem like there
is no return except through ground but don't forget the utility poles
tend to carry phone and cable service too and these are supported by
steel cables which are grounded every few poles. Though iron may have
more resistivity than copper it is still better than the earth path in
between each pole pig. I can't say if it is the same in rural areas.

 Mike
 ****

... Thomas Edison invented the "Light Emitting Resistor"
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