• Question: What limits do you think electricity has?

    Asked by @ to Paul on 10 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Paul Duff

      Paul Duff answered on 10 Mar 2016:

      That depends on what you mean by limits?

      In electrical power transmission there a few key limitations and one of which is the physical limits: when transmitting electricity colliding electrons in a high-voltage AC power line cause electrical resistance and resistance interferes with current in a wire, producing heat. If current flows beyond engineering limits, wires can melt or start a fire. More current can flow over a wire in colder weather, since air cools the line. So with that in mind the physical dimensions need to be considered alongside ensuring the cables wont sag too much as the material is heated.

      I hope this helped, feel free to ask a more specific Q and I will try and help out…

      Thanks

      Paul

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