insulators: pin type, line post and pinpost

For the first time for 22 kV distribution lines they used pin type insulators. Nowaday you can still see them in use but from time to time they are being replaced by line post and pin-post insulators.

The line post insulators are replacing the pin type insulators

The pin post insulators are the best insulators. They mix the quality of both pin type and line post insulator together. But you may not see them very often. May be because of the cost which is higher.

Underground cable in Laos

Conventional distribution line in Laos is overhead lines with medium voltage of 22 kilovolt. In the past there was 6.6 kV system, and in some area especially where the line connects to Vietnam grid, there is medium voltage with 33 kV.
Underground cables are used in the big cities like Vientiane capital and the world heritage city - Luangprabang (XLPE cables, PVC cables, electric wire and cables) .
There is also underwater cable across Mekong river to Thailand.

Watt-hour meters in Laos

Electricity is transmissted from dams to substations through 115 kilovolt lines. The highest hi-voltage transmission line in Laos is 500 kilovolt (under construction). In the subtations electricity is transformed to 22 kilovolt. The transformers in the streets lower the voltage to 400 volts, three phase four wire system and 230 volt 1 phase 2 wire system.
In every houses we still can see analogue watt-hour meters. Long time ago watt-hour meters were installed to the houses' walls behind the fences. Recently they were moved to the electric poles outside the fences in order to easy access for meter reading. Meter reading is performed manually by personnel from Electrical utility( EdL).
Recently the chinese company is trying to sell prepayment electronic watt-hour meters to EdL.

High above the ground

For the workers, who erect the steel towers and do stringing work, being above the ground is their work.
They work, eat and even sleep on the steel towers.
Some of them can walk on one single conductor so freely like walking on the ground.


Some towers are 1 hundred meters high but common height of steel towers is about 30 meters high.
You decide how much money do you require for this kind of job? You will have a safty belt and nylon rope

Life at the work site

Sleeping:
Any villages along the transmission line when they were available or small camping tents when there were no nearby villages.




Eating:
One cook for all. All in one table.


Going to work:
By feet, by truck or bikes
Washing up:
Streams, rivers, lakes, ...no water from water utility

Entertainment:
singing with no guitar or other instruments. Short wave radio (SW). No FM.
Beerlao, the most popular beer in Loas, is available in many villages but villagers' favourite drink is Lao khao - the local made sticky rice vodka. Sometime they put some herb into the bottle and they called it Lao Ya or Lao Bong Ya. Usually it is stronger than Russian Vodka.



Birthday with no cake but water melon.


Toilet:
any place that was convinient. No public or private restroom.
Hospital:
Many deseases from mosquitoes, diarrhea..Hospital was so far away.

Other service:
Barber drove his motorcycle around from one village to another.



The ice-cream man does the same but on his bicycle.

tag to os555, August