Jaideep Shenoy/The Hindu

• PSC poles can take weight of transformers up to 250-kVA capacity 
• Such poles were first introduced in 1999 in Bangalore
• Building promoters prefer PSC poles

Mangalore, Feb 14: People getting power from Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd., (Bescom), especially those in Bangalore, are familiar with the single pole transformers which were first installed way back in 1999. While paucity of space was the driving factor for Bescom to opt for single pole transformers, for Mangalore Electricity Company Ltd. (Mescom), the motivation was the aesthetic appeal.

The concept is the brainchild of S. Sumanth, the managing director of Mescom. He first introduced these transformers when he was the superintending engineer of Bescom’s Bangalore circle. Mr. Sumanth received a letter of appreciation from the then chairman of Karnataka Electricity Board V.P. Baligar for developing the design for the hume press stressed concrete (PSC) poles.

Can take weight

These 11-metre long poles can take the weight of a 250-kVA transformer that weighs around 1,400 kg.

The advantage of using such poles is that the transformers mounted on them occupy around 25 sq.m. as against 60 sq.m. required by conventional reinforced concrete cement double poles. Besides, transformers mounted on single PSC poles look elegant.

K. Jagadeesh, executive engineer, Mescom (operation and maintenance division), Attavar, told The Hindu that building promoters in the city were going in for single pole transformers mainly for their aesthetic appeal.

“While PSC poles are yet to come into vogue owing to their high cost, people have warmed up to the idea of mounting transformers on RCC poles as well,” he said. Mr. Sumanth said that the tapering effect that the PSC poles presented made them ideal for mounting the transformer on any side unlike the RCC poles where the transformer could be fixed on one side only.

Advantage

“Another advantage with PSC poles is that they do not require extra manpower to put them in place. The metal frame on which the transformers are mounted on PSC poles can withstand a person’s weight who needs to stand on it to complete the work,” he said. “Any of the 25-kVA, 63-kVA, 100-kVA and even the 200-kVA-capacity transformers can be mounted on one RCC pole. But, they are normally provided with a concrete bed for safety purposes,” Mr. Jagadeesh said. The PSC poles, which are buried 2.5 m. into the ground, bears the weight of the transformer on the metal framework on which it is mounted. These PSC poles are hollow.