What is Transmission tower?
[[File:Pylon ds.jpg|thumb|Transmission tower; this is a suspension tower with vertical [[Insulator (electricity)|insulators]]]] [[File:Abspannmast Detail 20130414.jpg|thumb|Detail of a transmission tower; horizontal insulators of a tension tower]] A '''transmission tower''' or '''pylon''' (also known as an '''ironman''' in [[Australia]] and a '''hydro tower''' in parts of [[Canada]]) is a tall [[tower]] used for [[electric power transmission]]. It carries the [[electrical conductor]]s ([[wire]]s) of high-[[voltage]] overhead [[power line]]s. The tower is high for a safe distance for people, animals or things below the wires. Most big transmission towers are [[lattice]] [[steel]] structures. Smaller ones may be [[wood]], [[concrete]] or steel [[Utility pole|poles]]. [[File:Transmission_towers_at_sunset_in_East_Texas.jpg|thumb|Transmission Towers at sunset in [[Texas]].]] [[File:A_TRANSMISSION_TOWER_IN_SHENZHEN_(63).jpg|thumb|Shenzhen Transmission Towers]] == Types == Most transmission towers are built as suspension towers. They only hold up the wires, not pull them. Their [[Insulator (electricity)|insulators]] are used vertically. [[Tension (mechanics)|Tension]] towers (also known as anchor towers) pull on the wires. Their insulators are used horizontally. They work as terminal towers at the end of a power line. They work as branch towers where power lines split and run in different directions. Transposition towers are relatively rare. They allow the wires to change their position on the tower. ==Related pages== * [[Underground cable]] {{commons category|Electricity pylons}} [[Category:Towers]] [[Category:Electricity distribution]] {{sci-stub}}