Know What Those Weird Orbs On Texas Power Lines Do?

Texas is so awesome, even our power lines have balls. You've seen them but you  probably don't know why they're there, do you?

I asked around the station and got a few different ideas as to why they're there and what they do. The most common answer, (meaning 2 out of 3), was to keep the wires from touching in high winds. #3 thought they were some sort of ballast or circuit breaker. Nope.

They actually have a very simple purpose ... to help pilots in low flying aircraft avoid flying into the wires. They aren't always necessary though and they also aren't always the same color.

Why Don't All Power Lines Have Them?

They're only used in areas where there's a good chance an aircraft may hit them.

The colorful round markers, weighing around 17 pounds, are most often installed in areas near airports, freeway interchanges, mountain overpasses, and deep-set valleys. They're not always orange, either; their colors vary, with hues selected based on what will stand out best against a specific landscape. - slashgear

 Why Are Power Lines Up So High?

Mainly, so the public can't touch or damage them and so electricity will not jump from wire to ground. It's also because air acts as a great insulator. Rather than wrapping the wires in expensive insulation that needs constant maintenance, all that open air does the job for free.

Now you know. Knowledge is ... no pun intended ... power.