610 N. Whitney Way, Suite 160 Madison, WI 53705, U.S.A. Phone: (608) 238-2171, Fax: (608) 238-9241 Email: info@powline.com
Home Search News Products

Power Line Systems May 2005 Newsletter

In this issue:

1. Introduction
2. Upcoming Training Sessions and Trade Shows
3. Web Site Additions and Revisions
4. Current Versions

Introduction

At the Atlanta User's Group Meeting in April we demonstrated version 7.30 of PLS-CADD, PLS-POLE and TOWER to an enthusiastic audience. This meeting was the best attended ever with more than 130 people participating. Presentations ranged from using PLS-CADD for rerating and upgrading to optimizing structures and lines.

The user group included a presentation on new version 7.30 features. Here's a list showing a small fraction of the improvements in version 7.30:

• PLS-CADD and PLS-POLE include pole deflection checks and can consider deflection limits when optimizing the pole shaft.
• File/Export DXF now preserves PLS-CADD fonts and fonts used in DXF attachments
• File/Export DXF now includes attached images in the export
• Drafting/Attachments/Image Info PLS-CADD command lets you graphically identify, show, hide and clip raster image attachments.
• JPEG 2000 (.jp2) images can now be attached to PLS-CADD projects
• TIN model now uses 1/3 the memory used in earlier versions
• Added support for Gap type conductors
• Added support for Australian ESAA C(b)1-2003 loading
• PLS-POLE and TOWER now have real time graphics preview and model check while editing data in the geometry tables.
• TOWER has a connection inspector for visual QA of connection information
• Added support for Windows XP x64 Edition. Much larger terrain models are possible on XP x64 since it doubles the amount of memory PLS-CADD can access.
• TOWER and PLS-POLE now automate microwave antenna loading calculations as per EIA/TIA 222-F and G

• Computerized Transmission Line Design: PLS-CADD Hands-On Training July 18-22, 2005 in Madison, Wisconsin
• A PLS-CADD User's Group Meeting will be held August 19-20 in Coolangatta Queensland, Australia. In Australia/NZ contact Peter Dulhunty to register, outside of Australia/NZ contact Otto Lynch.
• Please visit us in the Dulhunty Industries booth at the Energy 21C Conference in Brisbane Australia, August 21-24, 2005.
• Please visit our booth (#1940) at the 2005 IEEE/PES Transmission & Distribution Conference and Exposition in New Orleans, October 10-12, 2005.
• Computerized Transmission Line Design: PLS-CADD Hands-On Training November 7-11, 2005 in Madison, Wisconsin
• Mark your calendar for the Structural Engineering Institute ASCE Electrical Transmission Conference October 15-19, 2006, in Birmingham, Alabama. You'll not want to miss this outstanding technical conference. Power Line Systems will be attending and exhibiting at this conference.

Web Site Revisions and Additions

• Technical Note: Pole Deflection Check in PLS-POLE and PLS-CADD
• Technical Note: Cable Tensions in PLS-CADD contributed by Greg Chapman of Ergon Energy
• J-Power Systems Gap type conductors are now available for download
• Laminated Wood Systems E-LAM type "PEL" laminated wood tangent pole design library is available for download
• An updated PLS-CADD Spanish language user interface file is available for download with the Help/Download Alternate Language command
• Use the Help/Check For Updated Manual command in TOWER to download the March 2005 edition of the TOWER manual

Current Versions

The current shipping versions of our software are listed below.

We strongly encourage you to upgrade to the current release of all the applications you own. To do so please send us email at info@powline.com or use the Help/Download Upgrade command. This would also be a good time to use the Help/Check for Updated Manual command to make sure you have the latest version of the manuals. As always, we welcome your suggestions and comments on our software.

Staff of Power Line Systems, Inc.