Power Line Systems June 2002 Newsletter:

In this issue:

1. Introduction
2. Upcoming Events Including the User Group Meeting in Portland
3. Program Progress
4. Training Opportunities
5. Recent Additions To Web Site
6. Current Versions

We would like to thank everyone who stopped by our booth at the T&D Expo for your kind words and useful suggestions. If you did not get an opportunity to meet with us in Indianapolis, please consider attending the user group meeting in Portland on July 10-11. Please note that while you are responsible for your own travel arrangements, the meeting itself is free of charge.

• A user group meeting will be held in Portland, Oregon on July 10 and 11. For more information please see the user group page.
• Mr. Elias Ghannoum will hold two half day presentations on PLS-CADD, PLS-POLE and TOWER in the Oberoi hotel, New Delhi on July 25. Please see the news page for details.
• Please visit us in booth #23 at CIGRE in Paris, August 26-30, 2002. We will demonstrate French language versions of our software.
• We have tentatively scheduled a user group meeting for November in Texas. More information will be posted to the news page when the meeting is finalized.

A new version of PLS-POLE is available that implements ANSI O.5-2002. This revision of the wood pole standard calls for a reduction of fiber stress with height, which can have a substantial impact on wood pole strength. The corresponding wood pole and wood material libraries are available in the PLS online library.

We have also added or updated a number of other features:

• The latest PLS-POLE and TOWER versions can display the program user interface in an alternate language. French is available now and we hope to provide Spanish later this year. To obtain the French interface use the Help/Download Alternate Language command. PLS-CADD version 5.09 will have this capability as well.
• TOWER now implements IS802 (India Standard 802) for member and connection capacity calculations.
• The Help/Download Upgrade From Internet command can now download updates for all your PLS software at once.

  Features coming in PLS-CADD version 5.09 scheduled for release at the Portland user group:

  • When used with SAPS, added the capability to put concentrated loads on a span (marker balls, service buggy, spacer/damper...) and to put ice on just part of a span.
  • The drawing of finite element conditions has been made much faster.
  • Insulator counter weights (hold down weights) can now be displayed graphically and are now included in the staking table.
  • Improved sheet cutting for lines that traverse steep terrain. Results in much better looking sheets with fewer breaks.

• Design of Transmission Line Structures and Foundations, September 23-27, 2002 and April 7-11, 2003 in Madison, Wisconsin
• PLS-CADD training in Portland, Oregon the week of July 15th. See the Portland Training web page for details.
• Computerized Transmission Line Design - PLS-CADD and TOWER Hands-On Training: October 7-11, 2002 and October 20-24, 2003 in Madison, Wisconsin

• Online Library
  • Wood pole component libraries based on ANSI O5.1-2002
  • REA crossarms library has been revised to allow for a single bolt hole and to change assumptions used with double crossarms. Users of the previous library are encouraged to upgrade.
• Technical Notes
  • A description of the new wire and structure clearances functions.
  • Video showing check of clearances between wires for an entire line at once.
  • Video showing check of clearances in a roll from a horizontal substation structure to a vertical transmission structure.
  • Video showing check of structure and guy clearances to wires.
  • Why Structure Flexibility Matters, Load Transfer Between Wires

We strongly encourage you to upgrade to the current shipping release of all the applications you own. To do so please send us email at info@powline.com or use the Help/Download Upgrade From Internet command. This would also be a good time to use the Help/Check for Updated Manual command to make sure you have the latest edition of the manuals.

As always, we welcome your suggestions and comments on our software.

Staff of Power Line Systems, Inc.

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

© 2002 Power Line Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.