nouvelles de l'entreprise What Equipment Is Needed for 35kV, 110kV, 220kV and 500kV Transmission Line Stringing?

Voltage level is one of the most convenient ways to describe a transmission line — and one of the most useful starting points for planning a stringing spread. While the final equipment configuration always depends on the conductor and the terrain, grouping projects into three practical tiers helps buyers move quickly toward the right machine class.

From Voltage Level to Equipment Tier

Tier 1: 35–110 kV

These lines usually carry a single conductor per phase, and the OPGW is often strung with the same spread. A compact tensioner in the 30 kN class is widely used for 35–110 kV single-conductor and OPGW work, paired with a light puller. Transportability matters here, because these projects often reach rural and urban-edge corridors with limited access. The stringing blocks and pilot rope are correspondingly light, which keeps the whole spread easy to move between short sections and tight tower spans.

Tier 2: 220 kV

At 220 kV the design commonly moves to twin-bundle conductor, which roughly doubles the total load and requires two tensioner channels. A 90 kN class puller, such as the GS90, is a well-established choice for this tier, giving enough pulling force for twin-bundle stringing over moderate sections and terrain.

Tier 3: 500 kV

At 500 kV, four-bundle conductor is common and the loads rise sharply. This tier is served by 150 kN and 220 kN class pullers — machines like the GS150 and GS220 — together with high-capacity tensioners that can hold four sub-conductors under balanced tension. Continuous pulling rating, not peak force, is the governing figure at this level.

The Caveat That Always Applies

These tiers are a planning shortcut, not a rule. A 110 kV line crossing a long river span, or a 220 kV line over steep mountainous terrain, may need a larger machine than its voltage alone would suggest. Conductor size, bundle number, section length and terrain can each push the requirement up or down by one or more classes. Treat the voltage tier as your first estimate, then confirm it against the actual conductor and route before you finalise the order.

It is worth noting, too, that a single spread can sometimes serve more than one tier if the conductor is on the lighter edge of a range. A machine sized for the upper end of 110 kV work can occasionally handle a lightly loaded 220 kV section, provided the continuous rating and tension control are up to the task. This flexibility is why experienced planners keep the full project data in view rather than fixating on the voltage number alone.