What are the 3 boxes on electric poles?

Question

what are the 3 smallish boxes you see on some elctric poles used for.

Answer 1

They are capacitors, but they are not for EMI filtering, they are for power-factor correction.  There are 3 of them; one for each phase of the 3-phase power distribution lines.

Most of the loads for power systems are either resistive (light bulbs, etc.), or inductive (motors, lighting ballasts).  Inductive loads skew the current out-of-phase with the voltage, making measurement of power difficult (so the power company sells "short").  

In order to compensate for the inductance of all the motors and ballasts, the power company adds capacitance to the lines.  This puts the current back in phase with the voltage (for each phase).  It isn't a perfect solution, but it's better than leaving the current way out of phase with the voltage.

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Answer 2

Line filters or caps. Now a better question would be, why would they be needed every so often? Hmmm. i wonder. LOL

We'll save the problems associated with EMI and Harmonic distortions for another time though. Why?

They wouldn't understand the reason.

You know however...... Independent renewable energy production would totally solve this problem.(or in the very near future problem). Of course that would just totally kill socialized energy production though wouldn't it? My suggestion to you is you better hope the people never get smart. Some though (i'm afraid to tell you) already have. Ittttt's juuuuust a matter of time now.

To the poster below me.

See.... that's a really good sell for those who don't have a clue of whats going on.

But deny the fact that they started going up just about right at the same time energy efficient appliances and items became the in thing. Oh say around 1999 for example?

Yes it is used for those applications as well. But when they're being added in areas that haven't seen substantial growth as far as construction and or manufacturing plants are concerned, then one has to wonder. I don't wonder bud, i already know.

The problems have already manifested themselves in Great Britain.

Like i said ...........EMI and harmonic distortions. Cause?

ELECTRONICS.

Care to tell them why?