OPAC (optical power attached cable) is a type of fiber optic cable that is installed by attaching to a host conductor along overhead power lines. One way round this is to install aerial fiber cables close to power lines, such as on mixed use poles which also carry electricity. Obviously, these fiber cables need to be resistant to electricity, which can be difficult as many aerial cables contain high tensile steel (HTS) for tensile strength. Utilities build fiber optic networks in similar ways that others build them, aerial and underground, but they also mix aerial cables in their power distribution cables, sharing towers and poles. In order to do this, they use some very different types of cables. It was used anywhere communications were needed near power equipment, such as substations or control. The term “cable” means stranded conductor or a combination of conductors that includes Fiber Optic Supply Cable, Fiber Optic Communication Cable, or Non–Dielectric Fiber Optic Cable as defined in Rule 20. The term “messenger” is defined in Rule 22. This overhead laying method can save a lot of construction costs and shorten the construction.
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