On Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:06:46 +0100, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>>> Rain water isn't chemically pure. (Depending on pollution levels.) Once 
>>> the pylon gets wet, it's entire surface is covered in a continuous sheet 
>>> of water, which also covers all of the cables. So why don't they short out?
>> 
>> There are insulators between the cables and pylons so there is no path for the
>> electricity to flow there.
>
>Indeed. This is why it works when they're dry.
>
>However, when those insulators are covered with a continuous layer of 
>water...

Look at the insulators, they are a strange shape. That shape ensures that they
are not covered with a continuous layer of water. Magic, isn't it :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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