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Wires

Model transmission, distribution, and service wires with voltage levels

Wires represent the conductors that carry power, communications, or other services along your utility network. This guide covers how to add and manage different wire types.

Wire Types

Aura supports several wire types, each with a specific purpose:

TypeTypical UseColor (Default)
PrimaryMain distribution voltageRed
SecondaryLower voltage to customersOrange
TelecomCommunication cablesBlue
UnderbuiltLower cables sharing the structureGray
Guy WireStructural support cablesBrown
Service WireCustomer connectionsGreen

Adding Span Wires

Span wires run between poles along a span. They're the main conductors on your network.

Activate Add Span Wire Tool

Select Digital Grid → Wires → Add Span Wire or press Cmd/Ctrl + W.

Configure Wire Settings

In the settings panel, set:

  • Voltage Level - Primary, Secondary, Telecom, or Underbuilt
  • Wire Position - Height and offset on the structure

Select the Span

Click on the span where you want to add the wire (the line between two poles).

Define Wire Geometry

Click points on the span to define:

  • Attachment point on the "from" pole
  • Attachment point on the "to" pole
  • Wire sag is calculated automatically

Confirm Placement

The wire appears along the span with calculated sag geometry.

Automatic Sag: Worker calculates wire sag based on span length and wire parameters. The wire curves downward in the middle of the span, matching real-world physics.

Wire Settings

Access wire settings with Cmd/Ctrl + V or Digital Grid → Wires → Wire Settings:

Voltage Levels

Configure the voltage designation for each wire type:

  • Primary - High voltage (distribution primary)
  • Secondary - Low voltage (to customers)
  • Telecom - Communication lines
  • Underbuilt - Additional lower circuits

Voltage Labels

Toggle visibility of voltage labels:

  1. Open Wire Settings
  2. Check Show Voltage Labels
  3. Labels appear near wires showing their voltage type

Wire Colors

Customize wire colors in the left sidebar:

  • Click the color swatch next to each wire type
  • Select a new color
  • All wires of that type update

Adding Guy Wires

Guy wires provide structural support, running from the pole to the ground:

Activate Add Guy Wire Tool

Select Digital Grid → Wires → Add Guy Wire or press Cmd/Ctrl + G.

Click on the Pole

Click on the pole where the guy wire attaches.

Click the Anchor Point

Click on the ground where the guy wire is anchored.

Verify Placement

The guy wire appears as a diagonal line from pole to ground.

Adding Service Wires

Service wires connect from the main line to customer locations:

Activate Add Service Wire Tool

Select Digital Grid → Wires → Add Service Wire.

Click the Pole

Click on the pole where the service wire originates.

Click the Service Point

Click on the customer's service entrance location.

Wire is Created

The service wire appears connecting the two points.

Removing Wires

Activate Remove Wire Tool

Select Digital Grid → Wires → Remove Wire or press Shift + W.

Click on the Wire

Click on the wire you want to remove.

Wire is Deleted

The selected wire is removed. Other wires on the same span remain.

Wire Visibility

Control wire visibility in the left sidebar:

  • Primary Wires - Toggle/color
  • Secondary Wires - Toggle/color
  • Telecom Wires - Toggle/color
  • Underbuilt Wires - Toggle/color
  • Guy Wires - Toggle/color
  • Service Wires - Toggle/color
  • Voltage Labels - Toggle

Wire Properties

Each wire has these properties:

PropertyDescription
Voltage LevelPrimary, Secondary, Telecom, Underbuilt
From PointAttachment coordinates on start pole
To PointAttachment coordinates on end pole
SagCalculated wire droop at midspan
SpanReference to parent span

Understanding Wire Sag

Wire sag is the vertical droop in the middle of a span:

Pole A                           Pole B
  |                               |
  |---__                     __---|  ← Attachment points
  |     --__            __--      |
  |         --__    __--          |
  |             -⌣-               |  ← Maximum sag point
  |                               |

Factors affecting sag:

  • Span length - Longer spans have more sag
  • Wire weight - Heavier wires sag more
  • Temperature - Wires expand in heat, increasing sag
  • Ice/wind - Loading increases sag

Best Practices

Add Wires in Order

For each span, add wires from top to bottom:

  1. Primary wires (highest)
  2. Secondary wires
  3. Telecom wires
  4. Underbuilt wires (lowest)

Consistent Voltage Assignment

  • Use consistent voltage levels across your project
  • Document your voltage color scheme
  • Verify assignments with voltage labels

Multiple Phases

For three-phase circuits:

  1. Add each phase as a separate wire
  2. Use the same voltage level for all
  3. Position at appropriate heights/offsets

Verify Against Point Cloud

After adding wires:

  1. Check alignment with visible wires in point cloud
  2. Verify sag looks reasonable
  3. Confirm attachment heights match reality

Wire Clearances

Wire clearances are critical for safety:

Minimum Ground Clearance

Required clearance depends on:

  • Voltage level
  • Crossing type (road, walkway, rail)
  • Regulatory jurisdiction

Wire-to-Wire Clearance

Vertical separation between wires:

  • Between different voltage levels
  • Between different utilities
  • At attachment points

Use Analysis tools to calculate clearances.

Troubleshooting

Wire Not Appearing

If wire doesn't show after creation:

  1. Check wire visibility is enabled
  2. Verify the span exists
  3. Zoom in to the span location
  4. Try recreating the wire

Wire Position Wrong

If wire attachment points are incorrect:

  1. Remove the wire
  2. Verify pole positions are accurate
  3. Re-add the wire with correct clicks

Sag Looks Incorrect

If wire sag seems wrong:

  1. Check span length is reasonable
  2. Verify pole heights are accurate
  3. Sag increases with longer spans

Next Steps

After adding wires:

  1. Add crossarms for attachment details
  2. Run analysis to check clearances
  3. Review wire positions against point cloud data

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