Fortune 500 Power Company
Transmission Three-Way Switch Installation
In this project, our engineers supported client design teams and overcame the unique challenges of this three-way switch installation.
Our client
This Fortune 500 Power Company provides power generation, transmission, and distribution for more than five million customers across the nation. Their aim is to support businesses, commerce, and communities through reliable service and solutions.
Project highlights
Their challenge
When this long-time Salas O’Brien client needed help to supplement their design of a three-way switch to feed a new station from an existing transmission line, they turned to our team. The station engineering team was responsible for design and procurement for the three-way switch and corresponding interrupters, signage, switch operators, and grounding. The client’s transmission team specified a 15-foot davit arm on the switching pole, while the client’s standard was to use an 8-foot davit arm. Since the client’s specifications were designed for the 8-foot davit arm, Salas O’Brien had to customize a solution to fit the available materials.
Our solution
Salas O’Brien ordered additional insulators to install onto the pole to minimize the length of jumper from the switch connection pads to the passing through line. This reduced the tension caused by the jumper on the equipment and minimized the risk of clearance issues. Our team also worked with the client’s transmission team to install the switch on an existing line.
The results
In coordination between cross-discipline teams, Salas O’Brien was able to collectively design and install a customized phase over phase switch pole. The innovative design used available materials provided by the client to meet requirements for clearances and design standards.


