How does this work?

 Recently as I was driving thru rural Alberta, Canada,  I noticed long
stretches of power lines where there was only one high voltage wire.

There were transformers along these lines - mainly to feed oil pumps.

I surmise that these lines use a ground and the high voltage line to
feed the transformers.

  Hi DLC;


 > Recently as I was driving through rural Alberta,
 > Canada,  I noticed long stretches of power lines
 > where there was only one high voltage wire.

Yes, I have seen this also.

 > There were transformers along these lines -
 > mainly to feed oil pumps.

 > I surmise that these lines use a ground and the
 > high voltage line to feed the transformers.

That is exactly right, there is an earth connection
at each transformer. The Earth is the return.

BTW, the US system is very similar where the earth
is technically the return. OK, we also have the
earthed overhead wire. The earthed overhead wire is
usually the top most conductor which also serves a
lightning protection function which is absent in
the Canadian system.

Also, the Earth's resistance is much lower than the
earthed conductor.

Duane

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In most areas of the US they use three-phase or single phase distribution.
This includes a return wire for the current separate from the overhead
ground/lightning protection wire.  Just look on the poles in most areas.  In
most areas of the US were there is frequent need for electricity, SLER is
not worth it as the losses are higher.

SLER systems are only usable in very remote areas where the running the
return wire would cost more than the necessary transformer and energy losses
of SLER systems.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_wire_earth_return


daestrom

 DLC writes:

Thanks for the information and link.  Very interesting.

DLC

daestrom wrote:

 OMG!

"Daddy! Why do the cows refuse to drink from the water trough until
they die of dehydration?"

"Can you say 'tingle voltage', my dear?"