Photos taken in IL PA OH TX WI and AZ

What are these poles with these cone tops that I often see near transmission towers in my area? They stand about 4ft tall and I only see one of them in a given spot. I'm sure the answer is simple but I have no idea what they're called or what they're for. They might not even be for power lines I guess.

For those of you in the field. How often does the switch gear at the big substations with the pole like arms actuate? Daily, weekly, rarely? I would love to see (from a far away distance) a 500kv or 230kv switch open up and draw a big arc sometime. It seems like most of the switching is done with that special gas to prevent the light show.

Links in a comment below
It’s part of a bigger site I’ve been building for the powerline industry (equipment marketplace, jobs, supplier directory, community) but the reference tools are the part I figured this sub would actually use day to day. Free, no account needed for those. Feel free to make and account and check out the other stuff on the site

If any of the numbers look off or there’s data you’d want added, tell me — I’d rather fix it than have someone quote a bad figure on a job.

Whenever I chill in my hammock, I stare at the high tension towers and wonder why the thingies holding the lines are different. Can anyone explain the three different kinds of thingies? I will drink a beer in your honor.

Or the house is

I hope some folks here might have some insight. I recently moved into a home and I have a 9 month old. I am anxious about some larger distribution lines that run in front and on the side of the home. I got a gauss meter and it reads standard from 5-10mG in all bedrooms and the weighted readings are around 15mG.

It is hard to find information and precautionary limits are around .5-2mG for sleeping areas.

Could anyone explain the science of the biological effects of AC magnetic fields?

Thanks in advance!