On Aug 11, at the simulated operation site of the Xinli Substation Training Base, young employees from the State Grid Shizuishan Power Supply Company conducted practical training on mastering the key points of replacing current-carrying wire clamps. A green "magic tool" that looks like an extended wrench —the current-carrying wire diameter measuring device— was a key part of the training.

It is understood that in the "vital arteries" of the high-voltage power grid, current-carrying wires are indispensable "life lines" for maintaining the stable transmission of energy. In the current maintenance environment, hydraulic wire clamps, on the one hand, can achieve stable current transmission and prevent electrical corrosion during operation; on the other hand, they can reduce contact resistance and withstand a certain amount of tension, serving as the foundation for the stable transmission of electrical energy.

The invention of the current-carrying wire diameter measuring device is an innovative achievement born on the frontline of production. Currently, the primary equipment connection wires inside substations are diverse. Power outage maintenance often involves the maintenance of current-carrying wires, wire clamps and hardware fittings. However, the diameter of these connection wires changes due to factors such as number of years in service, maximum current-carrying capacity, application purpose and connection position. These current-carrying wires are also connected to various structures, making it very difficult to observe their diameter data with the naked eye. This poses significant challenges for wire clamp transformation and current-carrying wire maintenance work. Particularly in the existing operation mode, replacing bolted wire clamps with hydraulic wire clamps can, on the one hand, reduce the probability of current-carrying wire clamps overheating; on the other hand, hydraulic wire clamps have a longer service life. This work has become one of the regular tasks in power outage maintenance and defect elimination. However, during the replacement process, due to the fact that different current-carrying wire diameters correspond to different wire clamp models and it is not easy to measure the diameter of current-carrying wire clamps in operation, the replacement operation process is extremely complex. Power personnel need to hold calipers and conduct measurements in complex and dangerous high-altitude environments. This not only results in low efficiency and safety risks, it also makes it difficult to ensure the comprehensiveness and accuracy of data recording. In some cases, operators may even need to pre-install wire clamps with approximate wire diameters to determine whether they meet the replacement standards.

Now, this long-standing problem for the industry has been resolved by the current-carrying wire diameter measuring device —an innovative device independently developed by frontline operators. This is not just a tool upgrade, but a revolutionary leap in measurement methods.

The research and application of the current-carrying wire diameter measuring device allows for on-site maintenance operations of power infrastructure and efficient production. It measures the safety baseline of the power grid with "millimeter-level" precision and reshapes traditional operation processes efficiently. This not only represents a major breakthrough in measurement technology, but also serves as an important cornerstone for the power grid to move towards an intelligent and digital future. The application of this innovative device solves the problem that the variety of current-carrying wire clamp models makes it difficult to prepare spare parts and conduct preparatory work, shortens the time required for replacing current-carrying wire clamps, improves the efficiency of maintenance operations, and ensures safety. At the same time, the design of the device conforms to the actual environment of the maintenance operation site. It uses an insulating rod as the main support, enhancing the device's lightweight and flexibility; on the other hand, molds are manufactured in accordance with the actual wiring conditions in the substation and national standard requirements. This not only unifies the access standards for current-carrying wires, but also meets the needs of establishing and improving the current-carrying wire ledger database, achieving multiple benefits with one effort.

The implementation of this innovative application ends constraints imposed by traditional calipers and allows for precise, intelligent measurement. The current-carrying wire diameter measuring device is contributing indispensable intellectual momentum to safeguarding the strong pulse of the power grid and building a solid safety line for thousands of households.