Tag:power=minor_line
 power = minor_line
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| Description |
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Minor power lines forming the distribution grid, usually carried by poles. 
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| Rendering in OSM Carto |
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| Group: power |
| Used on these elements |
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| Implies |
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| Useful combination |
| See also |
| Status: de facto |
| Tools for this tag |
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Minor power lines are physically smaller than the high voltage pylons/towers and used for power distribution, are tagged as power=minor_line. Mostly supported on single poles, although sometimes the poles can have several supports, or may use towers when crossing obstacles where sufficient clearance is required.
Minor lines may be anything providing power distribution, from interconnected 20,000 volt lines powering a small suburb, to a single cable running from a street lighting pole to the next one. This tag will apply mostly on the lines that form the distribution grid.
Be careful not to mistake aerial telephone cables (or the like) for power lines.
- For transmission lines, usually carried on tower, use power=line.
- For underground or underwater power cables use power=cable.
How to map
Draw a 
way following the path of the cables. The poles that support the minor line can be mapped using 
power=pole. It is not necessary to tag power lines with a layer=* unless two lines cross over each other.
If the lines connect mid air at a crossing point without any ground support then use power=connection on the node connecting them.
| Key | Value | Comment | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| power | minor_line | It's a minor power line, normally mapped as a . |
Mandatory |
| voltage | <operating voltage> | The voltage at which the line is operated. May be semicolon-separated if there are multiple voltages. | Recommended |
| cables | <number of conductors> | The number of different phase conductors for this power line. Usually multiples of 3 (6, 9, 12) | Recommended |
| circuits | <number of circuits> | The number of separate electrical circuits carried by this power line. For the common 3-phase systems, it's no. of conductors/3 | Recommended if not implicit |
| operator operator:wikidata |
<line operator> | The name of the company which operates this power line | Recommended |
| owner owner:wikidata |
<line owner> | The name of the organisation that owns this power line | Optional |
| wires | <wire bundle per conductor> | The bundle form factor for each conductor of the power line | Optional |
| frequency | <operating frequency> | The frequency in hertz at which the power line is operating. May be semicolon-separated if there are multiple frequencies. | Optional |
| name | <name> | The name of this power line | Optional |
| ref | <reference> | The reference of this power line | Optional |
Line supports
The poles that support the minor power line can be mapped using power=pole and towers with power=tower and you may find extensive information on each pages.
It is possible to connect power lines to power=portal inside power=substation using power=insulator on the connecting node. power=terminal is also used at the connection with buildings without a dedicated power tower or portal to support the end of the line.
The choice between towers and poles not only depends on the importance of the line but on the surrounding environnement as well. As distribution lines are very capillary, poles are preferred to support them and it also possible to find towers when necessary. You are encouraged to check the shape of support: lattice or solid metal pieces assemblies for towers and single wooden or concrete parts for poles.
Since power lines conductors are usually uninsulated, they can only be located overhead to protect them from grounding with external elements and actually insulated with air.
Additional tags
When known, you can also add at least these tags to further define the line:
- voltage=* Nominal voltage (in volts), for example 20000 or 400.
- cables=* Number of the cables carrying current; Likely values are 1/3/6. Ground wires are not included. Neutral is not usually counted, other than lines connecting to the end customers.
- ref=*
- name=*
- operator=*
Gallery
A minor distribution line in residential area (with short-circuit fault).
An overhead feeder line of a broadcasting transmitter.
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Rendering
In addition to rendering on power lines on OSM Carto the following services are also available:
- Open Infrastructure Map
- Power Grid Map
- Electricity grid map (Europe only)
- Maperitive power line rule set for rendering power lines, cables and substations in Maperitive.
See also
- Power_networks and associated local projects.
- Classification of power lines.
- Power transmission refinement proposal
- usage=distribution