Live conductor stringing and splicing method and apparatus

Method of installing a conductor along a power transmission system (100), wherein the system (100) carries power at least at 44 kV, without interrupting delivery of downstream power, comprising the following stringing steps:

• moving an energized first conductor (180) to a temporary position;
• stringing a second conductor (184) in a position formerly occupied by the first conductor (180) while the first conductor (180) is energized wherein said second conductor is at all times treated as an energized conductor in accordance with the further stringing steps setout below due to induced current in said second conductor;
• and transferring a power load carried by the first conductor (180) to the second conductor (184),
• wherein said stringing steps further include the steps of:
• a) providing a pulling line having at least a non-conductive end,
• b) connecting said non-conductive end of said pulling line to a leading end of said second conductor,
• c) providing first and second equal potential zones at opposite ends of a stringing path where along said second conductor is to be strung, wherein said first and second equal potential zones are grounded to their respective first and second adjacent areas of earth,
• d) electrically connecting said pulling line to said first equal potential zone, electrically connecting said second conductor to said second equal potential zone, and connecting said non-conductive end of said pulling line to said second conductor,
• e) electrically connecting first pulling equipment at said first-equal potential zone to said first equal potential zone and electrically connecting pay-out equipment at said second equal potential zone to said second equal potential zone,
• f) pulling said pulling line along said stringing path using said pulling and payout equipment so as to pull said pulling line into said first equal potential zone while paying-out said second conductor,
• whereby said first conductor is replaced with said second conductor without interrupting said power load and without risk of a ground circulating current electrically connecting between first and second equal potential zones.