The Pole Top Equipment and Replacement course is designed to familiarize participants with the various types of pole top equipment and switches used in overhead distribution systems. Pole top equipment operation and function are discussed along with general procedures for equipment replacement and maintenance. To obtain maximum advantage from this course, participants should be familiar with the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Systems and Theory courses and the T&D Maintenance Basics courses or have equivalent background.

At the conclusion of this course, participants should be able to describe how pole top cutouts, reclosers, sectionalizers, and gang-operated switches are used to provide coordinated protection for a distribution system. They should also be able to identify problems that occur in pole top equipment, and they should be able to describe general procedures for replacing fused cutouts, reclosers, and gang-operated switches.