Which factor is among those to consider when sagging wire?

• A. Temperature, size of wire, type of wire, and length of the ruling span
• B. Temperature only
• C. Weather conditions
• D. Conductor color

Answer: (A)

Sag depends on how much the conductor weighs, how stiff it is, how long the span between supports is, and how the conductor changes length with temperature. All four factors listed directly influence how far the wire will drop when it’s stretched between two supports.

Temperature causes the wire to expand or contract and also slightly changes its stiffness. When it gets hotter, the conductor lengthens and tends to sag more; cooler conditions reduce sag. The size of the wire matters because heavier, larger-gauge conductors add more weight and thus pull more, increasing sag, while the cross-sectional shape and weight distribution also affect how the wire bends under load. The type of wire matters because different materials and constructions have different densities and elastic properties, which change how much they sag under the same span and temperature. Finally, the length of the ruling span sets the geometric distance the wire must span; longer spans produce more sag for the same conductor and conditions.

Weather conditions and conductor color don’t directly define sag in the static sense. Weather can introduce dynamic effects like ice or wind loads that add to sag, but the factors above are the direct, primary ones used for calculating sag under normal conditions.