IEEE / ANSI · PH

ANSI/IEEE cable pothead symbol

IEEE-oriented pothead symbol marking a sealed cable termination where an insulated cable meets an overhead line or bus.

In plain English

What does ANSI/IEEE cable pothead mean?

Pothead is the traditional North American term for a sealed cable termination, especially at riser poles and outdoor substations. IEEE-style single-line diagrams show it where a cable rises to connect to an overhead line or open bus, often with a lightning arrester beside it.

A simple example

This illustration is an independent explanation of the convention and is not the IEEE graphic. Modern terminations may be porcelain, polymer or slip-on types, all of which may be called potheads on older drawings. Rating and creepage distance belong in the equipment data.

Identify the device and formRead the connections and stateCheck the equipment reference
A guide to reading this reference. The original symbol illustration and its drawing notes appear below; these boxes are not a wiring diagram.

What the drawings help you do

Look for an arrester at riser pole potheads. Treat older pothead labels as any sealed termination type. A pothead is a fixed sealed termination; a separable connector can be unplugged.

This particular reference

IEEE-oriented pothead symbol marking a sealed cable termination where an insulated cable meets an overhead line or bus. A pothead is a fixed sealed termination; a separable connector can be unplugged.

Rating
A value stating the conditions for which equipment is specified.
Schematic
A drawing showing function and connections rather than physical appearance.

Read the source: IEEE/ANSI 315-1975: graphic symbols for electrical and electronics diagrams · Elastimold underground cable accessories

IEEE / ANSI · Pothead termination form

Independent illustration in IEEE drafting context; no equivalence of every detailed standard graphic is asserted.

Shown as an independently authored educational illustration. Use the cited publication and drawing legend to verify the required drafting form.

SLD · PHANSI/IEEE cable pothead symbol: original educational illustration
Original educational illustrationNot to scale · See source and graphic notes

What it represents

Pothead is the traditional North American term for a sealed cable termination, especially at riser poles and outdoor substations. IEEE-style single-line diagrams show it where a cable rises to connect to an overhead line or open bus, often with a lightning arrester beside it.

This illustration is an independent explanation of the convention and is not the IEEE graphic. Modern terminations may be porcelain, polymer or slip-on types, all of which may be called potheads on older drawings. Rating and creepage distance belong in the equipment data.

How to read it

  • Look for an arrester at riser pole potheads.
  • Treat older pothead labels as any sealed termination type.

Information to show or reference

  • Identify termination type and rating.
  • Show associated arresters.
  • Mark phase identification at the pothead.

A distinction that matters

A pothead is a fixed sealed termination; a separable connector can be unplugged.

Sources you can follow

These public references support the explanation and provide further detail. Their graphics and downloadable files remain with their publishers.

IEEE/ANSI 315-1975: graphic symbols for electrical and electronics diagrams

Graphic-symbol standards context and official status; not a source of reproduced artwork.

IEEE Standards Association · Public reference checked 13 October 2026 · Link only

Elastimold underground cable accessories

Manufacturer context for cable terminations.

ABB · Public reference checked 13 October 2026 · Link only

About this graphic

This illustration was authored independently by Elora Grid to explain the concept. It is not reproduced from a customer drawing, an official standard graphic or a manufacturer CAD file. Its correspondence to an exact IEC or IEEE symbol identifier has not been certified.

SVG and DXF downloads contain this original artwork. DXF uses unscaled drawing units; a GA envelope supplies no product dimensions, clearances or fabrication information. Original artwork is available under CC BY 4.0. Third-party references retain their own terms.

Entry JSON · Entry Markdown · Last editorial update: 28 October 2026

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