{"schemaVersion":1,"slug":"ansi-cable-pothead","name":"ANSI/IEEE cable pothead symbol","kind":"symbol","abbreviation":"PH","aliases":["pothead","IEEE cable termination","ANSI cable terminator"],"category":"connections-wiring","drawingTypes":["SLD"],"referenceFamilies":["IEEE / ANSI"],"summary":"IEEE-oriented pothead symbol marking a sealed cable termination where an insulated cable meets an overhead line or bus.","description":["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."],"readingNotes":["Look for an arrester at riser pole potheads.","Treat older pothead labels as any sealed termination type."],"drawingChecklist":["Identify termination type and rating.","Show associated arresters.","Mark phase identification at the pothead."],"distinction":"A pothead is a fixed sealed termination; a separable connector can be unplugged.","facts":[{"label":"Convention evidence","value":"IEEE 315 graphic conventions for cable terminations (standards context only)"},{"label":"Terminology","value":"Pothead is the traditional North American term for a sealing end"},{"label":"Standards context","value":"IEEE/ANSI 315-1975 covers diagram graphics; IEEE lists this edition as Inactive-Reserved."},{"label":"Preview","value":"Original educational illustration; consult the publisher and applicable standard for the exact graphic"}],"references":[{"sourceId":"ieee-315","relevance":"Graphic-symbol standards context and official status; not a source of reproduced artwork."},{"sourceId":"public-cable-joints","relevance":"Manufacturer context for cable terminations."}],"related":["iec-single-core-cable-sealing-end","ansi-surge-arrester","iec-overhead-line"],"artwork":"s28-ansi-cable-pothead","publishedOn":"2026-10-28","updatedOn":"2026-10-28","provenance":"independent-public-research","symbolVariant":{"convention":"IEEE / ANSI","form":"Pothead termination form","reference":"Independent illustration in IEEE drafting context; no equivalence of every detailed standard graphic is asserted."},"plainEnglish":{"title":"What does ANSI/IEEE cable pothead mean?","introduction":"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.","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.","drawings":"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.","terms":[{"name":"Rating","meaning":"A value stating the conditions for which equipment is specified."},{"name":"Schematic","meaning":"A drawing showing function and connections rather than physical appearance."}],"diagram":"flow","steps":["Identify the device and form","Read the connections and state","Check the equipment reference"],"caption":"A guide to reading this reference. The original symbol illustration and its drawing notes appear below; these boxes are not a wiring diagram.","sources":[{"label":"IEEE/ANSI 315-1975: graphic symbols for electrical and electronics diagrams","url":"https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/315/515/"},{"label":"Elastimold underground cable accessories","url":"https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/electrification/medium-voltage/cable-accessories-connectors/underground/elastimold/underground"}],"detail":"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.","profileId":"reviewed-symbol-20261028"},"url":"https://eloragrid.ai/symbols/ansi-cable-pothead","illustration":{"url":"https://eloragrid.ai/tools/electrical-library/illustrations/ansi-cable-pothead.svg","scope":"Original educational concept; not an official standard graphic or product footprint","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"sources":[{"id":"ieee-315","title":"IEEE/ANSI 315-1975: graphic symbols for electrical and electronics diagrams","publisher":"IEEE Standards Association","url":"https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/315/515/","type":"standard","scope":"Graphic symbols and designation letters. IEEE lists this edition as Inactive-Reserved; it is a historical reference, not a claim of current compliance.","checkedOn":"2026-10-13","reuse":"link-only","relevance":"Graphic-symbol standards context and official status; not a source of reproduced artwork."},{"id":"public-cable-joints","title":"Elastimold underground cable accessories","publisher":"ABB","url":"https://www.abb.com/global/en/areas/electrification/medium-voltage/cable-accessories-connectors/underground/elastimold/underground","type":"manufacturer","scope":"Manufacturer overview of separable connections, cable joints, terminations, grounding and underground cable accessories. Product selection remains application-specific.","checkedOn":"2026-10-13","reuse":"link-only","relevance":"Manufacturer context for cable terminations."}]}