When a clamp top insulator is used, what is needed at the point of attachment?

• A. Conductor and neoprene pad, and armor rod
• B. Conductor, top tie, and armor rod
• C. Conductor, side tie, and armor rod
• D. Conductor and armor rod

Answer: (D)

The essential idea is that a clamp top insulator must be attached directly to a conductor while a means to carry and distribute the mechanical load is provided. The armor rod serves as that load-distributing element, spreading the tensile force across the conductor and through the insulator clamp so the hardware isn’t crushed or damaged. The conductor is obviously needed to carry the electrical load, and the armor rod ensures mechanical strength and alignment at the attachment point. Neoprene pads or extra ties aren’t part of this specific attachment configuration, so they aren’t required here. This is why the combination of a conductor and an armor rod is the proper setup.