V-shaped vs Straight Crossarms in Utility Wood poles (10/26/2026)

A straight crossarm generally provides a direct horizontal support arrangement, while a V-shaped assembly introduces angled members and potentially more complex connection forces.

Article - October 26, 2026 By LarsonElectronics.com

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V-shaped vs Straight Crossarms in Utility Wood poles

Crossarms are structural components installed on utility wood poles to support electrical conductors, insulators, and associated line hardware. Two common configurations are straight crossarms and V-shaped crossarms.

A straight crossarm generally provides a direct horizontal support arrangement, while a V-shaped assembly introduces angled members and potentially more complex connection forces.

Straight Crossarms

A straight crossarm is typically a horizontal structural member mounted perpendicular to the utility pole. It extends outward from both sides of the pole to provide mounting locations for insulators and conductors. Straight crossarms are commonly manufactured from treated wood, steel, fiberglass-reinforced polymer, or other materials approved for the intended electrical and environmental conditions.

One of the advantages of straight crossarms is their straightforward installation and maintenance. Straight crossarms are widely used in residential distribution networks, commercial service areas, rural overhead lines, and industrial power distribution systems.

V-Shaped Crossarms

A V-shaped crossarm uses two structural members arranged at an angle to form a V-shaped support configuration. Depending on the design, the members may extend upward or downward from a common mounting region, or they may form a wider support assembly attached to the pole. The design varies by manufacturer and utility construction practice.

Unlike a conventional straight crossarm, a V-shaped arrangement can position conductors along angled support points. This can provide additional flexibility when establishing conductor spacing, accommodating particular insulator arrangements, or fitting a line design within spatial constraints. The effectiveness of the arrangement depends on the specific configuration rather than the V shape alone.

V-shaped crossarms may be used in specialized distribution construction, compact line configurations, and selected transmission or subtransmission structures. They can also be incorporated into structures designed to manage conductor separation and mechanical loading under defined operating conditions.