hovedledningen

Hovedledningen is a Norwegian term used to describe the principal line in a system that distributes a resource from a source to sub-networks or consumers. The concept is applied across utilities and infrastructure to distinguish the main trunk from smaller branch lines.

In electrical systems, hovedledningen refers to the main feeder or service line that carries the bulk of the current from the supply network toward distribution panels or sub-feed circuits. In water, gas and district heating, it denotes the main pipeline or conduit that delivers the resource into a city or facility, from which branch lines distribute to buildings and meters. In sewer and drainage, the hovedledningen is the primary sewer line that collects wastewater from smaller mains before connecting to the municipal network. In telecommunications and data networks, it can refer to the backbone or trunk line that carries high-volume traffic toward local exchanges or distribution points.

Characteristics commonly associated with hovedledningen include higher capacity, larger diameter, and more robust protection and monitoring compared with branch lines. Design, installation, and maintenance follow applicable standards and regulations for safety, reliability, and service continuity. Access points, valve chambers, meters and switching equipment are often located on or near the hovedledningen to enable control and measurement of flow or load.

Practically, the term is context-dependent: in building plans, it may describe the main supply from the utility to a property; in municipal planning, the trunk infrastructure that feeds districts; in industrial settings, the primary conduit for process fluids or electrical power.