A feeders are the conductors which connects the generating stations or substation to where power supply requires or power to be distributed. There are no any tapping are taken to the consumer from the feeders. So current loading of the feeders are remain the same along its entire length. The current at sending end is remain same as the current at receiving end. The feeders are designed from the point of view of its current carrying capacity.
The cross sectional area of the feeder conductor depends upon the current passes through them because feeders are designed from the point of view of its current carrying capacity. The feeders transport the power from generating station or sub station to distributors. The high current carrying capacity of the conductor is very important in the design of the feeders.
Distributor:
The distributor are the conductors from where number of the tapping are taken to supply the power to the consumer.
The current loading of the distributors are varies on its entire length. So distributors conductors are designed from the point of view of the voltage drop in it. The distributors are designed by considering the voltage variations or voltage regulations.
The voltage at the consumer's terminal should be maintained within the (-+6). The distributor supply power to the service mains.
Service Mains:
The service mains are one type of conductor which connects the consumer terminals to distributors. In our home service mains are come from distribution company pole to our energy meter.
The figure shows the feeders, distributors and service mains. The S is the generating station or substations which supply power to the distributors by feeders. The SC, SD, SA are the feeders which connects the sub station to the distributors.
The AB, BC, CD & DA are the Distributors which connects the feeders and service mains. The arrow from the AB, BC, CD & DA indicates the service mains which supply the power to consumer.