Manholes provide access to which components and are generally vented?

• A. Primary and secondary cables.
• B. Secondary cables only.
• C. Only street lighting circuits.
• D. Transformers in substations.

Answer: (A)

Manholes are access points into the underground electrical distribution system, and they must let crews reach both the high-voltage feeders (primary cables) and the lower-voltage cables (secondary cables) that tie into the system. In the manhole, you’ll often see splices, joints, and terminations for these cables, allowing maintenance, fault isolation, and cable pulling. They are vented to prevent the buildup of gases or vapors that can occur in underground cable enclosures and to keep the working environment safe for crews. Transformers in substations aren’t housed in manholes, and street lighting circuits are typically fed differently, so those options don’t fit.