Short answer: suspension clamps support conductors at intermediate poles, while tension clamps carry conductor tensile load at dead-end, angle or strain points.
| Suspension clamp | Used where the conductor continues through the support point. Confirm conductor diameter and vertical load. |
|---|---|
| Tension clamp | Used where the conductor is terminated or strained. Confirm tensile load and grip strength. |
| ABC wedge clamp | Used for aerial bundled conductors. Confirm cable bundle size and service/drop line requirement. |
| Hydraulic strain clamp | Used for higher-load transmission line conductors. Confirm conductor code and compression die. |
A suspension clamp should not be used as a tension clamp because it is not designed to carry the same dead-end load.