How do radial circuits differ from radial-tie circuits?

Radial circuits are characterized by a configuration where electricity is supplied from a single source to multiple load points. If a fault occurs anywhere along the circuit, such as a line outage or equipment failure, the entire circuit can lose power because there are no alternative pathways for electricity to be rerouted. This results in all customers served by that radial circuit losing their electrical supply until repairs are made.

In contrast, radial-tie circuits have additional connections or ties to other circuits that allow for power to flow from alternative sources if a fault occurs. These ties create redundancy in the system, improving reliability by enabling power restoration options in case of faults.

This distinction is vital for understanding the operational characteristics and reliability of different circuit types in power distribution.