Astm B399
Astm B399
Astm B399
Designation:
e 39910 399M- 99
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers concentric-lay-stranded conductors, made from round aluminum-alloy 6201-T81 (hard:
solution heat-treated, cold worked, and then artificially aged)
wires, for use for electrical purposes. These conductors shall be
const1u cted with a central core surrounded by one or more
layers of helically laid wires (Explanatory Notes 1 and 2).
1-The aluminum alloy and temper designations conform to
ANSI H35.l/H35.l[M]. Aluminum-alloy 6201 corresponds to Unified
Numbering System alloy A96201 in accordance with Practice E 527.
NOTE
3. Classification
3.1 For the purpose of this specification, conductors are
classified as follows (Explanatory Notes 1 and 2):
3.1.1 Class AA- For bare conductors usually used in overhead lines.
3.1.2 Class A- For conductors to be covered with weatherresistant materials.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on date
of material purchase form a part of this specification to the
extent referenced herein:
2.2 ASTM Standards:
B 263 Test Method for Determination of Cross-Sectional
Area of Stranded Conductors2
B 354 Terminology Relating to Uninsulated Metallic Electrical Conductors2
B 398/B 398M Specification for Aluminum-Alloy 6201 T81 Wire for Electrical Purposes2
B 682 Specification for Standard Met1ic Sizes of Electrical
Conductors2
E 29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
Determine Conformance with Specifications3
4. Ordering Information
4.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
the following information:
4.1.1 Qu antity of each size, stranding, and class,
4.1.2 Conductor size, area and aluminum 1350 equivalent
size (if required) (Section 8 and Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3),
4.1.3 Number of wires (Table 1, Table 2 or Table 3),
4.1.4 Direction of lay of outer layer of aluminum wires if
other than right-hand (see 7.4),
4.1.5 Compressed stranding, if required (see 8.2),
4.1 .6 Special tension test, if required (see 9 .2 and 14.2),
4.1.7 Place of inspection (see 15.2),
4.1.8 Special package marking, if required (Section 16),
Copyrigh t ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 194282959, United States.
~t B 399/B 399M
TABLE 1 Construction Requirements of Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum-Alloy 6201 Conductors Sized to Have Diameter Equal to
ACSR, Class AA and Class A
N oTE I -Metric v alues listed bel ow represent a soft conver sion and as such they may not be the same as those metric masses which are calculated
from the basic metric density.
Conductor Size
cmil
Code
WordsA
Approximate Aluminum
1350
Size Having Equivalent
Resistance
Size
mm 2
cmil 8
1
1
1
1
1
439
348
259
165
077
927
740
652
200
800
600
100
400
200
800
400
729.2
683.4
638.2
590.3
545.9
469.8
375.4
330.6
Greeley
Flint
Elgin
559
465
394
312
500
400
500
800
283.5
235.8
199.9
158.5
Darien
Cairo
Canton
Butte
477
397
336
266
000
500
400
800
246
195
155
123
900
700
400
300
125.1
99.2
78.7
62.5
Alliance
Amherst
Anaheim
Azusa
211
167
133
105
600
800
100
600
77 470
48 690
30 580
39.3
24.7
15.5
66 360
41 740
26 240
cmil 8
AWG
1 272 000
1 192 500
1 113 000
1 033 500
954 000
795 000
636 000
556 500
Ames
Alton
Akron
AWG
mm 2
mm 2
644.5
604.2
564.0
523.7
483.4
402.8
322.3
282.0
1 272 000
1 192 500
1 113 000
1 033 500
954 000
795 000
636 000
556 500
Required Construction
Mass
Diameter of
Wires
Per
1000 ft Per km,
lb '
kg
Strand - Number
ing of Wires
in.
mm
Class
Rated Strength
kips
kN
644.5
604.2
564.0
523.7
483.4
402.8
322.3
282.0
54/ 7
54/7
54/7
54/7
54/7
26/7
26/7
26/ 7
61
61
61
61
61
37
37
19
0.1536
0.1487
0.1437
0.1382
0.1329
0.1583
0.1415
0.1853
3.90
3 .78
3 .65
3.51
3 .38
4 .02
3.59
4.71
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
1342
1258
1175
1086
1005
864.6
690.8
608.3
1997
1872
1748
16 17
1495
1287
1028
905.2
46.8
43.9
41.0
37.9
35.0
30.5
24.4
2 1.9
208
195
182
169
156
136
108
97.5
241.7
201.4
170.5
135.2
26/7
26/7
26/ 7
26/7
19
19
19
19
0.17 16
0.1565
0.1441
0.1283
4 .36
3.98
3.66
3 .26
AA
AA
AA,A
A
521.7
433.9
367.9
291.6
776.3
645.7
547.4
434.0
18.8
15.6
13.3
10.5
83.6
69.6
59.0
46.7
241 .7
201.4
170.5
135.2
477
397
336
266
000
500
400
800
0000
000
00
0
107.2
85.0
67.4
53.5
211
167
133
105
600
800
100
600
0000
000
00
0
107.2
85.0
67.4
53.5
6/ 1
6/ 1
6/ 1
6/ 1
7
7
7
7
0.1878
0.1672
0.1490
0.1327
4.77
4.25
3.78
3.37
AA
AA,A
AA, A
AA, A
230.2
182.5
144.9
11 4.9
342.6
271.5
215.6
171.0
8.56
6.79
5.39
4 .27
38.1
30.2
24.0
19.0
2
4
6
33.6
2 1.1
13.3
66 360
41 740
26 240
2
4
6
33.6
21. 1
13.3
6/ 1
6/ 1
6/ 1
7
7
7
0.1052
0.0834
0.0661
2.67
2.12
1.68
AA, A
A
A
72.24
45.40
28.52
107.5
67.56
42.44
2.80
1.76
1.11
12.5
7.84
4.92
ACode words shown in this column are obtained from, "Publication 50, Code Words for Overhead Aluminum Electrical Conductors", by the Aluminum Association. They
3re provided here for information only.
8 Conversion factors: 1 mil = 2.54 E-02 mm
1 cmil = 5.067 E-04 mm 2
1 in. = 25.4 mm
1 lb/1 000 ft = 1.488 E + 00 kg/km
1 ft = 3.048 E-01 m
1 lb = 4 .536 E-0 1 kg
1 lbf = 4 .448 E-03 kN
5. Requirements of Wires
8. Construction
8.1 The cross-sectional areas and the numbers and diameters of wires in the concentric-lay-stranded conductors shall
conform to the requirements prescribed in Table 1, Table 2, or
Table 3 as applicable (Explanatory Notes 2 and 6).
8.2 Where compressed stranding is required in order that the
conductor may be properly insulated, one or more layers of any
stranded conductor consisting of 7 wires or more may be
slightly compressed, thereby reducing the outside diameter of
7. Lay
7. l For Class AA conductors, the preferred lay of a layer of
wires is 13.5 times the outside diameter of that layer, but the
lay shall be not less than 10 nor more than 16 times this
diameter.
2
~t B 399/B 399M
TABLE 2 Construction Requirements of Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum-Alloy 6201 Conductors Sized by Standard Areas, Class AA
and Class A
N oTE I -Metric v alues listed below represent a soft conversion and as such they may not be the same as those metric masses which are calculated
from the basic metric density.
Conductor Size
cmilA
Required Construction
mm 2
AWG
1 750 000
1 500 000
1 250 000
1 000 000
900 000
800 000
Number of
Wires
Mass
Diameter of Wires
Class
in.
mm
Rated Strength
Per km, kg
kips
kN
886.7
760.0
633.3
506.7
456.0
405.4
61
61
61
37
37
37
0.1694
0.1 568
0.1431
0.1644
0.1 560
0.1 470
4.30
3.98
3.63
4.18
3.96
3.73
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
1632
1399
1165
932.5
839.7
745.6
2429
2081
1733
1388
1249
1109
56.9
48.8
40.6
32.9
29.6
26.3
253
217
180
146
132
117
750
700
650
600
000
000
000
000
380.0
354.7
329.4
304.0
37
37
37
37
0.1424
0.1 375
0.1 325
0.1273
3.62
3.49
3.37
3.23
AA
AA
AA
AA, A
699.6
652.3
605.7
559.1
1041
970.6
901.3
832.0
24.7
23.0
21.4
20.6
110
102
95.0
91.5
550
500
450
400
000
000
000
000
278.7
253.4
228.0
202.7
37
19
19
19
0.1 219
0.1 622
0.1539
0.1 451
3.1 0
4.1 2
3.91
3.69
AA,A
AA
AA
AA,A
512.7
466.1
419.6
373.0
762.9
693.6
624.4
555.1
18.9
16.8
15.1
13.4
83.9
74.7
67.3
59.8
350 000
300 000
250 000
177.3
152.0
126.7
19
19
19
0.1357
0.1257
0.11 47
3.45
3.19
2.91
A
A
A
326.3
280.0
233.1
485.5
416.6
346.9
11.8
10.5
8.76
52.3
46.8
39.0
293.7
232.7
184.7
146.5
7.34
5.82
4.62
3.82
32.7
25.9
20.5
17.0
2.40
1.51
0.949
10.7
6.72
4.22
211 600
167 800
133 100
105 600
0000
000
00
0
107.2
85.0
67.4
53.5
7
7
7
7
0.1739
0.1548
0.1 379
0.1 228
4.42
3.93
3.50
3.1 2
AA, A
AA,A
AA,A
AA, A
197.4
156.4
124.1
98.43
66 360
41 740
26 240
2
4
6
33.6
21.1
13.3
7
7
7
0.0974
0.0772
0.0612
2.47
1.96
1.55
AA,A
A
A
61.92
38.90
24.49
630
560
500
450
400
355
315
280
250
224
200
180
160
140
125
112
100
80.0
63.0
50.0
40.0
31.5
25.0
20.0
16.0
Number
of Wires
37
37
37
37
37
37
37
37
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
Diameter
of Wires,
mm
Class
4.66
4.39
4.15
3.94
3.71
3.50
3.29
3.10
4.09
3.87
3.66
3.47
3.27
3.06
2.89
4.51
4.26
3.81
3.39
3.02
2.70
2.39
2.13
1.91
1.71
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA, A
AA,A
AA,A
AA, A
AA,A
AA
AA,A
AA, A
AA,A
AA,A
AA,A
A
A
A
A
92.14
57.89
36.44
7
19
37
61
Rated
Strength
6201-T81 ,
kN
(1 5)A
(15)
(7.5)
(7.5)
181
161
143
129
115
102
90.2
83.9
73. 1
65.5
58.6
52.6
46.7
42.9
38.3
33.8
30.2
24.1
19. 1
15.9
12.7
9.95
7.90
6.35
5.09
~t B 399/B 399M
TABLE 5 Rating Factors
Stranding
Number of Wires in
Conductor
Rating Factor, %
Number of Layers
19
1
2
96
93
37
91
61
90
15. Inspection
15. l Unless otherwise specified in the contract or purchase
order, the manufacturer shall be responsible for the performance of all inspection and test requirements specified.
15.2 All inspections and tests shall be made at the place of
manufacture unless otherwise especially agreed to between the
manufacturer and the purchaser at the time of the purchase.
15.3 The manufacturer shall afford the inspector representing the purchaser all reasonable facilities to satisfy him that the
material is being furnished in accordance with this specification.
10. Density
10. I For the purpose of calculating, mass, mass per unit
length, cross sections, etc., the density of aluminum-alloy 6201
shall be taken as 2690 kg/m 3 (0.097 lb/in.3) at 20C.
NoTE 3-Multiple lengths per package are allowable only when the
bare conductor is intended for re1nanufacture, such as adding a covering
or insulation. In such cases the position of each encl of a length is to be
clearly marked and the length of each portion shall be shown on the tag
attached to the end of the conductor.
17. Keywords
17 .1 aluminum alloy conductors; aluminum electrical conductor; concentric-lay-stranded conductors; electrical conductor; electrical conductor-aluminum; stranded conductors
EXPLANATORY NOTES
NOTE J-ln this specification only concentric-lay-stranded conductor
constructions manufactured from round aluminum-alloy 6201 wires are
specifically designated. Conductor constructions not included in this
specification should be specifically agreed upon between the 1nanufacturer
and the purchaser when placing the order.
~t B 399/B 399M
NoTE 2- For definitions of terms relating to conductors, refer to
Terminology B 354.
NOTE 3-To test aluminum-alloy conductors for breaking strength
successfully as a unit requires an adequate means of gripping the ends of
the test specimen without causing damage that may result in failure below
the actual strength of the conductor. Various special devices are available,
such as compression sleeves, split sleeves, and preformed grips, but
ordinary jaws or clamping devices usually are not suitable.
NOTE 4-The increment of mass or electrical resistance of a concentriclay-stranded conductor (k) in percent is as follows:
m ind
YI +9.8696/n
(2)
where n = length of lay per diameter of helical path of the wire. The
derivation of the above is given in NBS Handbook I 00.
NOTE 5-Wires unlaid from conductors may have different physical
properties from those of the wire prior to stranding because of the
defonnation brought about by stranding and by straightening for test.
NoTE 6-The electrical characteristics of any conductor in service are
influenced by conductivity, physical size, power frequency, temperature
coefficient of resistance, etc., and it is not Likely that one type of conductor
may be stated to be the exact equivalent of another type except on a
closely defined basis. For exan1ple, a conductor made of high-strength
aluminu1n alloy may be designed to be the equivalent of a conductor 1nade
of aluminum 1350 on the basis of d-c resistance at 20C, but it 1nay not
be an exact equivalent in other ways. The constructions shown in Table 1
were designed to have physical diameters the same as those of standard
sizes and strandings of ACSR as shown, for which suitable accessories
and fittings are readily available. The approximate aluminum 1350
equivalent sizes shown in Table 2 are those standard sizes of 26/7 and 6/1
ACSR having approximately the same d-c resistance at 20C.
k = JOO (m - 1)
(I)
where m is the stranding factor, and is also the ratio of the mass or
electrical resistance of a unit length of stranded conductor to that of a solid
conductor of the same cross-sectional area or of a stranded conductor with
infinite length of lay, that is, all wires parallel to the conductor axis. The
stranding factor m for a standard conductor is the numerical average of the
stranding factors for each of the individual wires in the conductor,
including the straight core wire, if any (for which the stranding factor is
unity). The stranding factor (mind) for any given wire in a concentriclay-stranded conductor is:
The American Society for Testing and Materials takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection
with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such
patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.
This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible
technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should make your
views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428.
This standard is copyrighted by ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States. Individual
reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above address or at 610-832-9585
(phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or service@astm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website (http:// www.astm.org).