ASTM B738-03(2008)

Standard Specification for Fine-Wire Bunch-Stranded and Rope-Lay Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors for Use as Electrical Conductors

ABSTRACT
This specification deals with bare fine-wire bunch-stranded and rope-lay bunch-stranded copper conductors made from round copper wires finer than No. 40 AWG, either coated or uncoated with tin or silver, for use as electrical conductors. The conductor types covered in this specification are designated Type B for bunch-stranded conductors, and Type R for rope-lay bunch-stranded conductors. On the other hand, the wire classifications are assigned as: Class R, stranded conductors using wire 42 AWG; Class S, stranded conductors using wire 44 AWG; Class T, stranded conductors using wire 46 AWG; Class U, stranded conductors using wire 48 AWG; and Class V, stranded conductors using wire 50 AWG. Wires shall undergo tests that shall evaluated their conformance to physical and electrical properties such as wire cross-sectional area and diameter, coating thickness, tensile strength, elongation, and DC resistance.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers bare bunch-stranded and rope-lay bunch-stranded conductors made from round copper wires finer than No. 40 AWG with diameters less than 0.0031 in. (.078 mm), either coated or uncoated with tin or silver, for use as electrical conductors. (Explanatory Note 1).
1.2 The values (SI units) for density and temperature are regarded as the standard. For all other properties the inch-pound values are to be regarded as standard, and the SI units may be approximate.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2008
• ICS: 29.050 - Superconductivity and conducting materials
• Technical Committee: B01 - Electrical Conductors
• Drafting Committee: B01.04 - Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM B738-03 - Standard Specification for Fine-Wire Bunch-Stranded and Rope-Lay Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors for Use as Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Replaced By: ASTM B738-13 - Standard Specification for Fine-Wire Bunch-Stranded and Rope-Lay Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors for Use as Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:B738 −03(Reapproved 2008)
Standard Specification for
Fine-Wire Bunch-Stranded and Rope-Lay Bunch-Stranded
1
Copper Conductors for Use as Electrical Conductors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B738; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Classification
3.1 For the purposes of this specification, the following
1.1 This specification covers bare bunch-stranded and rope-
classifications have been assigned (Explanatory Note 2):
lay bunch-stranded conductors made from round copper wires
3.1.1 Type:
finer than No. 40 AWG with diameters less than 0.0031 in.
(.078 mm), either coated or uncoated with tin or silver, for use 3.1.1.1 Type B—Bunch-stranded conductors.
3.1.1.2 Type R—Rope-lay bunch-stranded conductors.
as electrical conductors. (Explanatory Note 1).
3.1.2 Class:
1.2 The values (SI units) for density and temperature are
3.1.2.1 Class R—Stranded conductors using wire 42 AWG
regarded as the standard. For all other properties the inch-
(0.0025).
pound values are to be regarded as standard, and the SI units
3.1.2.2 Class S—Stranded conductors using wire 44 AWG
may be approximate.
(0.0020).
3.1.2.3 Class T—Stranded conductors using wire 46 AWG
2. Referenced Documents
(0.00157).
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3.1.2.4 Class U—Stranded conductors using wire 48 AWG
B33Specification for Tin-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper (0.00124).
Wire for Electrical Purposes 3.1.2.5 Class V—Stranded conductors using wire 50 AWG
B49Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Elec-
(0.00099).
trical Purposes
3.2 Detailed information on Type B Conductors is found in
B172Specification for Rope-Lay-Stranded Copper Conduc-
Table 1 and Table 2. Detailed information on Type R Conduc-
torsHavingBunch-StrandedMembers,forElectricalCon-
tors is found in Table 3 and Table 2.
ductors
B174Specification for Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors
4. Ordering Information
for Electrical Conductors
4.1 Orders for materials under this specification shall in-
B193Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
clude the following information:
Materials
4.1.1 Quantity of each size, class, and type,
B258 Specification for Nominal Diameters and Cross-
4.1.2 Conductor size—circular-mil area, dc resistance (7.1)
SectionalAreasofAWGSizesofSolidRoundWiresUsed
or AWG (5.2.1),
as Electrical Conductors
4.1.3 Class and type (Section 3),
B298Specification for Silver-Coated Soft orAnnealed Cop-
4.1.4 Whether coated or uncoated; if coated, designate type
per Wire
of coating (6.1); if silver coated, the minimum thickness of
B354Terminology Relating to Uninsulated Metallic Electri-
silver (6.1.2), and whether tarnish protection is desired (11.3),
cal Conductors
4.1.5 Maximum length of lay (5.2.4), if required,
4.1.6 Temper (6.2),
4.1.7 Separators, if required (5.2.2),
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on
4.1.8 Package size (11.1),
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on
Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys.
4.1.9 Specialpackagemarking,ifrequired(Section10),and
Current edition approved April 1, 2008. Published May 2008. Originally
4.1.10 Place of inspection (Section 9).
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as B738–03. DOI:
10.1520/B0738-03R08.
4.2 In addition, Supplementary Requirements shall apply
2
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onlywhenspecifiedbythepurchaserintheinquiry,contract,or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
purchase order for direct procurement by agencies of the U.S.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. Government.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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B738−03 (2008)
TABLE 1 Classification of Type B Bunch-Stranded Conductors
6.1.2 Silver coating shall conform to the minimum thick-
A
Class Wire Diameter, in. Conductor Sizes, AWG ness requirements of the purchase document. Minimum thick-
R 0.0025 (No. 42 AWG) 24,26,28,30,32,34 ness shall be determined using the method for determining
S 0.0020 (No. 44 AWG) 26,28,30,32,34,36
plating thickness described in Specification B298.
T 0.00157 (No. 46 AWG) 28,30,32,34,36,38
6.1.3 The finished diameter and mass of the coated wires
U 0.00124 (No. 48 AWG) 30,32,34,36,38,40
V 0.00099 (No. 50 AWG) 32,34,36,38,40 used shall be substantially equal to those of the uncoated wires
A
of the same class.
Sufficientquantitiesofwir
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:B 738–98 Designation: B 738 – 03 (Reapproved 2008)
Standard Specification for
Fine-Wire Bunch-Stranded and Rope-Lay Bunch-Stranded
1
Copper Conductors for Use as Electrical Conductors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 738; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers bare bunch-stranded and rope-lay bunch-stranded conductors made from round copper wires finer
than No. 40AWG with diameters less than 0.0031 in. (.078 mm), either coated or uncoated with tin or silver, for use as electrical
conductors. (Explanatory Note 1).
1.2 Thevalues(SIunits)fordensityandtemperatureareregardedasthestandard.Forallotherpropertiestheinch-poundvalues
are to be regarded as standard, and the SI units may be approximate.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B 33 Specification for Tinned Soft or Annealed Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes
B 49 Specification for Copper Redraw Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
B 172 Specification for Rope-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors Having Bunch-Stranded Members, for Electrical Conductors
B 174 Specification for Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors for Electrical Conductors
B 193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
B 258 Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and Cross-SectionalAreas ofAWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Used as
Electrical Conductors
B 298 Specification for Silver-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
B 354 Terminology Relating to Uninsulated Metallic Electrical Conductors
3. Classification
3.1 For the purposes of this specification, the following classifications have been assigned (Explanatory Note 2):
3.1.1 Type:
3.1.1.1 Type B—Bunch-stranded conductors.
3.1.1.2 Type R—Rope-lay bunch-stranded conductors.
3.1.2 Class:
3.1.2.1 Class R—Stranded conductors using wire 42 AWG (0.0025).
3.1.2.2 Class S—Stranded conductors using wire 44 AWG (0.0020).
3.1.2.3 Class T—Stranded conductors using wire 46 AWG (0.00157).
3.1.2.4 Class U—Stranded conductors using wire 48 AWG (0.00124).
3.1.2.5 Class V—Stranded conductors using wire 50 AWG (0.00099).
3.2 Detailed information on Type B Conductors is found in Table 1 and Table 2. Detailed information on Type R Conductors
is found in Table 3 and Table 2.
4. Ordering Information
4.1 Orders for materials under this specification shall include the following information:
4.1.1 Quantity of each size, class, and type,
4.1.2 Conductor size—circular-mil area, d-cdc resistance (7.1) or AWG (5.2.1),
4.1.3 Class and type (Section 3),
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee B-1B01 on Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on Conductors
of Copper and Copper Alloys.
Current edition approved March 10, 1998.April 1, 2008. Published September 1998.May 2008. Originally published as B738–84.approved in 1984. Last previous edition
approved in 2003 as B 738 – 903.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.03.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. ForAnnualBookofASTMStandards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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B 738 – 03 (2008)
TABLE 1 Classification of Type B Bunch-Stranded Conductors
A
Class Wire Diameter, in. Conductor Sizes, AWG
R 0.0025 (No. 42 AWG) 24,26,28,30,32,34
S 0.0020 (No. 44 AWG) 26,28,30,32,34,36
T 0.00157 (No. 46 AWG) 28,30,32,34,36,38
U 0.00124 (No. 48 AWG) 30,32,34,36,38,40
V 0.00099 (No. 50 AWG) 32,34,36,38,40
A
Sufficient quantities of wires of these diameters shall be used to form
conductors having cross-sectional areas approximately equal to theAWG conduc-
tor sizes listed.
A
TABLE 2 Construction Requirements of Bunch-Stranded and Rope-Lay Bunch-Stranded Conductors
CLASS R CLASS S CLASS T CLASS U CLASS V
Minimum Number Minimum Number Minimum Number Minimum Number Minimum Number
Nominal
Size, of Wires 0.0025 in. of Wires 0.0020 in. of Wires 0.00157 in. of Wires 0.00124 in. of Wires 0.00099 in.
Area,
AWG in Diameter in Diameter in Diameter in Diameter in Diameter
cmil
(No. 42 AWG) (No. 44 AWG) (No. 46 AWG
...