ASTM B496-13

Standard Specification for Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors

ABSTRACT
This specification covers bare compact round concentric-lay-stranded conductors made from uncoated round copper wires for general use for electrical purposes. Welds and brazes shall be made in rods and wires prior to final drawing. The conductors shall conform to the required construction values of nominal cross-sectional area, diameter, mass per unit length and dc electrical resistance. Tests for the physical and electrical properties of wires composing the conductors shall be made before stranding.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers bare compact round concentric-lay-stranded conductors made from uncoated round copper wires for general use for electrical purposes. These conductors shall be constructed with a central core surrounded by one or more layers of helically laid compacted wires (Explanatory Note 1 and Note 2).  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the specification.  
1.2.1 For density, resistivity, and temperature, the values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2013
• ICS: 29.240.20 - Power transmission and distribution lines
• Technical Committee: B01 - Electrical Conductors
• Drafting Committee: B01.04 - Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM B496-04(2010)e1 - Standard Specification for Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Replaced By: ASTM B496-13a - Standard Specification for Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2013
• Referred By: ASTM B226-11(2021) - Standard Specification for Cored, Annular, Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper 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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:B496 −13
StandardSpecification for
Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper
1
Conductors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B496; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.3 Packaging (Section 15), if required,
3.1.4 Special package marking, and
1.1 This specification covers bare compact round
3.1.5 Place of inspection (Section 14).
concentric-lay-stranded conductors made from uncoated round
copper wires for general use for electrical purposes. These
4. Joints
conductors shall be constructed with a central core surrounded
4.1 Welds and brazes may be made in rods or in wires prior
by one or more layers of helically laid compacted wires
to final drawing.
(Explanatory Note 1 and Note 2).
4.2 Welds and brazes may be made in the individual round
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound or SI units are to be
drawn wires for compact conductors, but shall not be closer
regarded separately as standard. The values in each system are
together than 1 ft (300 mm) for conductor of 19 wires or less
not exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used
or closer than 1 ft (300 mm) in a layer for conductor of more
independently of the other. Combining values from the two
than 19 wires.
systems may result in nonconformance with the specification.
1.2.1 For density, resistivity, and temperature, the values
4.3 No joint nor splice shall be made in a compact-stranded
stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
conductor as a whole.
2. Referenced Documents
5. Lay
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on date
5.1 The lay length of every layer shall be not less than 8
of material purchase form a part of this specification to the
times nor more than 16 times the outside diameter of the
2
extent referenced herein:
completed conductor except that, for sizes 2AWG (33.6 mm )
2
and smaller, the maximum lay length shall be 17.5 times the
2.2 ASTM Standards:
outside diameter.
B3 Specification for Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
B263 Test Method for Determination of Cross-Sectional
5.2 The direction of lay of the outer layer shall be left-hand,
Area of Stranded Conductors
and it shall be reversed in successive layers, unidirectional, or
B354 Terminology Relating to Uninsulated Metallic Electri-
unilay.
cal Conductors
6. Construction
3. Ordering Information
6.1 The construction of the compact round concentric-lay-
3.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include stranded conductors shall be as shown in Table 1.
the following information:
6.2 The starting round copper wires used in the fabrication
3.1.1 Quantity of each size (Table 1),
of the compact round conductor shall be of such diameter as to
3.1.2 Conductor size; circular-mil area or AWG, (Section 6
produce a finished conductor having a nominal cross-sectional
and Table 1),
area and diameter as prescribed in Table 1.
7. Density
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on
7.1 For the purpose of calculating linear densities, cross
Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys.
sections, and so forth, the density of the copper shall be taken
Current edition approved April 1, 2013. Published April 2013. Originally
3 3
ε1
as 8.89 g/cm (0.32117 lb/in. ) at 20°C.
approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as B496 – 10 . DOI:
10.1520/B0496-13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 8. Mass and Resistance
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
8.1 The mass per unit length and dc electrical resistance of
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. a compact round conductor are greater than the total of these
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B496−13
TABLE 1 Construction Requirements of Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors
Conductor Size Compact Conductor Diameter DC Resistance at 20°C
Number of Mass, Mass,
2
Wires lb/1000 ft kg/km
cmil AWG mm in. mm Ω/1000 ft Ω/km
A
1 000 000 . 507 61 1.060 26.9 3086 4590 0.0106 0.0347
A
900 000 . 456 61 0.999 25.4 2780 4140 0.0118 0.0386
A
800 000 . 405 61 0.938 23.8 2469 3680 0.0132 0.0433
A
750 000 . 380 61 0.908 23.0 2316 3450 0.0141 0.0462
A
700 000 . 355 61 0.877 22.3 2160 3220 0.0151 0.0495
A
650 000 . 329 61 0.845 21.4 2006 2990 0.0163 0.0535
A
600 000 . 304 61 0.8
...

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.
´1
Designation: B496 − 04 (Reapproved 2010) B496 − 13
Standard Specification for
Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper
1
Conductors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B496; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—References to Sections 15 and 14 in 3.1.3 and 3.1.5, respectively, were corrected editorially in 2010.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers bare compact round concentric-lay-stranded conductors made from uncoated round copper wires
for general use for electrical purposes. These conductors shall be constructed with a central core surrounded by one or more layers
of helically laid compacted wires (Explanatory Note 1 and Note 2).
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values in each system are not exact
equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result
in nonconformance with the specification.
1.2.1 For density, resistivity, and temperature, the values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
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
2.2 ASTM Standards:
B3 Specification for Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
B263 Test Method for Determination of Cross-Sectional Area of Stranded Conductors
B354 Terminology Relating to Uninsulated Metallic Electrical Conductors
3. Ordering Information
3.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include the following information:
3.1.1 Quantity of each size (Table 1),
3.1.2 Conductor size; circular-mil area or AWG, (Section 6 and Table 1),
3.1.3 Packaging (Section 15), if required,
3.1.4 Special package marking, and
3.1.5 Place of inspection (Section 14).
4. Joints
4.1 Welds and brazes may be made in rods or in wires prior to final drawing.
4.2 Welds and brazes may be made in the individual round drawn wires for compact conductors, but shall not be closer together
than 1 ft (300 mm) for conductor of 19 wires or less or closer than 1 ft (300 mm) in a layer for conductor of more than 19 wires.
4.3 No joint nor splice shall be made in a compact-stranded conductor as a whole.
5. Lay
5.1 The lay length of lay every layer shall be not less than 8 times nor more than 16 times the outside diameter of the completed
2
conductor. conductor except that, for sizes 2 AWG (33.6 mm ) and smaller, the maximum lay length shall be 17.5 times the outside
diameter.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on Conductors
of Copper and Copper Alloys.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2010April 1, 2013. Published December 2010April 2013. Originally approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 20042010 as
ε1
B496 – 04.B496 – 10 . DOI: 10.1520/B0496-04R10E01.10.1520/B0496-13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B496 − 13
TABLE 1 Construction Requirements of Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors
Conductor Size Compact Conductor Diameter DC Resistance at 20°C
Number of Mass, Mass,
2
Wires lb/1000 ft kg/km
cmil AWG mm in. mm Ω/1000 ft Ω/km
A
1 000 000 . 507 61 1.060 26.9 3086 4590 0.0106 0.0347
A
900 000 . 456 61 0.999 25.4 2780 4140 0.0118 0.0386
A
800 000 . 405 61 0.938 23.8 2469 3680 0.0132 0.0433
A
750 000 . 380 61 0.908 23.0 2316 3450 0.0141 0.0462
A
700 000 . 355 61 0.877 22.3 2160 3220 0.0151 0.0495
A
650 000 . 329 61 0.845 21.4 2006 2990 0.0163 0.0535
A
600 000 . 304 61 0.813 20.6 1850 2760 0.0176 0.0577
A
550 000 . 279 61 0.775 19.7 1700 2530 0.0192 0.0630
B
500 000 . 253 37 0.736 18.7 1542 2300 0.0212 0.0695
B
450 000 . 228 37 0.700 17.8 1390 2070 0.0235 0.0770
B
400 000 . 203 37 0.659 16.7 1236 1840 0.0264 0.0865
B
350 000 . 177 37 0.616 15.7 1080 1610 0.0302 0.0990
...