ASTM B738-13

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 stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.2.1 Exceptions—The SI values for density and temperature are to be regarded as standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2013
• 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(2008) - Standard Specification for Fine-Wire Bunch-Stranded and Rope-Lay Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors for Use as Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Replaced By: ASTM B738-13(2018) - Standard Specification for Fine-Wire Bunch-Stranded and Rope-Lay Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors for Use as Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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 −13
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
1.1 This specification covers bare bunch-stranded and rope-
3.1 For the purposes of this specification, the following
lay bunch-stranded conductors made from round copper wires classifications have been assigned (Explanatory Note 2):
finer than No. 40 AWG with diameters less than 0.0031 in.
3.1.1 Type:
(.078 mm), either coated or uncoated with tin or silver, for use
3.1.1.1 Type B—Bunch-stranded conductors.
as electrical conductors. (Explanatory Note 1).
3.1.1.2 Type R—Rope-lay bunch-stranded conductors.
3.1.2 Class:
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.1.2.1 Class R—Stranded conductors using wire 42 AWG
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
(0.0025).
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
3.1.2.2 Class S—Stranded conductors using wire 44 AWG
and are not considered standard.
(0.0020).
1.2.1 Exceptions—The SI values for density and tempera-
3.1.2.3 Class T—Stranded conductors using wire 46 AWG
ture are to be regarded as standard.
(0.00157).
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.2.4 Class U—Stranded conductors using wire 48 AWG
2
(0.00124).
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.2.5 Class V—Stranded conductors using wire 50 AWG
B33Specification for Tin-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper
(0.00099).
Wire for Electrical Purposes
B49Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Elec-
3.2 Detailed information on Type B Conductors is found in
trical Purposes
Table 1 and Table 2. Detailed information on Type R Conduc-
B172Specification for Rope-Lay-Stranded Copper Conduc-
tors is found in Table 3 and Table 2.
torsHavingBunch-StrandedMembers,forElectricalCon-
ductors
4. Ordering Information
B174Specification for Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors
4.1 Orders for materials under this specification shall in-
for Electrical Conductors
clude the following information:
B193Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
4.1.1 Quantity of each size, class, and type,
Materials
4.1.2 Conductor size—circular-mil area, dc resistance (7.1)
B258 Specification for Nominal Diameters and Cross-
or AWG (5.2.1),
SectionalAreasofAWGSizesofSolidRoundWiresUsed
4.1.3 Class and type (Section 3),
as Electrical Conductors
4.1.4 Whether coated or uncoated; if coated, designate type
B298Specification for Silver-Coated Soft orAnnealed Cop-
of coating (6.1); if silver coated, the minimum thickness of
per Wire
silver (6.1.2), and whether tarnish protection is desired (11.3),
B354Terminology Relating to Uninsulated Metallic Electri-
4.1.5 Maximum length of lay (5.2.4), if required,
cal Conductors
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, 2013. Published April 2013. Originally
4.1.10 Place of inspection (Section 9).
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as B738–03 (2008).
DOI: 10.1520/B0738-13.
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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B738−13
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 subs
...

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: B738 − 03 (Reapproved 2008) B738 − 13
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. 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
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
valuesstated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard, and the SI units may be approximate. standard. The values given
in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.2.1 Exceptions—The SI values for density and temperature are to be regarded as standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B33 Specification for Tin-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes
B49 Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
B172 Specification for Rope-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors Having Bunch-Stranded Members, for Electrical Conductors
B174 Specification for Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors for Electrical Conductors
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
B258 Specification for Nominal Diameters and Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Used as Electrical
Conductors
B298 Specification for Silver-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
B354 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.
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 April 1, 2008April 1, 2013. Published May 2008April 2013. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20032008 as
B738 – 03.B738 – 03 (2008). DOI: 10.1520/B0738-03R08.10.1520/B0738-13.
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

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B738 − 13
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 the AWG conductor sizes
listed.
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, dc resistance (7.1) or AWG (5.2.1),
4.1.3 Class and type (Section 3),
4.1.4 Whether coated or uncoated; if coated, designate type of coating (6.1); if silver coated, the minimum thickness of silver
(6.1.2), and whether tarnish protection is desired (11.3),
4.1.5
...