ASTM B496-16

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 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 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-2016
• ICS: 29.240.20 - Power transmission and distribution lines
• Technical Committee: B01 - Electrical Conductors
• Drafting Committee: B01.04 - Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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 −16
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. Scope 3.1.4 Special package marking, and
3.1.5 Place of inspection (Section 14).
1.1 This specification covers bare compact round
concentric-lay-stranded conductors made from uncoated round
4. Joints
copper wires for general use for electrical purposes. These
4.1 Welds and brazes may be made in rods or in wires prior
conductors shall be constructed with a central core surrounded
to final drawing.
by one or more layers of helically laid compacted wires
(Explanatory Note 1 and Note 2).
4.2 Welds and brazes may be made in the individual round
drawn wires for compact conductors, but shall not be closer
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
together than 1 ft (300 mm) for conductor of 19 wires or less
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
or closer than 1 ft (300 mm) in a layer for conductor of more
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
than 19 wires.
and are not considered standard.
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 length of lay of the outer layer shall not be less than
of material purchase form a part of this specification to the
8normorethan16timestheoutsidediameterofthecompleted
extent referenced herein:
conductor.The maximum length of lay for compact conductors
2
2
AWG 2 (33.6 mm ) and smaller shall be 17.5 times the outside
2.2 ASTM Standards:
diameter of the conductor.
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.
3.1.3 Packaging (Section 15), if required,
7. Density
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on 7.1 For the purpose of calculating linear densities, cross
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on
sections, and so forth, the density of the copper shall be taken
Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys. 3 3
as 8.89 g/cm (0.32117 lb/in. ) at 20°C.
Current edition approved April 1, 2016. Published May 2016. Originally
approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as B496 – 14. DOI:
8. Mass and Resistance
10.1520/B0496-16.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
8.1 The mass per unit length and dc electrical resistance of
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
a compact round conductor are greater than the total of these
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. characteristics of the compressed wires composing the finished
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B496−16
TABLE 1 Construction Requirements of Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors
Nominal Compact Conductor Nominal DC Resistance at
Conductor Size
Number of Nominal Mass, Nominal Mass,
Diameter 20°C
Wires lb/1000 ft kg/km
2
cmil AWG mm in. mm Ω/1000 ft Ω/km
A,B
1 500 000 . 760 91 1.299 33.0 4631 6892 0.00705 0.0231
A,B
1 250 000 . 633 91 1.184 30.1 3859 5743 0.00846 0.0278
A,B
1 100 000 . 557 91 1.112 28.2 3396 5054 0.00962 0.0316
C
1 000 000 . 507 61 1.060 26.9 3086 4590 0.0106 0.0347
C
900 000 . 456 61 0.999 25.4 2780 4140 0.0118 0.0386
C
800 000 . 405 61 0.938 23.8 2469 3680 0.01
...

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: B496 − 14 B496 − 16
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. 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 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 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 the wires lay of the outer layer shall not be less than 8 nor more than 16 times the outside diameter of
2
the finishedcompleted conductor. The maximum length of lay for compact conductors AWG 2 (33.6 mm ) and smaller shall be 17.5
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, 2014April 1, 2016. Published April 2014May 2016. Originally approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 20132014 as
B496 – 13a.B496 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/B0496-14.10.1520/B0496-16.
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’sstandard’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 − 16
TABLE 1 Construction Requirements of Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors
Nominal Compact Conductor Nominal DC Resistance at
Conductor Size
Number of Nominal Mass, Nominal Mass,
Diameter 20°C
Wires lb/1000 ft kg/km
2
cmil AWG mm in. mm Ω/1000 ft Ω/km
A,B
1 500 000 . 760 91 1.299 33.0 4631 6892 0.00705 0.0231
A,B
1 250 000 . 633 91 1.184 30.1 3859 5743 0.00846 0.0278
A,B
1 100 000 . 557 91 1.112 28.2 3396 5054 0.00962 0.0316
C
1 000 000 . 507 61 1.060 26.9 3086 4590 0.0106 0.0347
C
900 000 . 456 61 0.999 25.4 2780 4140 0.0118 0.0386
C
800 000 . 405 61 0.938 23.8 2469 3680 0.0132 0.0433
C
750 000 . 380 61 0.908 23.0 2316 3450 0.0141 0.0462
C
700 000 . 355 61 0.877 22.3 2160 3220 0.0151 0.0495
C
650 000 . 329 61 0.845 21.4 2006 2990 0.0163 0.0535
C
600 000 . 304 61 0.813 20.6 1850 2760 0.0176 0.0577
C
550 000 . 279 61 0.775 19.7 1700 2530 0.0192 0.0630
D
500 000 . 253 37 0.736 18.7 1542 2300 0.0212 0.0695
D
450 000 . 228 37 0.700 17.8 1390 2070 0.0235 0.0770
D
400 000 . 203 37 0.659 16.7 1236 1840 0.0264 0.0865
D
350 000 . 177 37 0.616 15.7 1080 1610 0.0302 0.0990
D
300 000 . 152 3
...