ASTM B263-99

Standard Test Method for Determination of Cross-Sectional Area of Stranded Conductors

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the procedure for determining the cross-sectional area of stranded conductors by the mass method.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Oct-1999
• ICS: 29.240.20 - Power transmission and distribution lines
• Technical Committee: B01 - Electrical Conductors
• Drafting Committee: B01.02 - Methods of Test and Sampling Procedure

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM B263-04 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Cross-Sectional Area of Stranded Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2004
• Referred By: ASTM B784-01(2017)e1 - Standard Specification for Modified Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors for Use in Insulated Electrical Cables
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B174-17 - Standard Specification for Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors for Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B787/B787M-04(2020) - Standard Specification for 19 Wire Combination Unilay-Stranded Copper Conductors for Subsequent Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B231/B231M-16(2021) - Standard Specification for Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum 1350 Conductors
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B400/B400M-19 - Standard Specification for Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum 1350 Conductors
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B786/B786M-08(2018) - Standard Specification for 19 Wire Combination Unilay-Stranded Aluminum Conductors for Subsequent Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B399/B399M-23 - Standard Specification for Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum-Alloy 6201-T81 and 6201-T83 Conductors
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B226-11(2021) - Standard Specification for Cored, Annular, Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B836-00(2021) - Standard Specification for Compact Round Stranded Aluminum Conductors Using Single Input Wire Construction
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B801-18 - Standard Specification for Concentric-Lay-Stranded Conductors of 8000 Series Aluminum Alloy for Subsequent Covering or Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B902/B902M-13(2018) - Standard Specification for Compressed Round Stranded Copper Conductors, Hard, Medium-Hard, or Soft Using Single Input Wire Construction
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B172-17 - Standard Specification for Rope-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors Having Bunch-Stranded Members, for Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B835-14(2020) - Standard Specification for Compact Round Stranded Copper Conductors Using Single Input Wire Construction
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B496-16(2021) - Standard Specification for Compact Round Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999

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: B 263 – 99
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Cross-Sectional Area of Stranded
Conductors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 263; 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 4.2 Steel Scale, whose least division is not greater than
⁄32 in. (1 mm).
1.1 This test method covers the procedure for determining
4.3 Jig, or equivalent equipment, for cutting the conductor
the cross-sectional area of stranded conductors by the mass
to length and at right angles to its axis.
method.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound or SI units are to be
5. Sampling
regarded separately as the standard. The values in each system
5.1 Samples shall be taken from the outer end of reel or
are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used
spool lengths, or from either end of coiled lengths.
independently of the other. Combining values from the two
5.2 Unless otherwise specified by the purchaser at the time
systems may result in nonconformance with the specification.
of placing the order, a sample shall consist of the number of
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
production units (reels or coils) shown in Table 1 or in
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
accordance with Specification B 830.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
6. Test Specimens
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
6.1 The length of test specimens shall be as follows:
2. Referenced Documents
Nominal Size of Test Specimen, Length of Test Specimen min,
cmil (mm ) ft (mm)
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on date
Up to 17 000 (9), incl 4 (1220)
of material purchase form a part of this test method to the Over 17 000 (9) 2 (610)
extent referenced herein.
7. Procedure
2.2 ASTM Standards:
7.1 Cut the test specimen, making sure that the ends are at
B 830 Specification for Uniform Test Methods and Fre-
the right angles to the axis of the conductor.
quency
7.2 Measure the length of the specimen at room temperature
3. Terminology
(see Note) to the nearest ⁄32 in. (1 mm), and weigh to within
60.1 %, converting to pounds (grams) if weighed in other
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
units.
3.1.1 lot, n—a lot is any amount of stranded conductor of
one type and size presented for acceptance at one time.
NOTE 1—Correction for temperature variation need not be made, since
3.1.2 sample, n—a sample is a quantity of production units
the error introduced in the length measurement by the temperature
(reels, spools, coils, etc.) selected at random from the lot for the variation is less than the required accuracy of the length measurement.
purpose of determining conformance of the lot to the require-
8. Calculation
ments of this test method.
3.1.3 specimen, n—a specimen is a length of stranded 8.1 Calculate the cross-sectional area of a stranded conduc-
tor, composed of only one type of conducting material, as
conductor removed for test purposes from any individual
production unit of the sample. follows:
A 5 1000/L! 3 100/ 100 1 k! 3 W/f!
~ @ ~ # ~
4. Apparatus
where:
4.1 Balance, accurate to 0.1 %.
A 5 cross-sectional area, cmil (mm ),
W 5 mass of test specimen, lb (g),
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-1 on
L 5 length of test specimen, ft (mm),
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.02 on
f 5 mass factor, lb/cmil·1000 ft (g/cm ), (Table 2), and
Methods of Test and Sampling Procedure.
k 5 increment (increase) of weight and electrical resis-
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1999. Published December 1999. Originally
published as B 263 – 56 T. Last previous edition B 263 – 94.
tance (from product specifications), percent.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.03.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
B 263
TABLE 1 Number of Production Units Required per Sample
A 5 ~1000/L! 3 @100/~100 1 k!# 3 @~W /f ! 1 ~ZW /f !#
cu cu ccs ccs
Number of Production Units in
where:
Sample
A 5 cross-sectional area, cmil (mm ),
2 For First For Each Additional
Nominal Conductor Size, cmil (mm )
W 5 mass of copper strands in
...