3M Aluminum Conductor Composite Reinforced (ACCR)

Technical Summary for Common Constructions and Sizes

English (U.S.) Units

Proven
Solutions
to Increase
Capacity
More amps on the same size
conductors, for your toughest
transmission challenges

3
 3M ACCR Technical Summary

3M ACCR Round-wire Specifications

The strong, lightweight, high capacity conductor
3M Aluminum Conductor Composite Reinforced
(ACCR) is an all-aluminum-based conductor designed
as a drop-in replacement for ACSR and ACSS. Its
properties enable transmission capacity increases, up
to twice as much or more, on existing structures, while
matching or improving tensions and clearances.
The round-wire construction is composed of a
multi-strand, aluminum-matrix core surrounded
by aluminum-zirconium outer wires that are round
in shape.
Round-wire, the most commonly used transmission
conductor construction, frequently offers the largest
capacity increase because of its low weight, allowing it
to operate at high temperatures with less sag than steel
core conductors and other types of construction, such
as trapwire or compact conductors.

Physical Properties Unit Ostrich 300 Linnet 336 Ibis 397 Hawk 477 Dove 557
Designation ACCR_297-T16 ACCR_340-T16 ACCR_405-T16 ACCR_470-T16 ACCR_573-T16
Stranding 26/7 26/7 26/7 26/7 26/7
Diameter
Individual Core Wire in 0.083 0.089 0.097 0.105 0.116
Individual Al Wire in 0.107 0.114 0.125 0.134 0.149
Total Core in 0.249 0.267 0.291 0.314 0.347
Total Conductor in 0.677 0.724 0.791 0.852 0.941
Area
Aluminum in2 0.233 0.267 0.318 0.369 0.450
Total Area in2 0.271 0.310 0.370 0.429 0.524
Weight
Core lbs/ft 0.057 0.066 0.078 0.090 0.110
Aluminum lbs/ft 0.279 0.320 0.382 0.443 0.540
Total Weight lbs/ft 0.337 0.385 0.460 0.533 0.650
Strength lbs 12,100 13,900 16,500 19,200 23,100
Thermal Elongation
Core 10-6/C 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3
Aluminum 10-6/C 23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0
Complete Cable 10-6/C 16.7 16.7 16.7 16.7 16.7
Heat Capacity
Core W-sec/ft-C 8 10 11 13 16
Aluminum W-sec/ft-C 121 139 165 192 234

Electrical Properties
To learn more about Resistance
3M ACCR, or to down- DC @ 20C ohms/mile 0.2939 0.2568 0.2153 0.1855 0.1521
load the PLS-CADD AC @ 25C ohms/mile 0.3009 0.2629 0.2204 0.1899 0.1558
data files, visit us at AC @ 50C ohms/mile 0.3307 0.2889 0.2422 0.2087 0.1712
www.3M.com/ACCR AC @ 75C ohms/mile 0.3605 0.3150 0.2640 0.2275 0.1866
AC @ 100C ohms/mile 0.3902 0.3410 0.2858 0.2463 0.2020
AC @ 210C ohms/mile 0.5213 0.4555 0.3818 0.3290 0.2699
AC @ 240C* ohms/mile 0.5571 0.4867 0.4080 0.3516 0.2884
Geometric Mean Radius ft 0.0229 0.0245 0.0267 0.0288 0.0318
Reactance (1 ft spacing, 60hz)
Inductive Xa ohms/mile 0.458 0.450 0.439 0.430 0.418
Capacitive X'a Mohms-mile 0.1059 0.1039 0.1012 0.0990 0.0961
Ampacity
210 C amps 863 942 1,059 1,168 1,332
240 C* amps 944 1,011 1,136 1,254 1,431
* Emergency operating temperature, 1,000 hours cumulative over the life of the conductor. Ampacity ratings were calculated using IEEE Std. 738-1993, with inputs of 40C air
temperature, 2.0 ft/s wind, and emissivity and absorptivity of 0.5, at sea level.

2
Grosbeak 636 Drake 795 Cardinal 954 Curlew 1033 Finch 1113 Pheasant 1272 Martin 1351 Falcon 1590
ACCR_656-T16 ACCR_824-T16 ACCR_967-T13 ACCR_1036-T13 ACCR_1117-T13 ACCR_1267-T13 ACCR_1334-T13 ACCR_1594-T13
26/7 26/19 54/19 54/19 54/19 54/19 54/19 54/19

0.074 0.083 0.080 0.083 0.086 0.092 0.094 0.103

0.159 0.178 0.134 0.139 0.144 0.153 0.157 0.172
0.371 0.416 0.402 0.416 0.432 0.460 0.472 0.516
1.006 1.128 1.205 1.247 1.295 1.379 1.415 1.547

0.515 0.648 0.760 0.814 0.877 0.995 1.048 1.252

0.597 0.751 0.856 0.917 0.989 1.121 1.180 1.411

0.123 0.154 0.144 0.154 0.166 0.188 0.198 0.236

0.617 0.776 0.915 0.980 1.057 1.199 1.262 1.509
0.740 0.930 1.059 1.134 1.223 1.387 1.460 1.745
25,600 32,200 33,200 35,600 38,400 43,000 45,300 53,600

6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3

23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0
16.5 16.5 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1

18 23 21 23 25 28 29 35
267 336 396 424 457 518 546 652

For a complete
0.1333 0.1060 0.0920 0.0859 0.0796 0.0702 0.0667 0.0558 library of lab and
0.1364 0.1085 0.0942 0.0879 0.0815 0.0719 0.0683 0.0571 field tests, organized
0.1499 0.1192 0.1035 0.0966 0.0896 0.0790 0.0750 0.0628 by both conductor
0.1635 0.1300 0.1128 0.1053 0.0977 0.0861 0.0818 0.0684 size and test subject,
visit our website:
0.1770 0.1407 0.1221 0.1140 0.1057 0.0932 0.0886 0.0741
www.3M.com/ACCR
0.2364 0.1880 0.1632 0.1523 0.1413 0.1246 0.1183 0.0990
0.2526 0.2009 0.1743 0.1628 0.1509 0.1331 0.1264 0.1058
0.0309 0.0346 0.0372 0.0385 0.0400 0.0426 0.0437 0.0478

0.422 0.408 0.399 0.395 0.390 0.383 0.380 0.369

0.0941 0.0907 0.0887 0.0877 0.0866 0.0847 0.0840 0.0813

1,453 1,692 1,857 1,943 2,041 2,222 2,299 2,590

1,562 1,820 1,999 2,092 2,199 2,395 2,479 2,795
Conformance to National Standards
All materials shall conform to the applicable American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C119.4; American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards B193, B557,
B941; or International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS).

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 3M ACCR Technical Summary

3M ACCR Trapwire Specifications

Higher conductivity in higher amp applications
3M brings its reputation for reliability to trapwire conductors
3M offers a full line of trapwire, or compact, conductors
with diameters comparable to standard conductors.
Trapwire designs replace the round outer wires of the
conductor with trapezoidal-shaped wires, in order to
maximize the amount of current-carrying aluminum
within the same total diameter. The result is an increase
in conductivity that may reduce resistive losses on the
line. Work with your 3M representative to choose the best
solution for your application, considering your capacity
needs and the characteristics of your specific project.

Physical Properties Unit Hawk 477TW Calumet Oswego Wabash

Diameter Equivalent Roundwire Hawk Dove Grosbeak
Designation ACCR-TW_477-T16 ACCR-TW_565-T16 ACCR-TW_665-T16 ACCR-TW_763-T16
Stranding 18/7 20/7 20/19 20/19
Diameter
Individual Core Wire in 0.105 0.114 0.074 0.080
Individual Aluminum Wire in N/A N/A N/A N/A
Core in 0.314 0.341 0.371 0.402
Total Conductor Diameter in 0.789 0.858 0.929 0.933
Area
Aluminum in2 0.375 0.444 0.522 0.599
Total Area in2 0.435 0.515 0.604 0.695
Weight
Core lbs/ft 0.090 0.106 0.123 0.144
Aluminum lbs/ft 0.448 0.530 0.624 0.716
Total Weight lbs/ft 0.538 0.636 0.747 0.860
Strength lbs 19,100 22,500 25,800 29,900
Thermal Elongation
Core 10-6/C 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3
Aluminum 10-6/C 23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0
Complete Cable 10-6/C 16.8 16.8 16.5 16.4
Heat Capacity
Core W-sec/ft-C 13 16 18 21
Aluminum W-sec/ft-C 194 230 270 310

Conductor Electrical Properties

To learn more about Resistance
3M ACCR, or to down-
DC @ 20C ohms/mile 0.1825 0.1541 0.1311 0.1141
load the PLS-CADD
data files, visit us at AC @ 25C ohms/mile 0.1868 0.1578 0.1342 0.1168
www.3M.com/ACCR AC @ 50C ohms/mile 0.2053 0.1734 0.1475 0.1283
AC @ 75C ohms/mile 0.2238 0.1890 0.1608 0.1399
AC @ 100C ohms/mile 0.2423 0.2046 0.1741 0.1515
AC @ 210C ohms/mile 0.3236 0.2733 0.2325 0.2023
AC @ 240C* ohms/mile 0.3458 0.2921 0.2484 0.2162
Geometric Mean Radius ft 0.0268 0.0290 0.0314 0.0336
Reactance (1 ft spacing, 60hz)
Inductive Xa ohms/mile 0.4394 0.4298 0.4198 0.4116
Capacitive X'a Mohms/mile 0.1013 0.0988 0.0964 0.0945
Ampacity
210C amps 1,148 1,284 1,427 1,564
240C amps 1,232 1,378 1,533 1,681
Because the trapezoidal shape of the outer wires incorporates more aluminum, the weight and sag may increase slightly compared to diameter-equivalent
round wire designs. Your 3M representative can help you choose the optimal combination of conductor properties for your application.
* Emergency operating temperature, 1,000 hours cumulative over the life of the conductor. Ampacity ratings were calculated using IEEE Std. 738-1993, with inputs of 40C air
temperature, 2.0 ft/s wind, and emissivity and absorptivity of 0.5, at sea level.
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 Suwanee Curlew 1033 TW Hudson Rio Grande Pecos Cumberland
Drake Cardinal Pheasant Martin Falcon
ACCR-TW_958-T16 ACCR-TW_1033-T13 ACCR-TW_1158-T13 ACCR-TW_1533-T13 ACCR-TW_1622-T13 ACCR-TW_1927-T13
22/19 22/19 25/19 39/19 39/19 39/19

0.089 0.083 0.089 0.102 0.105 0.114

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
0.445 0.416 0.445 0.509 0.523 0.568
1.108 1.132 1.201 1.381 1.417 1.543

0.753 0.811 0.909 1.204 1.274 1.513

0.871 0.914 1.027 1.358 1.437 1.706

0.176 0.154 0.176 0.230 0.243 0.286

0.899 0.969 1.087 1.447 1.531 1.819
1.075 1.123 1.263 1.677 1.774 2.105
37,000 35,600 40,300 52,400 55,500 65,400

6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3

23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0 23.0
16.5 17.3 17.3 17.1 17.1 17.1

26 23 26 34 36 43
389 420 470 626 662 786

0.0910 0.0854 0.0761 0.0579 0.0547 0.0461

0.0931 0.0875 0.0779 0.0592 0.0560 0.0472
0.1023 0.0961 0.0857 0.0651 0.0615 0.0518
0.1116 0.1048 0.0934 0.0710 0.0671 0.0565
0.1208 0.1134 0.1011 0.0768 0.0726 0.0612
0.1613 0.1516 0.1350 0.1026 0.0970 0.0817
0.1724 0.1619 0.1443 0.1097 0.1037 0.0873
0.0373 0.0375 0.0396 0.0457 0.0469 0.0510

0.3990 0.3984 0.3917 0.3745 0.3713 0.3610

0.0912 0.0906 0.0888 0.0847 0.0839 0.0814

1,813 1,885 2,035 2,444 2,537 2,847

1,951 2,029 2,191 2,634 2,736 3,072
Conformance to National Standards
All materials shall conform to the applicable American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards B193, B557, B941;
or International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS).

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 3M ACCR Technical Summary

Physical Characteristics
3M Aluminum Conductor Composite Reinforced (ACCR) is a transmission
conductor designed to significantly increase capacity on existing
structures, even in challenging situations and environments.

Core Strands Aluminum Strands

The core strands are composed of wires formed The aluminum strands are composed of an aluminum-
3MAluminum from aluminum oxide fibers embedded in high- zirconium alloy. They are available in both round
Matrix Core
purity aluminum. This type of material is called and trapezoidal shapes. The minimum conductivity
a fiber reinforced metal matrix. It contains NO of any individual aluminum strand is not less than
polymers or plastic. The properties that give the 60 percent of the International Annealed Copper
conductor its advantages are conferred by the core. Standard (IACS).
The key advantages of the ACCR core, compared to The aluminum-zirconium strands are a hard drawn
conventional steel cores used in ACSR and ACSS, aluminum with mechanical properties very similar
are its: to 1350-H19 aluminum (23-25 ksi, 158-172 MPa)
Higher strength to weight ratio and ultimate tensile strength. This is NOT a soft annealed
Lower thermal expansion aluminum. The addition of a small amount of
These two properties result in lower sag at higher zirconium to the aluminum confers the property of
operating temperatures, enabling higher ampacities heat resistance. That is, the aluminum-zirconium may
at equivalent tensions and clearances. be heated to high temperatures without softening
(annealing). Thus when the aluminum-zirconium
Core Property Comparison: ACCR vs. ACSR/ACSS cools to ambient temperatures, it retains its strength.
Conductor ACCR ACSR/ACSS Conductor Stranding
Core Material Aluminum Steel
Matrix 3M ACCR uses constructions that are very similar to
Strength (ksi) 200 185 ACSR. It uses most of the same dimensions for wire
Density (lbs/in3) 0.119 0.282 sizes and conductor sizes. Aluminum-zirconium
Strength/Density 1,681 656 layers are helically stranded using the same lay
Coefficient of Thermal
3.5 6.7
lengths and lay directions as ACSR. The core wires
Expansion (10-6/F) are also helically stranded. Both the core and outer
strands contribute to the strength and conductivity
Some of the secondary properties of the core are also of the conductor.
favorable. These include low creep, higher electrical
conductivity (from the aluminum constituent),
durability and longevity equivalent to ACSR, and
To learn more about corrosion resistance without coatings or barriers,
3M ACCR, or to down- (similar to all-aluminum conductors).
load the PLS-CADD
data files, visit us at
www.3M.com/ACCR

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More amps
on existing
structures
Technical Support
Finding the right solution can require knowledgeable
support. Our experienced technical team, with their
proven record of successful solutions, can help you with:
Balancing capacity, efficiency, mechanical load,
clearance, economic and environmental objectives
to find the best solution;
Evaluating line characteristics to define the right
mix of conductor and accessories;
Providing you with data and information on
the phone, through e-mail or on-site;
Assisting you to compare options in PLS-CADD,
SAG10 and other design software;
Supporting your installation crew with training
and consultation throughout the process.
All to provide you the most value from your
upgrade and ensure a successful project.

Contact our technical team at 800-364-3577

or accr@mmm.com, or visit www.3M.com/accr
for more information.

57
 3M ACCR Technical Summary

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Electrical Markets Division
3M High Capacity Conductors
3M Center, Building 251-2A-39
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000 Please recycle. Printed in USA. PLS-CADD is a trademark of Power Line Systems, Inc.
Phone: 800-364-3577 Issued: 7/09 3M 2009. SAG10 is a trademark of Southwire Company.
Fax: 651-736-0431 All rights reserved. 6888HB 3M is a trademark of 3M Company.
www.3M.com/ACCR 80-6016-0279-2 B Used under license by 3M subsidiaries and affiliates.