An All Aluminum Conductor (AAC) datasheet is a stack of numbers that lets a transmission and distribution engineer make every downstream calculation a project requires — cross-section, mass per kilometer, breaking load, DC resistance, overall diameter. Multiple international standards specify AAC, each with its own naming convention and its own family of preferred sizes. This page consolidates the full ZD Cable AAC range across six standards into a single reference, with the field-by-field background needed to read any AAC datasheet correctly.

The article is structured for direct reference: Section 2 walks through every column you will see on an AAC datasheet; Section 3 lays out the six standards and their naming conventions side by side; Section 4 holds the full size tables for each standard; Section 5 addresses the ampacity question; Section 6 covers reel length, packaging, and handling; Section 7 is the downloadable catalogue PDF. For background on AAC as a conductor family — when it is used, how it compares to steel-reinforced or aluminum-alloy alternatives — see our AAC complete guide. For where AAC fits in overhead distribution networks and the specific scenarios it is best suited for, see our companion article on AAC conductor applications.

How to Read an AAC Datasheet, Column by Column

An AAC datasheet typically carries seven or eight columns. The names vary slightly across standards but the underlying engineering quantities are the same. Below is what each column means, what it controls in line design, and where the common confusion lies.

1. Code or Designation

The conductor’s identifier under the relevant standard. Different standards use different conventions: IEC 61089 and GB/T 1179 use simple numeric codes that match the nominal aluminum area in mm² (“100” denotes nominal 100 mm²). ASTM B231 pairs an AWG or kcmil size with a flower name (“IRIS, 2 AWG” or “DRAKE-equivalent, 795 kcmil”). BS EN 50182 uses an area-prefixed AL1 designator (“117-AL1”) with an additional insect name (“ANT”, “WASP”, “HORNET”) in the United Kingdom variant. AS 1531 uses celestial-body names (“Mercury, Mars, Saturn”). The names look unrelated but most map onto the same approximate size series — a 100 mm² conductor under one standard is roughly the same physical conductor as the 95 mm² equivalent under another.

2. Cross-section / Aluminum Area (mm²)

The total aluminum cross-sectional area summed across all strands. This is the primary electrical specification: DC resistance is approximately inversely proportional to this area, and I²R losses follow directly. Most standards list both a “nominal” area (the rounded designator value) and an “actual” or “calculated” area (the precise value computed from individual strand dimensions). The difference is typically 1% to 3%, well within manufacturing tolerance.

3. Number of Wires (Stranding)

The count of individual aluminum strands that are concentrically laid to form the conductor. AAC stranding follows the standard concentric-lay pattern of one center wire plus six wires in the first layer, twelve in the second, eighteen in the third, and so on — giving wire counts of 7, 19, 37, 61, 91, and 127. The choice between stranding configurations at the same nominal area trades off flexibility, tensile uniformity, and manufacturing cost. Smaller conductors (up to ~50 mm²) typically use 7-strand construction; medium sizes (50–250 mm²) use 19 strands; larger sizes use 37, 61, 91, or 127.

4. Individual Wire Diameter (mm)

The diameter of a single aluminum strand before the strands are laid together. This number, combined with the strand count, fixes the cross-sectional area. Note that two AAC conductors at the same nominal mm² can use different wire diameters under different stranding choices: for example, BS EN 50182 lists “49-AL1” (50 mm² at 7 strands of 3.00 mm) alongside “48-AL1” (50 mm² at 19 strands of 1.80 mm). The 19-strand version is more flexible to terminate; the 7-strand is slightly stronger and marginally lower in resistance.

5. Overall Conductor Diameter (mm)

The outer diameter of the finished stranded conductor. This dimension governs all hardware selection: suspension clamps, splices, dead-ends, vibration dampers, and corona rings are all sized to grip a specific OD range. The overall diameter is slightly larger than a simple geometric calculation would suggest — the helical lay of each layer introduces a small additional outer envelope. The “Approx.” label that often accompanies this column reflects that the value is rounded to the nearest 0.1 mm rather than carrying greater precision than the manufacturing tolerance allows.

6. Linear Mass / Unit Weight (kg/km)

Mass per kilometer of finished conductor. This is the input to every span-weight calculation, every tower-loading sum, and every sag-tension model. For AAC the value is approximately the aluminum density (2.703 g/cm³) multiplied by the cross-sectional area, with a small upward correction (typically 1–3%) for the helical lay that makes the strands longer than the conductor’s axial length. AAC has the lowest weight per unit conducting area among bare overhead conductor families, which is one of its central appeals.

7. Rated Strength / Calculated Breaking Load (kN)

The Rated Strength (also called the Calculated Breaking Load, CBL) is the minimum tensile load the conductor is specified to sustain, computed by summing the individual strand breaking strengths and applying a stranding-efficiency factor that accounts for the helical lay of the strands. For AAC made of hard-drawn 1350-H19 aluminum, the strand tensile strength is approximately 160–180 N/mm². This is not the design tension: typical line design uses 20–25% of rated strength for steady-state operation, with allowances above that for ice-and-wind loaded conditions. Rated strength is the guaranteed lower bound — a destructive tensile test on production conductor must reach this value or higher before failure — not a target working tension. Production conductors typically meet or modestly exceed this value when tested.

8. DC Resistance at 20°C (Ω/km)

Direct-current electrical resistance per kilometer at the standard 20°C reference temperature. AAC uses 1350-H19 aluminum with a minimum conductivity of 61% IACS, which corresponds to a resistivity of approximately 0.0283 Ω·mm²/m. For operating conditions above 20°C, the resistance rises by approximately 0.4% per °C; at 75°C operating temperature, DC resistance is roughly 22% above the listed 20°C value. AC resistance for typical AAC sizes is essentially identical to DC — the skin-effect correction is well under 1% at 50/60 Hz for the conductor diameters used in distribution work.

The Six AAC Standards at a Glance

ZD Cable manufactures AAC to six product standards. The standards are technically similar — all describe round-wire concentric-lay all-aluminum conductors made from hard-drawn 1350-grade aluminum — but they differ in naming convention, in which size series they prefer, and in some dimensional and mechanical tolerance details. Knowing which standard a project specification points to is the first step in pulling the correct datasheet table.

IEC 61089 — International

The IEC standard for round-wire concentric-lay stranded conductors, applicable globally for project specifications that follow IEC conventions. Naming is by area in mm² (10, 16, 25, 40, 63, 100, 125, …). The denominator AAC/A1 indicates the all-aluminum sub-family. IEC 61089 is the default standard in most non-North American markets, including for World Bank and ADB-financed transmission and distribution projects outside the Americas.

ASTM B231 — North America

The North American standard for concentric-lay-stranded 1350 aluminum conductors. Sizing is in AWG (American Wire Gauge) for smaller conductors (6 AWG through 4/0 AWG) and in kcmil (thousands of circular mils) for larger ones (250 kcmil through 3500 kcmil). ASTM B231 conductors carry traditional flower names — PEACHBELL, ROSE, IRIS, PANSY, POPPY, ASTER, PHLOX, OXLIP, and so on — which remain the practical procurement identifiers in North American utility work even though the names are not part of the standard’s formal definition.

BS EN 50182 — Europe (Germany and United Kingdom variants)

The European harmonized standard for overhead-line stranded conductors. Two regional variants are in widespread use: the German variant uses pure numeric area designators with an “-AL1” suffix (16-AL1, 24-AL1, 34-AL1, etc.), while the United Kingdom variant pairs the same AL1 codes with traditional insect names — MIDGE, GNAT, MOSQUITO, LADYBIRD, ANT, FLY, BLUEBOTTLE — that have remained in use since the older BS 215 numbering. Both variants are dimensionally consistent under BS EN 50182.

BS 215-1 — United Kingdom (legacy)

The older British Standard for aluminum stranded conductors used for overhead power transmission, predating BS EN 50182. BS 215-1 conductors are still supplied for projects in markets where legacy utility standard practice references the BS series directly. The insect-name tradition originated under this standard before being carried into BS EN 50182 in the United Kingdom variant.

AS 1531 — Australia and New Zealand

The Australian and New Zealand standard for bare overhead aluminum and aluminum-alloy conductors. AAC under AS 1531 uses celestial-body code names — Leo, Mars, Mercury, Moon, Neptune, Orion, Pluto, Saturn, Sirius, Triton, Uranus, Venus — and a compact stranding-and-wire-diameter notation (for example, “7/4.50” means seven wires of 4.50 mm each). AS 1531 also lists an “Equivalent Aluminum Area” column reflecting the effective conducting cross-section.

GB/T 1179 — China

The Chinese national standard for round-wire concentric-lay overhead stranded conductors. AAC under GB/T 1179 is designated “AAC(JL)” and uses simple numeric codes that match nominal mm² area, closely paralleling IEC 61089. The GB/T 1179 size series is somewhat denser than IEC at the lower end, including intermediate sizes such as 35, 70, and 120 mm² that are widely used in Chinese distribution work and exported to markets following Chinese grid codes.

AAC Specification Tables by Standard

The complete ZD Cable AAC size range under each of the six standards is given below. All values are nominal as supplied; manufacturing tolerances follow the dimensional limits set in the relevant standard. Bare conductor is supplied on standard wooden or steel drums — see Section 6 for reel-length information.

IEC 61089 (AAC/A1)

The full IEC 61089 range covers 10 mm² through 1500 mm², with stranding progressing from 7 strands up through 91 strands as size increases.

Table 1. AAC/A1 conductor data under IEC 61089.

ASTM B231 (North America)

The ASTM B231 range covers 6 AWG through 3500 kcmil. The “Conductor Size” column gives both the nominal AWG/kcmil designator and the actual aluminum area in mm². For the 477, 500, 700, 715.5, 750, 795, 900, 954, 1000, and 1033.5 kcmil sizes, both 37-strand and 61-strand versions are listed — the trade-off is flexibility versus rated strength.

Table 2. AAC conductor data under ASTM B231 — North American flower-name series.

BS EN 50182 — Germany Variant

The Germany variant of BS EN 50182 uses area-prefixed AL1 codes (16-AL1 through 1000-AL1). The “Old Code” column gives the legacy nominal area designator. Note that the 50 mm² range includes both a 7-strand variant (49-AL1) and a 19-strand variant (48-AL1) at the same nominal area.

Table 3. AAC conductor data under BS EN 50182 — Germany variant.

BS EN 50182 — United Kingdom Variant

The United Kingdom variant of BS EN 50182 retains the traditional British insect-name nomenclature alongside the AL1 designators. The size series is denser at the lower end (23 mm² through 132 mm²) than the Germany variant, reflecting the BS legacy of finer-grained distribution conductor sizing. The 106-AL1 designator appears twice — once for the 7-strand WASP at 106.0 mm² and once for the 19-strand BEETLE at 106.4 mm².

Table 4. AAC conductor data under BS EN 50182 — United Kingdom variant.

AS 1531 (AAC/1350)

The AS 1531 range covers 16 conductor sizes from Leo (34.36 mm²) through Venus (673.4 mm²). The “Stranding and Wire Diameter” column uses the compact n/d notation — for example, “37/3.00” indicates 37 strands of 3.00 mm diameter each. The “Equivalent Aluminium Area” column reflects the conductor’s effective conducting cross-section after standard adjustments.

Table 5. AAC/1350 conductor data under AS 1531.

GB/T 1179 (AAC/JL)

The GB/T 1179 range covers 10 mm² through 1500 mm², with a denser series than IEC 61089 at the small and medium sizes. AAC under GB/T 1179 is designated “AAC(JL)” — “JL” being the Chinese-standard designator for aluminum stranded conductors.

Table 6. AAC(JL) conductor data under GB/T 1179.

Why Ampacity Is Not Listed in These Tables

A reader scanning the six tables above will notice an omission: there is no “current-carrying capacity” or “ampacity” column. The omission is intentional. Listing a single ampacity number against a conductor is, in our engineering view, a misleading practice — and one we have deliberately chosen not to follow in this catalogue.

Ampacity Is a State Variable, Not a Conductor Property

The conductor properties in the tables above — area, stranding, diameter, mass, breaking load, DC resistance — are all inherent to the conductor. They are the same whether the conductor is installed in a Saharan summer or a Siberian winter. Ampacity is different. Ampacity is the steady-state current the conductor can carry without exceeding its maximum allowable operating temperature, and that calculation depends on four variables that change with the site, the climate, and the operating philosophy of the utility.

The Range Is Wide Enough to Matter

The size of the variation across these four inputs is not academic. A representative 100 mm² AAC conductor can carry roughly 300 A on a hot still summer afternoon under conservative ground-clearance constraints, and roughly 500 A on a cool windy evening under aggressive thermal headroom — the same conductor, different conditions, a 60% range. Quoting any single number from inside that range without naming the assumption set is engineering theatre, not engineering data.

How We Quote Ampacity for Real Projects

For project specifications, ZD Cable computes ampacity per the client’s required assumption set — ambient temperature, wind speed, solar radiation, and maximum allowable conductor temperature — and provides the calculated values as part of the technical submission. The calculation methodology used is the established international heat-balance approach for bare overhead conductors; the inputs are pulled from the client’s grid-code requirements or design basis. The output is a defensible, traceable ampacity number tied to a named set of conditions, not a marketing figure.

Reel Length, Packaging, and Handling

Beyond the electrical and mechanical specifications in the tables above, three operational parameters typically come up during procurement: reel length per drum, drum type and packaging, and minimum bending radius during installation and storage.

Reel Length per Drum

Bare AAC is supplied on wooden or returnable steel drums. The maximum length per drum depends on the conductor’s overall diameter and total mass — both drum type and shipping constraints set the upper bound. For typical AAC sizes:

• Small distribution sizes (10–95 mm²): 2,000 to 4,000 meters per drum is common, on wooden drums.
• Medium distribution sizes (100–300 mm²): 1,500 to 3,000 meters per drum.
• Sub-transmission and transmission sizes (≥400 mm²): 1,000 to 2,000 meters per drum, often on steel drums.
• Very large sizes (≥800 mm²): 500 to 1,500 meters per drum, with weight and dimensional limits typically binding before drum capacity.

Custom reel lengths are available on order. For long-span installations where joint avoidance matters, longer drums can be specified subject to shipping mode (sea, land, or air freight all have their own dimensional and weight limits). ZD Cable’s standard project workflow includes drum-length optimization against the customer’s specified span layout to minimize the number of compression joints required in the field.

Drum Marking and Identification

Each drum is marked with the conductor’s standard designation and code, nominal cross-section, total length, gross and net weight, manufacturing date, and a unique drum number for traceability. The applicable product standard (IEC 61089, ASTM B231, BS EN 50182, AS 1531, or GB/T 1179, per the order) is identified on the drum label. Certificates of compliance and factory test reports follow the drum number under ZD Cable’s quality traceability system.

Minimum Bending Radius

During installation and stringing, AAC should be bent no more sharply than approximately 10 to 12 times the conductor’s overall diameter. For static storage on the drum, the drum’s barrel diameter provides the controlling bend radius — standard drums are sized to keep the static bend radius well within safe limits. For field handling around stringing blocks, sheaves, and pullers, the diameter of the block should be at least 30 to 40 times the conductor diameter to limit aluminum strand surface damage and birdcaging.

Storage and Transport

Drums should be stored on their barrels (drum axis horizontal) or on their flange edges, never on their flanges flat. Outdoor storage is acceptable for short periods on covered ground; long-term storage benefits from covered protection to prevent aluminum surface oxidation that, while not affecting electrical performance, can create visual variation across drums. Bare AAC has no insulating jacket to degrade, but UV exposure over multiple seasons can dull the bright aluminum surface without changing conductor performance.

Download the Full AAC Conductor Catalogue

The full ZD Cable AAC conductor catalogue, with the data tables above in printable format plus production capability information and contact details for technical inquiry, is available as a PDF download.

For project-specific datasheets, including computed ampacity figures under your design basis or any standard not covered in the catalogue, contact our technical team — we will return a project datasheet within typical 24-hour response time. ZD Cable’s recent 1,000 km AAC conductor shipment to Vietnam in a 25-day lead time is one example of the scale we ship at. For background on AAC’s place in the broader overhead bare conductor product family, see our AAC complete guide.

Frequently Asked Questions