Aluminum Clad Steel (ACS) conductors are made from bare, hard-drawn, round steel wires that are covered with a layer of aluminum. They are used for general electrical purposes. They are sorted into different classes based on their conductivity. These include 14% IACS, 20.3% IACS, 27% IACS, 35% IACS, and 40% IACS.
Because of their excellent qualities, ACS conductors are used a lot in the cable industry. They are used to make Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), standard stranded ground wires, and the steel reinforced cores for phase conductors, all of which are used on overhead lines. They can also be used for other things, like helical hardware, or in any place where resistance to corrosion is an important factor.
The product is manufactured in compliance with several key international standards, which include:
- IEC 61089 Round Wire Concentric Lay Overhead Electrical Stranded Conductors
- ASTM B 416 Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum-Clad Steel Conductors
- AS 1222.2 Steel Conductors and Stays Bare Overhead Part 2: Aluminum Clad (SC/AC)
- GB/T 1179 Round Wire Concentric Lay Overhead Electrical Stranded Conductors
