What Are Overhead Bare Conductors?
overhead bare conductors are uninsulated stranded conductors installed on poles and towers to carry electrical power. They rely on insulators, conductor spacing and designed air clearances for electrical separation. Their construction is selected by balancing electrical resistance and current-carrying requirements with tensile capability, conductor weight, sag and environmental exposure.
They are used in overhead transmission and distribution lines, including new network construction, long-span sections and the refurbishment of existing circuits. Span geometry, wind and ice loading, required ground clearance, tower capacity, fittings and installation practice all influence the appropriate conductor family.
Our conventional bare conductor range includes AAC, AAAC, ACSR, AACSR, ACAR, ACSR/AW and ACSR/TW. These products cover unreinforced aluminium-based conductors, steel- or alloy-reinforced conductors, aluminium-clad steel core designs and compact trapezoidal-wire constructions.
AAC and AAAC use unreinforced aluminium-based constructions. ACSR and AACSR use a steel core for reinforcement, while ACAR uses an aluminium-alloy core. ACSR/AW replaces the conventional coated-steel core with aluminium-clad steel, and ACSR/TW uses trapezoidal aluminium wires to achieve a different aluminium-area-to-diameter relationship.
How to Select a Overhead Bare Conductor
Conventional bare conductors differ in material, reinforcing method and the way electrical and mechanical duties are shared. The table compares the principal product families at category level so buyers can identify the most relevant starting point for detailed line design.
| Product |
Basic construction |
Primary selection focus |
Typical project direction |
| AAC |
Stranded aluminium wires without a reinforcing core |
Conductivity, low weight and aluminium corrosion behaviour |
Lines where reinforced tensile capability is not the principal requirement |
| AAAC |
Stranded aluminium-alloy wires without a separate core |
Balance of strength, weight, conductivity and corrosion performance |
Lines requiring greater mechanical capability than AAC within an all-alloy construction |
| ACSR |
Round aluminium wires stranded around a coated steel core |
Reinforced tensile capability and mechanical support |
Longer spans or routes with higher mechanical loading |
| AACSR |
Aluminium-alloy wires stranded around a steel core |
Alloy conductor section combined with steel reinforcement |
Projects requiring reinforced strength with an aluminium-alloy outer section |
| ACAR |
Aluminium wires stranded around an aluminium-alloy core |
Electrical and mechanical balance without a steel core |
Line-specific designs balancing conductivity, weight and strength |
| ACSR/AW |
Round aluminium wires stranded around an aluminium-clad steel core |
Reinforced mechanical performance with a different core conductivity and corrosion profile |
Projects specifying aluminium-clad steel reinforcement for electrical or environmental design reasons |
| ACSR/TW |
Trapezoidal aluminium wires compactly stranded around a coated steel core |
Aluminium area, outside diameter and reinforced mechanical performance |
Projects where compact geometry or the aluminium-area-to-diameter relationship is part of conductor selection |
Selection Support: Tell us your application, project requirements or preferred standard, and our team can recommend the most suitable conductor type and specification.
Applications of Overhead Bare Conductors
Overhead bare conductors serve different transmission and distribution duties. The following application groups show how electrical capacity, mechanical loading, route environment and conductor geometry influence the product family considered during line design.
Transmission and distribution line construction
AAC and AAAC may be considered where conductor weight, conductivity and an all-aluminium or all-alloy construction are central. ACSR, AACSR and ACAR extend the available mechanical and electrical design combinations for transmission duties.
Long spans, crossings and higher mechanical loading
ACSR and AACSR are commonly evaluated where reinforced tensile capability is important, including exposed routes, river or valley crossings and line sections with higher climatic loading.
Coastal, industrial and corrosive environments
AAAC, ACAR and ACSR/AW may be evaluated where material combination and corrosion performance influence selection. Core material, coating or cladding, grease where applicable and hardware compatibility should be reviewed together.
Compact and shaped-wire conductor projects
ACSR/TW is considered where trapezoidal aluminium wires and compact conductor geometry support a project-specific aluminium-area or outside-diameter objective. Final selection should follow the required electrical, mechanical and installation data.
Overhead Bare Conductor Standards
Conventional round-wire overhead bare conductors may be supplied to IEC 61089 or EN 50182 where the selected material and construction fall within the applicable scope. IEC 62219 provides a standards route for relevant formed-wire or shaped-wire conductor constructions.
For ASTM-based projects, ASTM B231/B231M applies to AAC, ASTM B399/B399M to AAAC, ASTM B232/B232M to ACSR, ASTM B711 to AACSR and ASTM B524/B524M to ACAR. ASTM B549 applies to ACSR/AW, while ASTM B779 applies to shaped-wire compact ACSR/TW constructions.
The selected standard should match the exact conductor material, core, wire shape and stranding. Project specifications should also define conductor designation, required mechanical and electrical data, fittings, test documentation, packing and delivery requirements.
Project Support
For support with overhead bare conductor selection, specifications or sizing, please contact our team with the line conditions, required capacity, applicable standard and project documentation.
