ASTM B174-02

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Designation: B 174 – 02
Standard Specification for
Bunch-Stranded Copper Conductors for Electrical
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Conductors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 174; 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.
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1. Scope ANSI C42.35 Definitions of Electrical Terms
1.1 This specification covers bare bunch-stranded conduc-
3. Classification
tors made from round copper wires, either uncoated or coated
3.1 For the purpose of this specification bunch-stranded
with tin, lead, or lead-alloy for use as electrical conductors
conductors are classified as shown in Table 1.
(Explanatory Note 1 and Explanatory Note 2).
1.2 Coated wires shall include only those wires with fin-
4. Ordering Information
ished diameters and densities substantially equal to the respec-
4.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
tive diameters and densities of uncoated wires.
the following information:
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound or SI units are to be
4.1.1 Quantity of each size and class,
regarded separately as standard. Each system shall be used
4.1.2 Conductor size: circular-mil area or AWG (see 7.1),
independently of the other. Combining values form the two
4.1.3 Class (Section 3 and Table 2),
systems may result in nonconformance with the specification.
4.1.4 Whether coated or uncoated; if coated, designate type
For conductor sizes designated byAWG or kcmil, the require-
of coating (see 11.1),
ments in SI units have been numerically converted from
4.1.5 Maximum length of lay (see 6.3),
corresponding values, stated or derived, in inch-pound units.
4.1.6 Whether separator is required (see 7.2),
For conductor sizes designated by SI units only, the require-
4.1.7 Package size (see section 15.1),
ments are stated or derived in SI units.
4.1.8 Specialpackagemarking,ifrequired(Section14),and
2. Referenced Documents 4.1.9 Place of inspection (Section 13).
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect at the
5. Joints
time of reference form a part of this specification to the extent
5.1 Necessary joints in wires shall be made in accordance
referenced herein:
with accepted commercial practice.
2.2 ASTM Standards:
5.2 Joints shall be so constructed and so disposed through-
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B3 Specification for Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
out the conductor that the diameter or configuration of the
B33 Specification for Tinned Soft or Annealed Copper
completed conductor is not substantially affected, and so that
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Wire for Electrical Purposes
the flexibility of the completed conductor is not adversely
B 172 Specification for Rope-Lay-Stranded Copper Con-
affected.
ductors Having Bunch-Stranded Members, for Electrical
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Conductors
6. Lay
B 189 Specification for Lead-Coated and Lead-Alloy-
6.1 Conductors of the same size and description furnished
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Coated Soft Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes
on one order shall have the same lay.
B 263 Test Method for Determination of Cross-Sectional
6.2 The direction of lay shall be at the option of the
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Area of Stranded Conductors
manufacturer unless otherwise specified.
B 354 Terminology Relating to Uninsulated Metallic Elec-
6.3 Unless otherwise specified by the purchaser, the length
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trical Conductors
of lay of bare or coated bunch-stranded conductors shall
2.3 American National Standard:
conform to the requirements of Column B of Table 2.
6.4 When specified, for constructions other than those listed
in Footnote A of Table 2, the length of lay shall conform to the
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This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on
requirements of Column A of Table 2.
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on
Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys.
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 2002. Published December 2002. Originally
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approved in 1941. Last previous edition approved in 1995 as B 174 – 95. Available from American National Standards Institute, 25 West 43rd Street,
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.03. New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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B 174–02
A
TABLE 1 Classification and Construction Requirements of Bunch-Stranded Conductors
Classification, Size, and Minimum Number of Wires
Class I Class J Class K Class L Class M Class O Class P Class Q
Area of
Cross Section
Wire
Size, Wire Wire Wire Wire Wire Wire Wire
Diameter
AWG
Diameter Diameter Diameter Diameter Diameter Diameter Diameter
0.0031 in.
0.0201 in. 0.0126 in. 0.0100 in. 0.0080 in. 0.0063 in. 0.0050 in. 0.0040 in.
(0.079 mm)
(0.511 m
...