What is the size of DEER conductor?

30/4.27 mm Al + 7/4.27 mm steel — 429.60 mm² of aluminium plus 100.20 mm² of steel, 529.80 mm² total, with an overall diameter of 29.89 mm.

What is the weight of DEER conductor per km?

1975 kg per km, so a 1 km drum weighs about 1.98 tonnes.

What is the resistance of DEER conductor?

0.0674 Ω/km DC at 20 °C. At 75 °C the AC resistance rises to roughly 0.0865 Ω/km once skin effect is included.

ACSR conductor · 400 mm² nominal

DEER Conductor — Specification & Current Carrying Capacity

Q: What is the current carrying capacity of DEER conductor?

About 700 A. That figure assumes Ambient 40 °C, maximum conductor temperature 75 °C, cross-wind 0.61 m/s, solar radiation 1000 W/m², emissivity 0.9, absorptivity 0.8, outdoor overhead installation (IEEE 738 / IS 398 practice).

30/4.27 mm Al + 7/4.27 mm steel · 529.80 mm² total area · 29.89 mm overall diameter · 1975 kg/km · 0.0674 Ω/km at 20 °C · 175.60 kN breaking load · about 700 A.

220 kV transmission lines where a high-strength conductor is required.

Calculate DEER ampacity Compare with other conductors

Full technical specification

Data basis: IS 398 and standard manufacturer catalogues. Individual manufacturers vary slightly — confirm against the supplier datasheet before final design.

Code name	DEER
Family	ACSR
Material	Aluminium strands over a 7-wire galvanised steel core
Stranding	30/4.27 mm Al + 7/4.27 mm steel
Aluminium strands	30 × 4.27 mm
Steel strands	7 × 4.27 mm
Aluminium area	429.60 mm²
Steel area	100.20 mm²
Total area	529.80 mm²
Nominal (trade) area	400 mm²
Overall diameter	29.89 mm
Approximate weight	1975 kg/km
DC resistance at 20 °C	0.0674 Ω/km
Calculated AC resistance at 75 °C	0.0865 Ω/km
Ultimate breaking load	175.60 kN
Current carrying capacity	700 A (standard basis)

Construction of DEER

DEER is built as 30/4.27 mm Al + 7/4.27 mm steel. Aluminium strands over a 7-wire galvanised steel core. The steel core takes most of the mechanical tension so the aluminium can be sized purely for current, which is what lets ACSR span long distances between towers. The total metallic area of 529.80 mm² and overall diameter of 29.89 mm set both the resistance and the wind/ice loading the structures must carry.

Where DEER is used

220 kV transmission lines where a high-strength conductor is required. At 700 A on the standard basis, a three-phase circuit of DEER carries roughly 13 MVA at 11 kV, 40 MVA at 33 kV and 160 MVA at 132 kV — useful as a first sanity check before detailed load flow.

Conditions behind the current rating

Ambient 40 °C, maximum conductor temperature 75 °C, cross-wind 0.61 m/s, solar radiation 1000 W/m², emissivity 0.9, absorptivity 0.8, outdoor overhead installation (IEEE 738 / IS 398 practice).

Wind is the single biggest variable. Removing it drops the rating of DEER from 759 A to 434 A in the cases above.
Raising the permitted conductor temperature increases the rating, but sag and long-term annealing of the aluminium set the practical ceiling — 75 °C continuous is the usual limit.
A weathered, dark conductor absorbs more sunlight but also radiates heat better; the standard 0.8 absorptivity / 0.9 emissivity pair is the conservative combination.
Terminations, jumpers and clamps often limit a line before the conductor does. Check the whole current path, not only the span.

Other ACSR conductors

SQUIRREL

6/2.11 mm Al + 1/2.11 mm steel · 115 A

WEASEL

6/2.59 mm Al + 1/2.59 mm steel · 150 A

FERRET

6/3.00 mm Al + 1/3.00 mm steel · 185 A

RABBIT

6/3.35 mm Al + 1/3.35 mm steel · 208 A

MINK

6/3.66 mm Al + 1/3.66 mm steel · 234 A

RACCOON

6/4.09 mm Al + 1/4.09 mm steel · 270 A

Calculators for this conductor

Conductor Current Capacity Calculator

Recalculate DEER ampacity for your own weather and temperature limit.

Voltage Drop Calculator

Check the drop over the span length you are planning.

AWG to sq mm Converter

Translate the area into American gauge sizes.

Transformer Sizing Calculator

Match the feeder to the transformer it supplies.

AC Cable Sizing Calculator

For the insulated cable portions of the same circuit.

Wire Gauge Chart

AWG to mm² reference table.