What is the size of FERRET conductor?

6/3.00 mm Al + 1/3.00 mm steel — 42.41 mm² of aluminium plus 7.07 mm² of steel, 49.48 mm² total, with an overall diameter of 9 mm.

What is the weight of FERRET conductor per km?

172 kg per km, so a 1 km drum weighs about 0.17 tonnes.

What is the resistance of FERRET conductor?

0.6795 Ω/km DC at 20 °C. At 75 °C the AC resistance rises to roughly 0.8716 Ω/km once skin effect is included.

ACSR conductor · 40 mm² nominal

FERRET Conductor — Specification & Current Carrying Capacity

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

About 185 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).

6/3.00 mm Al + 1/3.00 mm steel · 49.48 mm² total area · 9.00 mm overall diameter · 172 kg/km · 0.6795 Ω/km at 20 °C · 14.85 kN breaking load · about 185 A.

11 kV distribution feeders and heavier LT mains.

Calculate FERRET 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	FERRET
Family	ACSR
Material	Aluminium strands over a galvanised steel core
Stranding	6/3.00 mm Al + 1/3.00 mm steel
Aluminium strands	6 × 3 mm
Steel strands	1 × 3 mm
Aluminium area	42.41 mm²
Steel area	7.07 mm²
Total area	49.48 mm²
Nominal (trade) area	40 mm²
Overall diameter	9.00 mm
Approximate weight	172 kg/km
DC resistance at 20 °C	0.6795 Ω/km
Calculated AC resistance at 75 °C	0.8716 Ω/km
Ultimate breaking load	14.85 kN
Current carrying capacity	185 A (standard basis)

Construction of FERRET

FERRET is built as 6/3.00 mm Al + 1/3.00 mm steel. Aluminium strands over a 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 49.48 mm² and overall diameter of 9.00 mm set both the resistance and the wind/ice loading the structures must carry.

Where FERRET is used

11 kV distribution feeders and heavier LT mains. At 185 A on the standard basis, a three-phase circuit of FERRET carries roughly 4 MVA at 11 kV, 11 MVA at 33 kV and 42 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 FERRET from 176 A to 89 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

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

DOG

6/4.72 mm Al + 7/1.57 mm steel · 310 A

Calculators for this conductor

Conductor Current Capacity Calculator

Recalculate FERRET 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.