What is the size of MOOSE conductor?

54/3.53 mm Al + 7/3.53 mm steel — 528.50 mm² of aluminium plus 68.50 mm² of steel, 597.00 mm² total, with an overall diameter of 31.77 mm.

What is the weight of MOOSE conductor per km?

1998 kg per km, so a 1 km drum weighs about 2.00 tonnes.

What is the resistance of MOOSE conductor?

0.05595 Ω/km DC at 20 °C. At 75 °C the AC resistance rises to roughly 0.0718 Ω/km once skin effect is included.

ACSR conductor · 520 mm² nominal

MOOSE Conductor — Specification & Current Carrying Capacity

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

About 836 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).

54/3.53 mm Al + 7/3.53 mm steel · 597.00 mm² total area · 31.77 mm overall diameter · 1998 kg/km · 0.0559 Ω/km at 20 °C · 159.60 kN breaking load · about 836 A.

The standard twin-bundle conductor for 400 kV transmission lines in India.

Calculate MOOSE 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	MOOSE
Family	ACSR
Material	Aluminium strands over a 7-wire galvanised steel core
Stranding	54/3.53 mm Al + 7/3.53 mm steel
Aluminium strands	54 × 3.53 mm
Steel strands	7 × 3.53 mm
Aluminium area	528.50 mm²
Steel area	68.50 mm²
Total area	597.00 mm²
Nominal (trade) area	520 mm²
Overall diameter	31.77 mm
Approximate weight	1998 kg/km
DC resistance at 20 °C	0.0559 Ω/km
Calculated AC resistance at 75 °C	0.0718 Ω/km
Ultimate breaking load	159.60 kN
Current carrying capacity	836 A (standard basis)

Construction of MOOSE

MOOSE is built as 54/3.53 mm Al + 7/3.53 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 597.00 mm² and overall diameter of 31.77 mm set both the resistance and the wind/ice loading the structures must carry.

Where MOOSE is used

The standard twin-bundle conductor for 400 kV transmission lines in India. At 836 A on the standard basis, a three-phase circuit of MOOSE carries roughly 16 MVA at 11 kV, 48 MVA at 33 kV and 191 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 MOOSE from 846 A to 487 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 MOOSE 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.