ACSR conductor · 50 mm² nominal

RABBIT Conductor — Specification & Current Carrying Capacity

6/3.35 mm Al + 1/3.35 mm steel · 61.69 mm² total area · 10.05 mm overall diameter · 214 kg/km · 0.5449 Ω/km at 20 °C · 18.25 kN breaking load · about 208 A.

The workhorse of 11 kV distribution in India; also heavy LT mains.

Full technical specification

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

Code nameRABBIT
FamilyACSR
MaterialAluminium strands over a galvanised steel core
Stranding6/3.35 mm Al + 1/3.35 mm steel
Aluminium strands6 × 3.35 mm
Steel strands1 × 3.35 mm
Aluminium area52.88 mm²
Steel area8.81 mm²
Total area61.69 mm²
Nominal (trade) area50 mm²
Overall diameter10.05 mm
Approximate weight214 kg/km
DC resistance at 20 °C0.5449 Ω/km
Calculated AC resistance at 75 °C0.6990 Ω/km
Ultimate breaking load18.25 kN
Current carrying capacity208 A (standard basis)

Construction of RABBIT

RABBIT is built as 6/3.35 mm Al + 1/3.35 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 61.69 mm² and overall diameter of 10.05 mm set both the resistance and the wind/ice loading the structures must carry.

Where RABBIT is used

The workhorse of 11 kV distribution in India; also heavy LT mains. At 208 A on the standard basis, a three-phase circuit of RABBIT carries roughly 4 MVA at 11 kV, 12 MVA at 33 kV and 48 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 RABBIT from 202 A to 103 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

Calculators for this conductor