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ACSR conductor · 20 mm² nominal

SQUIRREL Conductor — Specification & Current Carrying Capacity

6/2.11 mm Al + 1/2.11 mm steel · 24.48 mm² total area · 6.33 mm overall diameter · 85 kg/km · 1.3654 Ω/km at 20 °C · 7.61 kN breaking load · about 115 A.

LT distribution lines, service connections and short 11 kV spurs.

Calculate SQUIRREL ampacityCompare 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 nameSQUIRREL
FamilyACSR
MaterialAluminium strands over a galvanised steel core
Stranding6/2.11 mm Al + 1/2.11 mm steel
Aluminium strands6 × 2.11 mm
Steel strands1 × 2.11 mm
Aluminium area20.98 mm²
Steel area3.50 mm²
Total area24.48 mm²
Nominal (trade) area20 mm²
Overall diameter6.33 mm
Approximate weight85 kg/km
DC resistance at 20 °C1.3654 Ω/km
Calculated AC resistance at 75 °C1.7514 Ω/km
Ultimate breaking load7.61 kN
Current carrying capacity115 A (standard basis)

Construction of SQUIRREL

SQUIRREL is built as 6/2.11 mm Al + 1/2.11 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 24.48 mm² and overall diameter of 6.33 mm set both the resistance and the wind/ice loading the structures must carry.

Where SQUIRREL is used

LT distribution lines, service connections and short 11 kV spurs. At 115 A on the standard basis, a three-phase circuit of SQUIRREL carries roughly 2 MVA at 11 kV, 7 MVA at 33 kV and 26 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 SQUIRREL from 114 A to 55 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

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

DOG

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

Calculators for this conductor

Conductor Current Capacity Calculator

Recalculate SQUIRREL 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.