What is the size of WEASEL conductor?

6/2.59 mm Al + 1/2.59 mm steel — 31.61 mm² of aluminium plus 5.27 mm² of steel, 36.88 mm² total, with an overall diameter of 7.77 mm.

What is the weight of WEASEL conductor per km?

128 kg per km, so a 1 km drum weighs about 0.13 tonnes.

What is the resistance of WEASEL conductor?

0.9116 Ω/km DC at 20 °C. At 75 °C the AC resistance rises to roughly 1.1693 Ω/km once skin effect is included.

ACSR conductor · 30 mm² nominal

WEASEL Conductor — Specification & Current Carrying Capacity

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

About 150 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).

6/2.59 mm Al + 1/2.59 mm steel · 36.88 mm² total area · 7.77 mm overall diameter · 128 kg/km · 0.9116 Ω/km at 20 °C · 11.12 kN breaking load · about 150 A.

LT lines and light 11 kV rural distribution feeders.

Calculate WEASEL 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	WEASEL
Family	ACSR
Material	Aluminium strands over a galvanised steel core
Stranding	6/2.59 mm Al + 1/2.59 mm steel
Aluminium strands	6 × 2.59 mm
Steel strands	1 × 2.59 mm
Aluminium area	31.61 mm²
Steel area	5.27 mm²
Total area	36.88 mm²
Nominal (trade) area	30 mm²
Overall diameter	7.77 mm
Approximate weight	128 kg/km
DC resistance at 20 °C	0.9116 Ω/km
Calculated AC resistance at 75 °C	1.1693 Ω/km
Ultimate breaking load	11.12 kN
Current carrying capacity	150 A (standard basis)

Construction of WEASEL

WEASEL is built as 6/2.59 mm Al + 1/2.59 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 36.88 mm² and overall diameter of 7.77 mm set both the resistance and the wind/ice loading the structures must carry.

Where WEASEL is used

LT lines and light 11 kV rural distribution feeders. At 150 A on the standard basis, a three-phase circuit of WEASEL carries roughly 3 MVA at 11 kV, 9 MVA at 33 kV and 34 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 WEASEL from 147 A to 73 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

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 WEASEL 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.