Why Use Compact Conductor For Aerial Cables

In the world of electrical conductors, there are several styles that are used by electric utilities for overhead
types of construction. Many of these designs are variations from a solid conductor [Figure 1] utilizing the
same cross sectional area of the copper or aluminum metal but putting it into different configurations
including the addition of a steel core for added strength. These different configurations involve the
combination of several wires, commonly of the same size, that are cabled together to form the overall
"stranded" conductor. The most common reason for stranding a conductor versus the use of a solid
conductor is to provide flexibility necessary for acceptable overhead operation. The three most common
types of stranding that are used for overhead construction are (1) Concentric Stranding, (2) Compressed
Stranding and (3) Compact Stranding.
Concentric stranding is the most common configuration that is used for bare conductors and is made up
of a number of the same size round wires that are cabled together. This construction adds flexibility to
the conductor, but the resulting air spaces that are introduced between the individual strands results in an
overall increase in diameter of approximately 13% for the most common stranding configurations [Figure 1].
This diameter increase is commonly acceptable for bare wire use; however, a reduction in this overall
diameter is beneficial when adding a covering or insulation over the conductor...................

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