How does ACSS compare to other High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductors?
Very favorably, in fact, superior in most cases. Southwire has found very few applications that cannot be solved using ACSS verses other HTLS conductors. ACSS conductors were introduced in the early 1970’s, so have a proven, established operating history. It is estimated that over 150 million pounds of ACSS has been installed in the U.S., and that 10 to 20 million pounds are currently being installed annually. ACSS conductor installs similar to ACSR, which, as most companies have extensive experience installing ACSR, means little training or retooling is required. ACSS two-piece compression dead-ends and splices are very similar to those used for ACSR, and can be installed with similar equipment (see How does ACSS install compared to ACSR?). ACSS is not significantly higher than traditional ACSR. ACSS generally ranges from 1.1 to 1.5 times the cost of a comparably sized ACSR, depending on strength and core requirements. The cost of the new composite core conductors ranges widely, but i
