How is 3M ACCR different from other conductors claiming high temperature, low sag performance?
The differences between 3M ACCR and other conductors are due to differences in materials. 3M ACCR’s core wire is composed of all aluminum-based components. In addition, it uses a high temperature, hardened aluminum zirconium for the outer wires. This material combination offers two main advantages over other high temp, low sag conductors – ampacity and durability. High temp, low sag conductors that rely on steel (ACSS, Gap) or other metals such as nickel alloy (Invar) are about twice as heavy as the same diameter ACCR. Therefore, even when sag performance is improved, the same capacity cannot usually be gained without compromise – raising towers, installing taller towers, increasing the tension, or, in some cases, putting up a smaller conductor under higher tension, which increases losses. Therefore, ACCR offers the maximum capacity increase without adding risk or modifying the structures, often reducing siting and permitting requirements. Conductors relying on carbon polymer (ACCC) as
