SELECTION OF STANDARD SIZES FOR METALLIC ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS FOR INSULATED WIRES AND CABLES.

Size selection should be relevant to the fabrication process, consistent with industry needs for a range of sizes and configurations. Present U. S. and International Standards for solid conductors are directly relevant to fabrication considerations. Present U. S. Standards for stranded conductors have little or no relevance to process technology. Present International Standards for stranded conductors relate directly to process technology. To relate both solid and stranded conductors to fabrication requires that independent standards be established. Present Standards have been established on either a hard-area basis (U. S. practice) or with area modified through electrical measurement basis (International practice). It is possible to devise conductor size standards as alternatives to those presently used in the U. S. and other nations, which combine the desirable features of each, - namely the hard-area U. S. concept and the strand minimization IEC concept. Those should be considered under the U. S. metrication program. They are also worthy of consideration in the international community.