Transmission Lines

BARE OVERHEAD
CABLES
A Word About Code Words
Code words are a great way to characterize conductors. In general, code
words are unique and therefore remove the uncertainty around the
identification of a conductor. They are used around the world. In North
America, code words are registered at, and administered by, The Aluminum
Association, Inc. (900 19 th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006). This
organization publishes a booklet entitled “Code Words for Overhead
Aluminum Electrical Conductors” where most code words used in the world
can be found.
It is important, however, to understand that a code word is attached solely
to a geometry, and not a specification. The code word “Drake” for instance
refers to a 795 kcmil 26/7 ACSR. This sets the conductor’s wire size and
numbers but not its properties. It is thus possible to find “Drake” ACSR with
properties calculated from ASTM and other standards.
Finally, it is possible to find U.S. and Canadian conductors with the same
code name as a foreign conductor but with a different geometry. This is
due to the fact that some conductors were given a code word by users in a
country but without registration at The Aluminum Association. The same
conductor or code name was then used by another user and registered,
creating a conflict. Although this is rare, it does exist in North America. The
Aluminum Association booklet, however, lists most of those exceptions.
Anyone involved in specifying conductors should consult this booklet.