Chapter 9 Tables, Compact Conductors

[friebel]

Would someone please be so kind as to explain to me the history of Compact Conductors. I am an instructor and I need to explain this to my students. The following is what I would like to understand.
1. When did Compact Conductors become available and when was it in the NEC?
2. When a design house is designing a project, do they quote the project for Compact Conductors, or do they stay with the other table that the conductor is not compact.
3. I would be very interested in the procedure for making a compact conductor.
4. My thought for the only purpose for the Compact Conductor is the following: " you are allowed more compact conductors in a given raceway versus conductors that are not compact".
Am I correct with that thinking.
I will thank you in advance for any and all information that you can give me on COMPACT CONDUCTORS.

 

[davedottcom]

Re: Chapter 9 Tables, Compact Conductors

Compact Stranding: A stranding configuration with concentric strands in which each layer is passed through a compacting die to reduce the diameter by approximately 10%.

www.southwire.com



Dave

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Chapter 9 Tables, Compact Conductors

I think that compact stranding was invented by the aluminum wire people. By using the compact stranded aluminum conductors you can often get the same ampacity as copper with the same size raceway. Without the compact strands the same ampacity with aluminum would require a larger raceway.
Don

 

[sandsnow]

Re: Chapter 9 Tables, Compact Conductors

Look at this picture which is copper:
http://appprod.mysouthwire.com/ProductCatalog/XTEInterfaceServlet?contentKey=prodcatsheet5

Now look at this which is AL compact:
http://appprod.mysouthwire.com/ProductCatalog/XTEInterfaceServlet?contentKey=prodcatsheet3

Notice how the gap between the circular strands are eliminated with the AL. producing a smaller outside diameter