Introduction
The ACS (Aluminium Clad Steel) rods are installed as an alternative to the traditional galvanized steel ground wires for the protection of overhead power lines from lightning, as they are more evolved and have a longer durability.
Engineering
These are ground wires made of steel wires covered by a layer of extruded aluminium.
Geometries can vary with concentric formations typically of 7 or 19 wires.
The individual steel wires are protected by an aluminium coverage with different thicknesses (20SA, 27SA, 30SA and 40SA according to EN 61232) to increase their resistance to corrosion and lightning.
Advantages
ACS ground wires, thanks to the extruded aluminium coverage, are particularly appreciated for their high corrosion resistance which makes them unassailable from the weather and time.
