ASTM B286-20 PDF

Full title and description

ASTM B286-20 — Standard Specification for Copper Conductors for Use in Hookup Wire for Electronic Equipment. This specification defines requirements for uninsulated, metallic‑coated copper conductors (solid and stranded) intended for use as internal hookup wire in electronic equipment, including coating, temper, dimensional and electrical resistance limits, and test methods.

Abstract

This specification covers uninsulated metallic‑coated copper conductors for use in hookup wire for electronic equipment. It specifies conductor types (solid Type I and stranded Type II), coating requirements, annealed temper unless otherwise specified, elongation and resistance limits, direction and length of lay for stranded conductors, and the test methods used to verify coating, elongation, and electrical resistance conformance.

General information

• Status: Active.
• Publication date: November 1, 2020 (designation B286-20 / 2020 edition).
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 29.060.10 (Wires); Electrical conductors (ASTM Committee B01 jurisdiction).
• Edition / version: B286-20 (2020), revising/replacing earlier B286 editions (for example B286-07 variants).
• Number of pages: 5 pages (concise specification document).

Scope

Specifies requirements for uninsulated metallic‑coated copper conductors used in hookup wire for electronic equipment. The standard sets dimensional and electrical resistance limits by AWG size and conductor construction, defines acceptable coatings (tin, lead‑alloy, silver, nickel, etc.), requires annealed temper unless otherwise specified, and prescribes test methods for resistivity, coating conformity, elongation and lay/strand geometry. SI density values are noted as standard for density, while inch‑pound units govern other properties.

Key topics and requirements

• Conductor types: Type I — solid conductors; Type II — stranded conductors (requirements differ for elongation testing on small stranded sizes).
• Coating materials and thicknesses: provisions for tin, lead‑alloy, silver, nickel and other metallic coatings and their conformity tests.
• Annealed temper: coated conductors are furnished in annealed temper unless otherwise specified.
• Electrical resistance limits: DC resistance at 20 °C specified by AWG and conductor construction.
• Mechanical properties: elongation test procedures (including strand‑break method for small stranded conductors) and lay/strand geometry requirements.
• Referenced test methods and related ASTM documents that define measurement and verification procedures.

Typical use and users

Used by wire and cable manufacturers, electronic‑equipment OEMs, design engineers, quality and test laboratories, procurement/specification teams, and regulatory or acceptance inspectors to specify and verify copper conductors for internal wiring of electronic devices and assemblies.

Related standards

Commonly referenced ASTM standards in B286 include test and coating specifications such as B33 (tin‑coated copper wire), B189 (lead‑coated copper wire), B193 (resistivity test method), B258 (AWG nominal diameters and areas), B298 (silver‑coated copper wire), and B355 (nickel‑coated copper wire). B286 is maintained under ASTM Committee B01 (Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys), Subcommittee B01.04.

Keywords

copper conductor, hookup wire, electronic equipment wiring, metallic‑coated copper, annealed conductor, AWG, electrical resistance, elongation test, conductor coating.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM B286-20 is the ASTM International standard specification that defines requirements for uninsulated metallic‑coated copper conductors intended for use in hookup wire for electronic equipment (designation B286, 2020 edition).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers conductor types (solid and stranded), allowable coatings and coating requirements, annealed temper, dimensional and DC resistance limits by size, elongation and mechanical requirements, lay/strand details, and the test methods required to verify conformity.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Wire and cable manufacturers, electronics OEMs, design and test engineers, quality control and inspection personnel, and procurement/specifiers use this standard to select, produce, and verify internal hookup conductors for electronic equipment.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: B286-20 is the current active edition published in 2020; it supersedes earlier editions such as B286-07 (and its reapprovals). Users should check ASTM for any amendments or later revisions before relying on the specification for new procurements.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — B286 is part of the family of ASTM standards maintained by Committee B01 on Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys (Book of Standards volume covering electrical conductor specifications). It cross‑references other ASTM coating and test standards as noted above.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Copper conductor, hookup wire, metallic coating, annealed, AWG, electrical resistance, elongation, stranded conductor, conductor coating.