Common aluminum clad steel strand is used as conductor; The steel core is mainly used to increase the strength, and the aluminum strand is mainly used to transmit electric energy. The cross-sectional area of the conductor varies depending on the voltage. For example, the conductors of 500 kV transmission lines are generally LGJ-400/35 conductors. L is the abbreviation of aluminum wire, G is the abbreviation of steel core, J is the abbreviation of strand, 400 is aluminum 400 mm2, 35 is steel 35 mm2.

The conductivity of aluminum alloy is 61.8% of the most commonly used reference material copper IACS, and the current carrying capacity is 79% of copper, superior to the pure aluminum standard. But in the same volume, the actual weight of aluminum alloy is about one-third of that of copper. Therefore, the weight of aluminum alloy cable is about half that of copper cable at the same current carrying capacity. Replacing copper cable with aluminum alloy cable can reduce cable weight, installation cost, wear of equipment and cable, and make installation easier.