Rosslyn, VA, July 23, 2003 -- NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, has released ANSI C119.4-2003, a revised version of Connectors for Use Between Aluminum-to-Aluminum or Aluminum-to-Copper Bare Overhead Conductors. This standard covers connectors used for making electrical connections between aluminum-to-aluminum or aluminum-to-copper bare conductors used on overhead distribution and transmission lines for electric utilities, and it establishes the electrical and mechanical test requirements for electrical connectors. A conductor is a carrier of electric current; a connector is a device joining two or more conductors to provide a continuous electrical path.

The purpose of ANSI C119.4-2003 is to give reasonable assurance to the user that connectors meeting the requirements of this standard will perform in a satisfactory manner, provided they have been properly selected for the intended application and are installed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Douglas Harms, chairman of the ANSI C119.4 subcommittee, said, "Electric utility overhead lines are continuously being pressed to perform at higher utilization levels, and the connectors on those lines must perform accordingly. Revisions incorporated in the 2003 version of the standard clarify the electrical and mechanical test requirements for electrical connectors meeting the requirements of this standard."

ANSI C119.4-2003 may be purchased for $46 by visiting www.nema.org/r/std/a-c119-4/, or by contacting Global Engineering Documents at 800-854-7179 (within the U.S.), 303-397-7956 (international), or 303-397-2740 (fax).