Aluminum overhead cables are used outdoors in distribution facilities. They carry the power from the utility lines to the buildings through the weatherhead. Based on this particular function, the cables are also described as service drop cables. Aluminum overhead cables include duplex, triplex, and quadruplex varieties. Duplex cables are used in single-phase power lines, whereas quadruplex cables are used in the three-phase power lines. Triplex cables are exclusively used to carry power from the utility lines to customers.
Aluminum conductor cables are made of soft 1350-H19 aluminum series. They are insulated with an extruded thermoplastic polyethylene or cross-linked polyethylene for protection from problematic outdoor environmental conditions. The cables are designed with an operational temperature of up to 75 degrees and a voltage rating of 600 volts.