240 mm² metric wire specifications (IEC 60228): 17.481 mm diameter, 321A ampacity (copper, IEC 60364-5-52 method A1, PVC, 2 loaded), closest equivalent is 500 kcmil. Resistance, weight, and common uses.
| Cross-sectional area | 240 mm² |
| Diameter (solid equivalent) | 17.481 mm |
| Closest AWG equivalent | 500 kcmil (253.4 mm²); larger than 4/0 AWG |
| Ampacity (copper, IEC 60364-5-52 method A1, PVC, 2 loaded) | 321 A |
| Ampacity (aluminum) | 252 A |
| Max resistance (copper, 20°C, IEC 60228 class 2) | 0.0754 Ω/km |
| Max resistance (aluminium, 20°C, IEC 60228) | 0.125 Ω/km |
| Weight (copper) | 2150.4 kg/km |
| Weight (aluminum) | 648.0 kg/km |
The IEC 60228 metric system specifies wire by cross-sectional area in mm², while AWG uses a gauge number system. The closest North American equivalent to 240 mm² is 500 kcmil, but they are not exactly the same size.
Metric sizes are standard in Europe, Asia, Australia, and most countries outside North America. When replacing or matching wire between systems, always verify the actual cross-sectional area rather than relying on approximate equivalents.
240 mm² metric wire (IEC 60228) is rated 321A (copper, IEC 60364-5-52 method A1, PVC, 2 loaded) and is commonly used for major industrial feeders, utility transmission, large-scale power distribution. Its diameter is 17.48 mm. The closest AWG equivalent is 500 kcmil.
240 mm² wire is approximately equivalent to 500 kcmil in the American Wire Gauge system. Note that IEC and AWG sizes do not align exactly — when substituting, choose the AWG size with equal or greater cross-sectional area to ensure adequate ampacity.