Overland Mark 2 Electrical Cable Weight

When R. G. LeTourneau, Inc. engineers were calculating the Mark 2’s electrical systems, they had to consider electrical systems and cable weight. The largest insulated copper cable that could be handled by a person was 1.86 inches in diameter, weighing 5.91 pounds per foot. After calculating cable weight and conductors, engineers came up with 4,137 pounds for conductors and 1,044 pounds for cable weight per car – 5,181 pounds. The copper cabling used was designed to handle a 5,730 ampere load.