Cable Sizing Tool

Cable Sizing Tool
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Cable Sizing Tool
Latest Questions: (/questions)

1. lightning and grounding (/questions/view/question
By Steven McFadyen (/users/steven) on May 20th, 2012
/id/539)
2. Power Transformer Temperature Measurement
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(http://myelectrical.com/Portals/0/SunBlogNuke/2/Windows-Live-Writer/CableSizing-Tool_81C1/CableSizingFlowChart_2.jpg) Our cable sizing tool is one of the
3. Voltage Conversion (/questions/view/question

/id/536)
more popular tools on the site. The tool enables cables to be sized in compliance
4. Arc Flash (/questions/view/question/id/534)
with BS 7671 (the IEE Wiring Regulations) and by implication IEC 60364.
5. Voltage Transformer (/questions/view/question
This post gives some insight into how the tool works, the calculations carried out
6. Earth Leakage Protection for 3 Phase Motor (Rating
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and how to use it. With the tool being based on BS 7671, this post will also
< 5.5kw) (/questions/view/question/id/530)
provide an introduction and explanation of the cable sizing method given in the
7. Power Swing (/questions/view/question/id/529)
standard.
8. Grounding Transformers above Ground Level

(/questions/view/question/id/523)
The sizing tool can be found at:
myElectrical Cable Sizing Tool (http://myelectrical.com/tools/cable-
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sizing-calculator)
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Contents [hide]
1. The Procedure
2. The Formulae
1. Current Capacity
2. Voltage Drop
3. Fault Levels
3. Frequently Asked Questions
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The Procedure
The flowchart (click for a larger image) shows the general procedure followed by the tool:
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current capacity a cable size is found which is adequate for the expected current
voltage drop the voltage drop on the selected cable is checked and if to big the cable size is increased
fault level the fault level withstand is checked and if not adequate the cable size is increase
Any errors or warnings generated during the calculation are passed on the the user.
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In addition to cable size the tool also calculates the cable impedance and fault levels at the load end of the cable.
The Formulae
The calculation method follows the procedures given in BS 7671:2008 (the IEE Wiring Regulations), 17th Edition.
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Definitions:
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Iz - current carrying capacity of the cable (continuous service under defined INSTALLATION conditions)
It - tabulated value of current (for the type of cable, type of installation, and at an ambient of 30oC)
Ib - design current of the circuit (expected in normal service)

In - nominal setting of any protective device
I2 operating current of the protective device
Ca - correction factor for the ambient temperature
Cc - correction factor for the type of protective device used
Cg - correction factor for grouping of circuits/cables
Ci - correction factor thermal insulation
Ct - correction factor for the operating temperature of the conductor
Np - number of cables in parallel
tp - maximum permitted operating temperature
Current Capacity
By considering any correction factors, the tabled current for a cable installed in a given situation can be found. Once the
tabled value of current is found, the cable size is determined by selecting the next largest cross sectional area in the lookup
tables.
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single circuits:
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/image011_2.gif)
For groups where simultaneous overload is possible:
/image018_2.gif)
For groups not liable to simultaneous overload (the maximum of):
/image020_2.gif)
/image022_2.gif)
For cables where overload protection is not required:
/image026_2.gif)
Once It is known, this size of cable is then looked up in the current carrying capacity tables:
Tables 4D1A to 4J4A (pages274 to 316) current carrying capacity
Correction factors are obtained from the following tables (dependant upon cable type and installation):
Table 4B1 rating factors for cables in air, ambient other than 30 C
Table 4B2 rating factors for buried cables, ambient other than 20 C
Table 4B3 rating factors for buried cables, thermal resistivities other an 2.5 K.m.W-1
Table 4C1 to 4C3 rating for grouping of circuits/cables
Table 52.2 rating factors for cables surrounded by thermal insulation
Voltage Drop
Voltage drop calculations consider both the power factor of the system and a correction factor for the cable operating
standard. Tables 4D1B to 4J4B of the standard give voltage drops (resistive and reactive) in (mV/A/m), which is
equivalent to m/m (or /m if adjusted).
By looking up in these tables and using the cable length, the sizing tool determines the resistance, R and reactance, X of
the cable. The calculated voltage drop, is then given by:
/image038_2.gif)
The temperature correction factor is only applied to the resistance and is given by:
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/image032_2.gif)
Note: the tool carries out all calculations in complex form.
Fault Levels
The fault withstand rating of the cable is determined using the adiabatic equation:
/image035_2.gif)
Where:
S is the cable cross sectional area in mm2
I is the fault current which can flow in A
t is the operating time of the protective device in S
k is a factor related to the conductor material and insulation tables 54.2 to 54.6 of the standard
Frequently Asked Questions

How does the tool taking into account parallel conductors?
Additional parallel cables are automatically added to group derating (you don't need to increase this manually).
You can click the ignore checkbox to change this (for example if your cables are more than two diameters apart).: code
changes have been made. The updated version of the calculator is now live.
What exactly is the No.Circuits/Cables?
Group derating takes into account heat generated by adjacent cables. Each circuit is usually supplied by one cable and
the number of circuits will equal the number of cables. Sometimes several cables are run a parallel for a single circuit and
this will increase the total number of cables (and group derating).
Tip: if cables are spaced more than twice their overall diameter apart, then no group derating is required.
Cables (http://myelectrical.com/notes/tag/cables), myElectrical (http://myelectrical.com/notes/tag/myelectrical), IEE

Wiring Regulations (http://myelectrical.com/notes?tag=iee+wiring+regulations)
More interesting Notes:

Harmonised Cable Codes and Colours (http://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/228/harmonised-cable-codesand-colours)
Cable Sheath and Armour Loss (http://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/235/cable-sheath-and-armour-loss)
IEC 60287 Current Capacity of Cables - An Introduction (http://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/207/iec-60287current-capacity-of-cables-an-introduction)
Dielectric loss in cables (http://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/241/dielectric-loss-in-cables)
IEC 60287 Current Capacity of Cables - Rated Current (http://myelectrical.com/notes/entryid/210/iec-60287current-capacity-of-cables-capacity-equations)
Steven McFadyen (/users/steven)
Steven has over twenty five years experience working on some of the largest construction projects. He
has a deep technical understanding of electrical engineering and is keen to share this knowledge.
About the author
(/users/steven)
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Comments
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vasilem
Hello,
I have the following application: a remote 3 phase, 400 V, electrical pump (Active power
3kW)supplied via a buried aluminium multicore, armored cable (70 degrees C). The pump is
remote .. 410 metres.
I am using the cable selector with the following data:
Voltage: 400 V, Voltage drop: 5%
Load current: 4.56, pf: 0.95
Ambient Temperature: 20
General protective device; 10 A
Short circuit 0.01 kA time: 0.02 s
Cable type: Al - Multicore armoured, thermoplastic (70 deg C)
Installation: In ground (buried) 3 or 4 core cable, direct buried
Grouping: Single or multicore directly in ground and touching 1 circuit, auto
Cable Length: 410 m
soil thermal resistivity: 1, no insulation
And then press Calculate .. the cable section of 25 mm2 seems too big. Any idea why?
Thank you
Vasile
Steven McFadyen
Mod
The reason you are getting 25mm2 is that the base data is from BS 7671. In the standard,
the tables for the conductor you selected do not have any smaller cables. IEC 60364 does
have smaller aluminium cross sections, but these have not been implemented in the
calculation tool.
The current cable sizing tool, uses table look ups to calculate the cables (much the same
way a person would use BS 7671). I do have plans for a more generic tool (closer to IEC
60364) based more on calculation. This will let me deal with more cable installation
environments and allow to tool to provide better guidance on selecting the correct cable.
The new tool will cover smaller sized aluminium conductors. Hope, any delay in doing this
will not cause too much inconvenience.
vasilem
Thank you for your response and the calculation tool.

Regards,
Vasile
Thang Dao
hi !
A new telecom power supply system is installing and distance AC/220V supply is 150 feet copper
flexible cable should be used at 70-90 deg C, mouting installation
The telecom power system have circuit breaker 63A/3P, coud you calculate which size of cable is
adapted ?
Thank you
Michael
Hi There!
Could someone tell me how to calculate the cablesize, if the load is 100%, and the time is a few
sec.
Eg.100A in 3 sec. and the 10 hour with 0A.
Let us assume no heat loss during the start-up.
What is the theory ?
Best regard
Michael
Matt1978
Hello,
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