Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF

SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE

and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

The author / owner of this This document has been approved Date of Issue: Review
document is: for Issue by: Date:

1 INTRODUCTION
2 GENERAL.
3 VOLTAGE CONDITIONS ON LOW VOLTAGE BUNCHED WAVECON
CONNECTIONS
4 SIZES AND RATINGS
5 INSTALLATION
6 BWC PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
7 BWC EARTHING REQUIREMENTS
8 METERING
9 CUSTOMER’ EQUIPMENT
10 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS
11 APPLICABLE STANDARDS

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 1 of 15
Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF
SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE
and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 This procedure details the processes to be followed when installing services to
customers being supplied at Low Voltage using single core bunched Wavecon
cables (BWC) for connections on to Scottish and Southern Energy Power
Distribution’s (SSEPD) network.
1.2 A copy of this procedure is available to prospective developers and consultants
to insure that a suitable access for SSEPD supply cables and metering
equipment is agreed at an early stage. The meter position should be on an
outside wall and preferably within 15 metres of the substation. Any other
arrangement must be agreed in detail by SSEPD.
1.3 A 1500kVA transformer can only supply a single customers. 1000kVA and
below can supply multiple customers.
1.4 The use of transformers with ratings greater than 1500kVA must be agreed
with SSEPD.
2 GENERAL.
2.1 For transformer supplying a single load 185 mm² 3 core bunched Wavecon
cable will be used on all installations with the exception of 1500kVA
transformers where 300 mm² bunched Wavecon cable will only be used. Where
two supplies are fed from the same transformer the number and size of the
Wavecon cables will be dictated by the load requirement of each circuit.
2.2 Detail of approved plant is given in The Plant Catalogue, TG-PS-148 and
substation design in TG-PS-883, Information to Assist Third Parties in the
Design and Installation of New Secondary Substations for Adoption for Use by
SSEPD. The unit substation can be fitted with either an oil-filled ring main unit
or an SF6/vacuum ring main unit.
2.3 Transformers are currently purchased with the ratings; 315, 500, 800, 1000 and
1500 kVA. A winter cyclic rating of up to 30% can be accommodated on the
transformers when situated outdoors. The maximum size transformer which
can be used to feed multiple customers metered at LV is 1000 kVA. A single
customer can be supplied from a 1500kVA transformer. On transformers up to
and including 1000 kVA, 500A, fused, 3 core feeder ways can be used to
supply the network in addition to any 800A or larger feeder ways.
2.4 Transformer sizes greater than 1500 kVA shall be connected with busbar to the
customer’s intake.
2.5 Transformers will only be fitted with Low Voltage Cabinets fitted with MCCBs or
ACBs as appropriate. There may be some outgoing feeder ways where
appropriate.

3 VOLTAGE CONDITIONS ON LOW VOLTAGE BUNCHED WAVECON

CONNECTIONS
3.1 To allow for voltage variations in the high voltage network , the maximum volt
drop at the customer’s terminations on the low voltage bunched Wavecon cable
shall be 5%. This volt drop being based on a nominal voltage of 230v.
3.2 Voltage fluctuations on the low voltage design, caused be electrical equipment,
shall be taken into account. Reference shall be made to Energy Networks

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 2 of 15
Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF
SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE
and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

Association Engineering Recommendation P28, Planning limits for voltage

fluctuations caused by industrial, commercial and domestic equipment in the
UK. Where these only affect the customer causing the fluctuations then limits
can be outside of P28 subject to written confirmation between the customer
and SSEPD accepting the level of fluctuations.
3.3 To allow for imbalanced loading the low voltage design shall take into account
voltage imbalance at the customer’s terminals of 1%. Reference shall be made
to Energy Networks Association Engineering Recommendation P29, Planning
limits for voltage unbalance in the UK.
3.4 The design for harmonic voltage distortion shall comply with Energy Networks
Association Engineering Recommendation P29, Planning limits for harmonic
voltage distortion and the connection of non-linear equipment to transmission
systems and distribution networks in the UK.
4 SIZES AND RATINGS
4.1 The standard for supplying large loads is to use either 185 mm² or 300 mm² 3
core Wavecon cable with the three cores bunched together (referred to as
BWC). The following table gives the ratings of these cables referred to the size
of transformer. 3 core 185 mm² Wavecon low smoke zero halogen is also
available for indoor substations within buildings were fire regulations require
these cable to be used.
4.2 THE NUMBER AND SIZE OF THE CABLES ARE CRITICAL AND MUST
NOT BE CHANGED FROM THAT SHOWN IN TABLE 1.

Size of Number of Cables Winter Continuous

Bunched Cyclic Summer Rating
3 Core Rating
Wavecon
Phase Neutral kVA kVA
Cables in free air with up to 5 metres buried and maximum
length 100 metres
185 mm² 1 1 805 633
185 mm² 2 1 1615 1270
185 mm² 3 2 2425 1907
Cables buried and maximum length of 100 metres
185 mm² 1 1 700 551
185 mm² 2 1 1227 968
185 mm² 3 2 1581 1246
300 mm² 3 2 2219 1744

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 3 of 15
Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF
SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE
and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

4.3 Where a cyclic rating is applicable, the maximum load is in Winter and the load
curve is to Curve G, as shown in appendix 1, then the Winter cyclic rating can
be applied. For any other conditions of loading the Summer continuous rating
shall be applied unless otherwise agreed in writing with SSEPD.
5 Installation
5.1 Diagram 1 shows how the cables shall be installed to get the required rating.
In all cases the neutral cable/s must be installed close to a 3 phase bunch of
cables.
5.2 It is important that the cables are laid in tight trefoil formation bound together to
minimise the magnitude of magnetic field emitted from the cable. Cable routes
shall not be run through buildings and the customer's intake position should be
on an outside wall.
5.3 If the intake position is not on an outside wall and the customer insists that the
intake is within the building, then the customer must be warned that the
magnetic fields radiated by the cables may interfere with sensitive electronic
equipment placed close to the cables and that SSEPD will not accept any
liability for any consequences caused by the installation.
5.4 In such cases the cables will only be laid in cable trenches and never through
or under office floors.
5.5 To get the rating of the cables as shown in the table it is important that they are
direct buried. Short runs of ducts up to 10 metres are acceptable. If it is
necessary to install the cables in long runs of duct then these will have to be
Bentonite filled.
5.6 Cables installed in unfilled ducts longer than 10m must have a derating of 20%
applied to the figures in table 1. Separate ducts are required for each cable.
Ducts shall have a minimum internal diameter of 100mm and must be laid in
trefoil plus an extra duct for the neutral as shown in Fig. 1.

100 300 Buried 300 Buried 100

R 150 In Air R
Br 150 In Air
Br Br
Bl Gy N Gy Bl N Bl Gy

2 CABLES PER PHASE

3 CABLES PER PHASE

CABLE SPACING ARRANGEMENTS

FOR 2 & 3 CABLES PER PHASE
All dimensions are in mm
Diagram 1
5.7 Groups of cables are to be cleated in trefoil or quad formation on cable trays

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

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Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF
SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE
and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

(see Table 2) with 150 mm spacing between the groups of cables. With free air
movement and an average ambient temperature of 15 °C or less they will not
be derated assuming normal spacing of the group. Cables cannot be installed
in situations where the ambient temperature is normally above 25 C.
BUNCHED WAVECON CLEATS
3 Core Wavecon No. Cables in Stock No. Ellis Patents
Cable Size Group Part No.
185 mm² 3 (Trefoil) 068683 VRT-07
185 mm² 4 (Quad) 068684 VRQ-06
300 mm² 3 (Trefoil) 068685 VRT-10
300 mm² 4 (Quad) 068686 VRQ-08
Table 2
5.8 BWC terminated in MCCB and ACB shall use the flexible connector as shown
in figure . For all other connections the fixed connector shall be used.

Diagram 2

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

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Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF
SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE
and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

5.9 The maximum length of BWC is 100 metres. This is a total length which
includes an allowance for terminations.
5.10 Route lengths shall be considered to have a maximum length of 90m.

5.11 The trench requirements are show in Diagram 3.

Cable entry
slot
Outside Wall

LV Extension
Chamber
2000
mm
Cable Trench
1000 mm Wide
by 830 mm deep

Wall or Other
LV Extension
Switchgear Chamber
Mounting
2000
mm Cable Trench
1000 mm Wide
by 830 mm
Deep
Cable entry

Change of Trench Direction

45º
Left or Right to Suit Site

45º

CABLES ENTERING FROM INSIDE SWITCHROOM TRENCH

REQUIREMENTS FOR 4, 7 OR 11 SINGLE CORE LV CABLES CABLE
TERMINATIONS IN CUSTOMER'S PREMISES

Diagram 3

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

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Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF
SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE
and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

6 BWC Protection Requirements

6.1 For new installations BWC cable will be terminated in a transformer mounted
low voltage cabinet.
6.2 This cabinet will be fitted with air break circuit breakers or mould case circuit
breakers supplying the BWC and may be fitted with 630A fused outgoings ways
for other purposes.
6.3 Low voltage cable boxes are not permitted on new works and can only be used
on transformers being replaced which currently have a cable box fitted.
7 BWC EARTHING REQUIREMENTS
7.1 BWC installations shall be single point earthed in the transformer mounted low
voltage cabinet. The BWC earth conductors shall not be connected in the
customer’s switchgear and shall remain insulated.
7.2 The customer’s earthing will be TN-S (separate neutral and earth).
7.3 For BWC installations separate earthwires shall be installed direct in the ground
and running parallel to the BWC cables. The earthwires must not touch the
cables and shall be kept a minimum of 50mm from them. The earthwires will be
terminated on the customer’s earth bar in their equipment.
7.4 The number of earthwires needed will depend on the prospective short circuit
current. Using 70mm² stranded copper conductors the following number of
earthwires is required;
 PSCC up to 10kA – 1 earthwires
 PSCC 10kA and up to 20kA – 2 earthwires
 PSCC above 20kA – 3 earthwires

7.5 Different sizes of earthwire can be employed however they must be suitably
rated to the PSCC and permit a temperature rise of 375 °C with an ambient
temperature of 30°C with a fault duration of 2 seconds.

7.6 These earth wires are connected to the transformer neutral earth bar and
should be used to provide the low voltage neutral earth electrode. To get the
desired value of resistance the copper conductors should be supplemented
with driven earth rods. Where there is a need to segregate the Hv and LV earth
electrodes the first 5m of earthwire from the transformer shall be pvc covered.

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 7 of 15
Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF
SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE
and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

8 METERING
8.1 Metering measurement current transformers will comply with the Balancing and
Settlement Code of Practice 5 for transformers up to and including 1000kVA
and Code of Practice 3 for transformers above 1000kVA.
8.2 The metering CTs will be provided by either SSEPD (where SSEPD are
installing the BWC) or the Third Party installer (where SSEPD will adopt the
BWC).
8.3 Metering panels will comply with SP-PS-359, Specification outlining
Termination Arrangements for 3rd Party Connections to SSEPD Low Voltage
Cable Networks.
9 CUSTOMER’ EQUIPMENT
9.1 The BWC is to be terminated at the customers end in a purpose made housing
which is designed to accommodate SSEPD metering CTs. All installations shall
be earthed to the TN-S (separate neutral and earth) system. The following
arrangements are permitted:-
a) An adapter chamber is built under the customer's incomer switchgear as
shown on drawings HO/65/037 for terminating up to 2 cables per phase or
HO/65/081 for terminating up to 3 cables per phase.
b) Free standing termination cabinet built to stand along side the customer's
switchgear with busbar entry to the customer's gear at the top. Drawing
HO/65/083 shows the housing requirements and HO/65/084 details the
busbar requirements.
c) These drawings are typical and the customer can arrange to have any type of
unit constructed providing the dimensions and sizes where stated on the
drawings are met. The unit must be supplied with three potential protection
fuses and a link for CT metering. (Refer to table 3 for construction drawings
for details).
d) The ownership boundary shall be at the LV metering current transformer links
in the customer’s switchgear with SSEPD owning the links.
9.2 Drawing Fig. 2 details the minimum trench requirements at the customer's end.
Again dimensions shown shall not be reduced as this will cause difficulties for
the cable installation crew. Where the cable trench enters the building from the
outside and runs under the switchgear it shall be continued in front of the gear
for at least 2000 mm from the wall to the end of the trench.
9.3 It should be noted that where SSEPD will have an MCCB or an ACB and the
customer has an incoming MCCB or ACB then the customer shall ensure that
there is adequate discrimination between the customer's breaker and that of
SSEPD.
10 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS
The following are associated documents;

Document Document Title

Reference
TG-PS-148 The Plant Catalogue

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

Page 8 of 15
Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF
SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE
and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

11 APPLICABLE STANDARDS
11.1 Third Parties must obtain copies of non SSEPD Standards, such as BS
or ENA documents, from the issuing organisations at their own expense.
These documents may be subject to copyright.
11.2 Documents for use by third parties are classified as Public and are
available on the SSEPD website,
http://www.ssepd.co.uk/Library/ConnectionsUsefulDocuments/
11.3 Documents not displayed on the internet are not publically available as
they are deemed not to be needed by third parties. Where third parties
require copies of these SSEPD documents they can be requested from
the SSEPD Power Systems Document Administrator, Inveralmond
House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth PH1 3AQ.
11.4 There will be a cost of £150 for each copy of each document
(irrespective of size). This cost is due to the administration required to
ensure that updates to the documents (which are controlled) are sent out
to third parties.

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

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Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF
SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE
and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

DRAWINGS

The drawings in table 3 below are for information purposes only. Full sized version can be
obtained by contacting our connections team.

Drawing Number Title

HO/65/083 External requirements of free standing cabinet, 11 single

core or bunched 3 core cables.

HO/65/037 Typical requirements of extension chamber to provide CT

accommodation and space for terminating single core
cables.

HO/65/081 Typical requirements of extension chamber to provide CT

accommodation and space for terminating 11 single core or
bunched 3 core cables.

HO/65/084 Typical requirements for free standing cabinet to provide

CT accommodation and space for terminating 11 single
core or bunched 3 core cables.

Table 3

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

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Applies to: PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION OF
SSEPD Staff LOW VOLTAGE SERVICE USING 3 CORE
and Third BUNCHED WAVECON CABLES
PR-PS-151
Parties DRAFT
Classification: Public Uncontrolled if printed Rev:3.04

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

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PR-PR-151 Rev. 3.01

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

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PR-PR-151 Rev 3.01

© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

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© Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution

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Appendix 1

1
Load Curve G
0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
Load (P.U.)

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Time (Hr)

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