Electrical Thumb Rules

Size of Cable on Secondary Side of Transformer (11KV/433V)

Ref: KSEI Handbook

Min. Size of
Rating of T/C Primary current Secondary Minimum Size of
Neutral Earthing
(KVA) (Amp) Current (Amp) Cable (mm2)
Conductor (mm2)

63 3.3 84 25X3 50mm2

95mm2 or (250
100 5.25 133.3 25X3
mm2)
185mm2 or (295
160 8.4 213.3 25X3
mm2)
300mm2 or
200 10.49 266.6 25X3
(2120 mm2)
250 13.12 333 25X3 2185 mm2
(2300 mm2) or
315 16.53 420 31X3 or 25X4
(3185 mm2)
(3300 mm2) or
400 21.8 533 38X3
(2400 mm2)
(3400 mm2) or
500 26.2 666.5 25X6
(4240 mm2)
630 33 840 31X6 4400 mm2
Bus Bar Trucking
750 39.36 1000 50X4
(min. Isc 50KA)
Bus Bar Trucking
1000 52.5 1333 210mm2
(min. Isc 50KA)
Bus Bar Trucking
1250 65.5 1667 290mm2
(min. Isc 50KA)
Bus Bar Trucking
1600 83.98 2133 380mm2
(min. Isc 50KA)
Bus Bar Trucking
2000 105 2666 450mm2
(min. Isc 50KA)

HT Fuse on Primary Side of Transformer (11KV/433V)

Rating of T/C Primary current Secondary HT Fuse

(KVA) (Amp) Current (Amp) Min (Amp) Max(Amp)
63 3.3 84 10 16
100 5.25 133.3 16 25
160 8.4 213.3 16 40
200 10.49 266.6 25 40
250 13.12 333 32 40
315 16.53 420 40 63
400 21.8 533 40 63
 500 26.2 666.5 50 100
630 33 840 63 100
750 39.36 1000 75 160
1000 52.5 1333 100 160
1250 65.5 1667 100 200
1600 83.98 2133 160 250
2000 105 2666 200 250

Capacitor Bank for Power Supply

Voltage

Minimum rating
System Voltage
of capacitor bank

3.3 KV , 6.6KV 75 Kvar

11 KV 200 Kvar
22 KV 400 Kvar
33 KV 600 Kvar

Capacities of PVC conduits

Nominal 16 mm 20 mm 25 mm 32 mm
conductor Size
mm Number of Cables (maximum)
1 6 5 19 30
1.5 5 4 15 24
2.5 3 3 11 17
4 2 2 8 13
6 2 - 6 10
10 - - 4 6
16 - - 3 4
25 - - 2 3
35 - - - 2

System Highest and Lower Voltage

Ref: NEC(India) :2011

System Voltage Highest Voltage Lowest Voltage

240 V 264 V 216 V

415 V 457 V 374 V
3.3 kV 3.6 kV 3.0 kV
6.6 kV 7.2 kV 6.0 kV
11 kV 12 kV 10 kV
22 kV 24 kV 20 kV
33 kV 36 kV 30 kV
 66 kV 72.5 kV 60 kV
66 kV 72.5 kV 60 kV
132 kV 145 kV 120 kV
220 kV 245 kV 200 kV
400 kV 420 kV 380 kV

Number of Points for Dwelling Unit

Ref: NEC(India) :2011
Area for the Main Dwelling Unit (m2)
No. Description
35 mm2 45 mm2 55 mm2

1 Light points 7 No 8 No 10 No

2 Ceiling fans Pont 2 No 3 No 4 No

3 Ceiling fans Nos 2 No 2 No 3 No

4 6A Socket outlets 2 No 3 No 4No

5 16A Socket outlets - 1 No 2 No

6 Call-bell (buzzer) - - 1 No

Recommended Schedule of Socket-Outlets

Ref: NEC(India) :2011

Number of Socket
Description
6A Socket 16A Socket

Bedroom 2 1

Living room 2 2

Kitchen 1 2

Dining room 2 1

Garage 1 1

For refrigerator - 1

For air-conditioner - 1 for each

Verandah 1 per 10mter2 1

Bathroom 1 1

Power requirements of the building

Ref: NEC(India) :2011

 Part of the Total
Part of
Power
ElectricalInstallat DiversityFactor
Requirement in
ion
%

Ventilation,
heating (air- 45% 1
conditioning)

Power plant
52% 0.65
(drives)

Lighting 30% 0.95

Lifts 20% 1
Kitchen 10% 0.6
Laundry 5% 0.6

Lift Car Speed

Ref: NEC(India) :2011

No. of Floors
Occupancy Car Speed m/s
Served

Office building 4 to 5 0.5 to 0.75 m/sec

Office building 6 to 12 0.75 to 1.5 m/sec

Shops and
More than 1.5
departmental 13 to 20
m/sec
stores

Passenger lifts for

low and medium - 0.5 m/sec
lodging houses

Hotels 4 to 5 0.5 to 0.75 m/sec

Normal load
- 2.0 to 2.5 m/sec
carrying lifts

Hospital
4 to 5 0.5 to 0.75 m/sec
passenger Lift

Hospital More than 1.5

13 to 20
passenger Lift m/sec
 Hospital bed lifts
(Short travel lifts - 0.25 m/sec
insmall hospitals)

Hospital bed lifts

- 0.5 m/sec
(Normal)

Hospital bed lifts

(Long travel lifts
0.6 to 1.5 m/sec
inGeneral
hospitals)

Capacitor Ratings at Rated Voltage

Ref: NEC(India) :2011
Capacitor Rating in kVAR for Motor Speed

Motor Rating(Kw)
3 000rev/min 1 500rev/min 1 000rev/min 750rev/min

2.25 1 1 1.5 2
3.7 2 2 2.5 3.5
5.7 2 3 3.5 4.5
7.5 3 4 4.5 5.5
11.2 4 5 6 7.5
15 5 6 7 9
18.7 6 7 9 10.5
22.5 7 8 10 12
37 11 12.5 16 18
57 16 17 21 23
75 21 23 26 28
102 31 33 36 38
150 40 42 45 47
187 46 50 53 55

:Maximum Current Demand for Motor:

Ref: NEC(India) :2011

Size of Maximum current

Nature of supply
installation demand

Up to and Six times the full

including 0.75 kW load current

Single phaseor
Three phase
 Above 0.75 kW Three times the
and up to 7.5 kW full load current

Single phaseor
Three phase
Above 7.5 kW up Two times the full
to and up to11 kW load current

One and half

Above 11 kW times the full load
current

Rated Basic Insulation Level (BIL)

Ref: NEC(India) :2011

Nominal System
Rated BIL (kVp)
Voltage (kV)

33 KV 170
22 KV 125
11 KV 75
6.6 KV 60
3.3 KV 40

Illumination Level
Ref: NEC(India) :2011

Illumination
Location
Level (Lux)

Residence
Entrance /
100
Hallways

Living room 300

Dining Room 150

Bed Room
300
(General)

Bed Room
(Dressing , Bed 200
Heads)

Kitchen 200

Kitchen sink 300

Bathroom 100
 Sewing 700
Workshop 200
Staircase 100
Garage 70

Study Room 300

Office Building

Entrance hall /
150
Reception

Conference Room
300
/ Executive Office

General Office
300
Space

Business
Machinery 450
Operation

Drawing Office 450

Corridors 70
Stairs 100

Lift landing 150

Hospital Building
Reception &
150
Waiting

General ward 100

Bed Side 150

Toilet 70
Stairs 100

Operation Theatre
300
(General)

Operation Theatre
Special
(Operation Table)

Laboratories 300

Radiology 100
Causality 150

Dispensaries 300

Laundry 200

Dry Cleaning 200

Ironing 300
General Office 450

Kitchen 200

Assembly & Concert Halls

Foyers 100 to 150

Auditoria 100 to 150

Platform 450
Corridors 70
Stairs 100
Cinema Halls
Foyers 150
Auditoria 50
Corridors 70
Stairs 100
Theatres
Foyers 150
Auditoria 70
Corridors 70
Stairs 100

School / College Building

Assembly Halls

General 150
Examination
300
center
Platform 300
Classes
Desktop 300

Blackboard 200 to 300

Libraries
Shelves 70 to 150

Reading Room 150 to 300

Reading Table 300 to 700

Cataloguing 150 to 300

General
Office 300

Staff Room 150

Corridors 70
Stairs 100
 Lamps Lumen Data

Rating (Watt) Life (Hours) Initial Lumens

Incandescent Lamp
60 1000 870
100 750 1750
150 2000 1740
200 2000 2300
500 2000 6500
Fluorescent Lamp
18 7000 1120
20 7000 1020
36 7000 2800
40 7000 2700
2X40 7000 4000
Compact Fluorescent Lamp
5 10000 220
7 7000 380
11 7000 560
13 7000 680
15 7000 810
18 7000 1050
23 7000 1500
26 7000 1800
32 7000 2400
Mercury Vapour Lamp
100 18000 3700
175 24000 8600
250 24000 12100
400 24000 22500
1000 24000 57000
Metal Halide Lamp
50 15000 3400
70 15000 5600
100 15000 9000
150 10000 13500
175 10000 15000
250 10000 20500
400 20000 36000
1000 12000 110000

High Pressure Sodium Vapour Lamps

35 16000 2250
 50 24000 4000
70 24000 5800
100 24000 9500
150 24000 16000
250 24000 27500
400 24000 47500
1000 24000 140000
Pulse Start Metal Halide Lamp
50 15000 3400
70 15000 5600
100 15000 9000
150 15000 15000
175 15000 17500
200 15000 21000
250 15000 26300
320 20000 34000
400 20000 44000
450 20000 50000

:Duty Type of Motor:

Ref: IS-325
Duty Type
Duty Type Application
Symbol

Pumps, Bowers,
S1 Continuous Duty Compressors,
Fans

Siren, Flood relief

S2 Short Time Duty
Gates

Valve, Actuators,
Intermittent
S3 Wire drawing
Periodic Duty
machine

Intermittent
Hoist, Cranes,
S4 Periodic Duty with
Lifts, Escalators
starting

Hoist, Cranes
Intermittent
(with electronics
S5 Periodic Duty with
Breaks), Rolling
starting / Breaking
mills
 Continuous Duty
Machine tools,
S6 with Intermittent
Conveyors
Periodic Duty

Continuous Duty
S7 with starting / Machine tools,
Breaking

Continuous Duty
Pole Channing
S8 with periodic load
Applications
changes

Type of Distribution System

As per IEC 60364-3

Unearthed
Earthed System
System

TT / TN (TN-S,TN-
IT
C,TN-C-S)

First Letter (the neutral point in

relation to earth):T= directly earthed
neutral (from the French word Terre)I
=unearthed or high impedance-
earthed neutral (e.g. 2,000 )

Second letter (Exposed conductive

parts of the electrical installation in
relation to earth):T =directly earthed
exposed conductive partsN =exposed
conductive parts directly connected to
the neutral conductor
nit

in Dwelling Unit (m2)

85 mm2 140 mm2

12 No 17 No

5 No 7 No

4 No 5 No

5 No 7 No

3 No 4No

1 No 1 No
ge

or Motor Speed

600rev/min 500rev/min

2.5 2.5
4 4
5 5.5
6 6.5
8.5 9
11 12
13 14.5
15 17
23 25
29 32
35 40
45 55
60 67
68 76
Electrical Thumb Rules You MUST Follow (Part 1)
Electrical Thumb Rules For:

Cable Capacity
Current Capacity of Equipment
Earthing Resistance
Minimum Bending Radius
Insulation Resistance
Lighting Arrestor
Transformer
Diesel Generator
Current Transformer
Quick Electrical Calculation

Cable Capacity

For Cu Wire Current Capacity (Up to 30 Sq.mm) =6X Size of Wire in

Sq.mm
Ex. For 2.5 Sq.mm = 62.5 = 15 Amp, For 1 Sq.mm = 61 = 6 Amp, For
1.5 Sq.mm = 61.5 = 9 Amp

For Cable Current Capacity =4X Size of Cable in Sq.mm, Ex. For 2.5
Sq.mm = 42.5 = 9 Amp.
Nomenclature for cable Rating =Uo/U
where Uo = Phase-Ground Voltage, U = Phase-Phase Voltage, Um =
Highest Permissible Voltage

Current Capacity of Equipment

1 Phase Motor draws Current =7Amp per HP.

3 Phase Motor draws Current =1.25Amp per HP.
Full Load Current of 3 Phase Motor =HPx1.5
Full Load Current of 1 Phase Motor =HPx6
No Load Current of 3 Phase Motor =30% of FLC
KW Rating of Motor =HPx0.75
Full Load Current of equipment =1.39xKVA (for 3 Phase 415Volt)
Full Load Current of equipment =1.74xKw (for 3 Phase 415Volt)
Earthing Resistance

Earthing Resistance for Single Pit =5, Earthing Grid = 0.5

As per NEC 1985 Earthing Resistanceshould be < 5.
Voltage between Neutral and Earth<= 2 Volt
Resistance between Neutral and Earth<= 1
Creepage Distance =18 to 22mm/KV (Moderate Polluted Air) or
Creepage Distance =25 to 33mm/KV (Highly Polluted Air)

Minimum Bending Radius

Minimum Bending Radius for LT Power Cable =12 x Dia of Cable.

Minimum Bending Radius for HT Power Cable =20 x Dia of Cable.
Minimum Bending Radius for Control Cable =10 x Dia of Cable.

Insulation Resistance

Insulation Resistance Value for Rotating Machine =(KV+1) M.

Insulation Resistance Value for Motor (IS 732) =((20xVoltage (L-L))
/ (1000+ (2xKW)).
Insulation Resistance Value for Equipment (<1KV) =Minimum 1
M.
Insulation Resistance Value for Equipment (>1KV) =KV 1 M per
1KV.
Insulation Resistance Value for Panel =2 x KV rating of the panel.
Min Insulation Resistance Value (Domestic) =50 M / No of Points.
(All Electrical Points with Electrical fitting & Plugs). Should be less than 0.5
M
Min Insulation Resistance Value (Commercial) =100 M / No of
Points. (All Electrical Points without fitting & Plugs).Should be less than 0.5
M.
Test Voltage (A.C) for Meggering =(2X Name Plate Voltage) +1000
Test Voltage (D.C) for Meggering = (2X Name Plate Voltage).
Submersible Pump Take 0.4 KWH of extra Energy at 1 meter drop
of Water.

Lighting Arrestor

Arrestor have Two Rating:

1. MCOV=Max. Continuous Line to Ground Operating Voltage.

 2. Duty Cycle Voltage. (Duty Cycle Voltage > MCOV).

Transformer

Current Rating of Transformer= KVA x 1.4

Short Circuit Current of T.C /Generator =Current Rating / %
Impedance
No Load Current of Transformer =< 2% of Transformer Rated current
Capacitor Current (Ic) =KVAR / 1.732xVolt (Phase-Phase)
Typically the local utility provides transformers rated up to500kVAFor
maximum connected load of99kW,
Typically the local utility provides transformers rated up to1250kVAFor
maximum connected load of150kW.
The diversity they would apply to apartments is around60%
Maximum HT (11kV) connected load will be around4.5MVA per circuit.
4No. earth pits per transformer (2No. for body and 2No. for neutral earthing),

Clearances, approx.1000mm around TC allow for transformer movement

for replacement.

Diesel Generator

Diesel Generator Set Produces =3.87 Units (KWH) in 1 Litter of

Diesel.
Requirement Area of Diesel Generator =for 25KW to 48KW = 56
Sq.meter, 100KW = 65 Sq.meter.
DG less than or equal to1000kVA must be in a canopy.
DG greater1000kVAcan either be in a canopy or skid mounted in an
acoustically treated room
DG noise levels to be less than75dBA at 1 meter.
DG fuel storage tanks should be a maximum of990 Litter per unit.
Storage tanks above this level will trigger more stringent explosion
protection provision.

Current Transformer

Nomenclature of CT:

Ratio:input / output current ratio

Burden (VA):total burden including pilot wires. (2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 30VA.)
Class:Accuracy required for operation (Metering: 0.2, 0.5, 1 or 3, Protection:
5, 10, 15, 20, 30).
 Accuracy Limit Factor:
Nomenclature of CT: Ratio, VA Burden, Accuracy Class, Accuracy Limit
Factor.Example:1600/5, 15VA 5P10(Ratio: 1600/5, Burden: 15VA,
Accuracy Class: 5P, ALF: 10)
As per IEEE Metering CT:0.3B0.1 rated Metering CT is accurate to 0.3
percent if the connected secondary burden if impedance does not exceed
0.1 ohms.
As per IEEE Relaying (Protection) CT:2.5C100 Relaying CT is
accurate within 2.5 percent if the secondary burden is less than 1.0 ohm
(100 volts/100A).

Quick Electrical Calculation

1HP = 0.746KW

1KW = 1.36HP

1Watt = 0.846 Kla/Hr

1Watt = 3.41 BTU/Hr

1KWH = 3.6 MJ

1Cal = 4.186 J

1Tone = 3530 BTU

85 Sq.ft Floor Area = 1200 BTU
1Kcal = 4186 Joule
1KWH = 860 Kcal
1Cal = 4.183 Joule
Star
Conne
ction
Line
Voltage
= 3
Phase
Voltage
Line
Current
=
Phase
Current
Delta
Conne
ction
Line
Voltage
=
Phase
Voltage
Line
Current
= 3
Phase
Current