Conductor and
Cable Sizing
The purpose of Conductor and Cable Sizing is to
determine how best to transport a given current,
determined by voltage, through an insulated
conductive material. Calculations for conductor and
cable size must take into account specified distances
and raceways, and they must allow for various
environmental conditions, which includes
minimizing heat generated from resistance or
impedance of the cable itself.
Automated Ampacity Table Selection
Volts automatically selects the correct NEC®
ampacity table based on values you put in. With
every ampacity table supported – 310.1 through
310.86 – the appropriate table is referenced, taking
any or all of the following into account:
- Cable configuration
- Conductor material
- Electrical duct
configuration
- Insulation type
- Raceway type
- Voltage
Automated Protection Sizing
Once user-defined protection
increase factors are applied
based on an items rated
ampacity, Volts selects the
correct circuit breaker or fuse
protection size from a user-
defined database, whichever
best fits the increase in ampacity.
Automated Conductor or Cable Sizing
Oversized cables are often the result of putting too
many computational elements together too soon.
When calculations begin, if all of the various derating
factors are lumped in with the cable's ending terminal
temperature details, a “double-derating” will result.
With the high cost of copper today, miscalculation can
800.295.8935 916.681.0513 Dolphins Software
result in tremendous expense, particularly on large
projects.
To avoid costly errors, correct cable size
computations must be derived by getting two cable
size figures: 1) terminal temperature size, and 2)
derated size.
To calculate terminal temperature size you need:
- Ambient temperature adjustment
- Terminal temperature in ºC
- Correct NEC® ampacity table
To calculate derated size you need:
- Ambient temperature adjustment
- Altitude
- Covered or uncovered cable tray
- Depth buried
- Multiconductor cable
- Number of current-carrying
conductors in a single raceway
- Soil resistivity (RHO)
- Correct NEC® ampacity table
Once these two figures have been determined, the
larger of the two cable sizes is utilized, at which time
voltage drop is considered. The sequence is the key.
This dual-figures process of calculating cable size is
complicated, we admit, and it is often misunderstood
by companies to the detriment of their bottom line.
But with Volts, cable sizing is quick and simple to
calculate and right on the money every time.
Automated Ground Conductor Sizing
Based on the item’s protection size, Volts selects the
correct ground conductor size utilizing NEC® tables
250.122 or 250.66. If the current-carrying conductor
size was increased from its minimum size to
compensate for voltage drop, Volts adjusts the ground
size by the ratio of the minimum vs. current
conductor’s area, making these computations easy.
www.dolphins-software.com
Conductor and Cable Sizing
continued
Size
Conductor
or Cable

Select
NEC® Tables Correct
310.1 - 310.86 NEC®
Cable configuration
Table
Conductor material
Electrical duct configuration
Insulation type
Raceway type
Voltage
Size
Apply
Circuit
Protection Increase
Use Rated Protection
Factor
Ampacity
(Option Use
OCPD Size)

Apply
Adjust Ambient Temperature
Ampacity and Capacity Increase
Factors

Terminal Environmental
Temperature Derating
Consideration Consideration
Conductor material Altitude
Insulation Type Covered or uncovered cable tray
Terminal temperature Depth buried
Multiconductor cable
Number of current-carrying
Size Use
conductors in a single raceway
Ground per Equipment Soil resistivity (RHO)
per Electrode Larger
Conductor Size

Check Size Apply IEEE Std 141, Exact Formulae

Less Than or Equal Voltage Drop NEC® Resistance / Reactance Tables
To Conductor Size Considerations with Temperature Correction

Final Ground Size Final Conductor or Cable Size

Duplication of this chart in any form is prohibited unless permitted in Volts is a registered trademark of Dolphins Software
writing by Dolphins Software. Dolphins Software All Rights Reserved

Reprinted with permission from NFPA 70 2008, NEC® copyright© 2008, National Fire Protection Association. This is not the complete and official position of
the NFPA on the referenced subject which is represented only by the standard in its entirety.
The title National Electric Code® and the acronym NEC® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

800.295.8935 916.681.0513 Dolphins Software www.dolphins-software.com