Cable Calculations

Design Procedure

Determine the design current Ib Select the rating of the protection In Select relevant correction factors (CF) Divide In by the relevant correction factors to give It Choose a cable size to suit It Check for voltage drop Check for shock risk constraints Check for thermal constraints

Design Current

Calculations for Ib

P Ib = V
P Ib = 3 VL

Nominal setting of protection

Using the value determined for Ib, we then select the value of In IEE Regulations tables

Correction factors

When a circuit runs at full load, it generates heat. To compensate for this, and protect the insulation, we need to apply correction factors

Ambient temperature

IEE Regulations based on ambient temperature of 30C Temperatures above this need a correction factor

Grouping

When cables are grouped, the heat generated can be passed onto all the cables within a group Table 4B gives allowances for these factors

BS3036

The BS3036 semi-enclosed fuse (rewirable) as discussed previously has a high fusing factor compared to other types of protective devices When using this type, we need to apply a correction factor of 0.725

Thermal Insulation

Virtually all new premises use thermal insulation as a means to conserve energy Appendix 4 of the Regs covers cables run on one side in insulation however table 52A should be applied if it is totally surrounded

How to apply factors

If a circuit is protected by a BS3036 fuse, then the factor 0.725 always applies. If a circuit has more than one influence, such as the example below, then the worst case only need be applied

Grouping Factor 0.7 High ambient temperature Factor 0.97

Thermal Insulation Factor 0.5

Current Carrying capacity

The required formula for calculating current carrying capacity is:

In It CFs

Example In It CFs
32 It 64 A 0.5
High ambient temperature Factor 0.97

Grouping Factor 0.7 32A MCB

Thermal Insulation Factor 0.5

Example 2 In It CFs
30 It 82.75 A 0.5 0.725
Grouping Factor 0.7 30A BS3036 High ambient temperature Factor 0.97 Thermal Insulation Factor 0.5

Example 3
Ca x Cg = 0.97 x 0.5 = 0.485 which is worse than 0.5 (Ci) hence

In It CFs

30 It 85.3 A 0.485 0.725

Grouping Factor 0.5 Thermal Insulation Factor 0.5

30A BS3036

High ambient temperature Factor 0.97

Choice of cable size

Appendix 4 of the IEE Regs list all cable types and the voltage drop Example PVC insulated single phase cable run in conduit having a current carrying capacity of 45A installed by ref method 3 (table 4A) the table is 4DIA and the column is 4 hence the cable size is 10mm2

Voltage Drop

Maximum allowance is 5% of the nominal voltage for standard circuits and 3% for lighting circuits 230v Lighting = 400v Lighting = 230v Lighting = 400v Lighting =

Voltage Drop formula

(mV/A/m) is from the tables in the IEE Regs Ib is the design current L is the length of the circuit in metres

(mv / A / m) I b l Vc = 1000

Voltage Drop example

The voltage drop on a circuit supplied from a 230v source by a 16mm2 2 core copper cable 23m long clipped direct and carrying a design current of 33A will be (mV from table 4D2B)

Vc =

(mv / A / m) I b l 1000

2.8 33 23 Vc = = 2.125v 1000

Shock Risk

The earth fault loop impedance should not exceed the values given in Part 4 of the IEE Regs