Electrical Science

Steve Sayles
Cable selection

What factors may have to be considered when

selecting cables?

Thermal effects
Ambient Temperature (Ca)
Grouping of cables (Cg)
Current carrying capacity of conductor
(Iz)
Operating temperature of conductor (Ct)
Design current of the circuit, I,e the current
intended to be carried by the circuit in normal
service (Ib)
Thermal insulation (Ci)

I=V/R

Transposing the formula we can find any

value if we know the other two values.

I =V/R
R =V/I
V =IR

R1 = 210 volt drop

Where has the other 20 v gone?

Does the above circuit meet the requirements of BS 7671

Regulation 525-01-02 ?

One consideration when selecting cables is

that of volt drop. BS7671 contains Currentcarrying tables (appendix 4 ). These tables
also include values from which a cable volt
drop can be calculated per ampere per metre (
in millivolts).
To calculate the volt drop, the figure from the
tables must be multiplied by the length of the
cable (in metres) and the design current on full
load. The final product must be divided by 1000 to
give the answer in volts.

PVC Cables,

The simplest method to adopt is to determine the

maximum mV/Am which will comply with the
maximum volt drop allowed.

230 100 x 5 = 9.2

Maximum volt drop

allowed = 11.5 v

Example
A 230v single-phase cooker circuit has a
30m length of run in 4mm T+E PVC
insulated cable. The circuit has a design
current (Ib) of 45A . Calculate the volt
drop.
14.85 V
11
x
45
x
30
=
_________________
1000

What size cable would meet the

requirements of the regulation for the
circuit in the last example?
A 230v single-phase cooker circuit has a
30m length of T+E PVC insulated cable.
The circuit has a design current of 45A .

Example
In a large house, a lighting circuit supplies a bank of 10
60W fluorescent luminaries. The length of cable run is
46m. What is the volt drop using the minimum PVC cable
csa allowed?

Ib = ( 60 x 10 x 1.8 ) 230 = 4.69A

Apply diversity 66% = 3.1A (3.09)

(3.1 x 46 x 44) 1000 = 6.27 v

Remember compliance
with Volt drop regulations
does NOT mean
compliance with other
regulations.

Example
A small hotel has a 230v single-phase
10.5Kw Electric shower circuit that is
the smallest of its five shower. It has a
45m run of pvc cable. Calculate cable
csa and volt drop in order to meet volt
drop regulations compliance.
Ib = 10500W 230 v = 45 A
Apply diversity of 25% = 11.25 A

11.25 x 45 x 18 = 9.11v

Remember compliance
with Volt drop regulations
does NOT mean
compliance with other
regulations.

Cable Selection Process

Cable Selection Process

Ib In

Cable Selection Process

Cable Selection Process

Cable Selection Process

Cable Selection Process

Cable Selection Process

Shock Protection

Shock Protection

Shock Protection

Thermal Constraints
Verification of the withstand capabilities of cables under short-circuit
conditions

Now that you have chosen the type and size of cable to suit the
conditions of the installation, we must look at thermal constraints.
This is a check to make sure that the size of the c.p.c, the earth
conductor, complies with the
IEE Wiring Regulations
If there is a fault on the circuit, which could be a short circuit, or earth
fault, a faultcurrent of hundreds or thousands of amperes could flow.
Imagine that this is a 1 mm or 2.5 mm cable; if this large amount of
current was allowed to flow for a short period of time, i.e. a few
seconds, the cable would melt and a fire could start. The c.s.a of the
circuit protective conductor (c.p.c) is of great importance since the
level of possible shock in the event of a fault depends on it

Thermal Constraints
Verification of the withstand capabilities of cables under short-circuit
conditions

Thermal Constraints
Verification of the withstand capabilities of cables under short-circuit
conditions

Thermal Constraints
Verification of the withstand capabilities of cables under short-circuit
conditions

Thermal Constraints
Verification of the withstand capabilities of cables under short-circuit
conditions