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example of cable calculation Electrical Installation Guide
Worked example of cable calculation
From Electrical Installation Guide
Contents
1 Worked example of cable calculation
2 Calculation using software Ecodial
3 The same calculation using the simplified method recommended in this guide
3.1 Dimensioning circuit C1
3.2 Dimensioning circuit C3
3.3 Dimensioning circuit C7
3.4 Calculation of shortcircuit currents for the selection of circuitbreakers Q1, Q3, Q7 (see Fig. G67)
3.5 The protective conductor
3.6 Protection against indirectcontact hazards
3.7 Voltage drop
Worked example of cable calculation
(see Fig. G65)
The installation is supplied through a 630 kVA transformer. The process requires a high degree of supply continuity and part
of the installation can be supplied by a 250 kVA standby generator. The global earthing system is TNS, except for the most
critical loads supplied by an isolation transformer with a downstream IT configuration.
The singleline diagram is shown in Figure G65 below. The results of a computer study for the circuit from transformer T1
down to the cable C7 is reproduced on Figure G66. This study was carried out with Ecodial (a Schneider Electric software).
This is followed by the same calculations carried out by the simplified method described in this guide.
Fig. G65: Example of singleline diagram
Calculation using software Ecodial
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Fig. G66: Partial results of calculation carried out with Ecodial software (Schneider Electric). The calculation is performed
according to Cenelec TR50480
The same calculation using the simplified method recommended in this guide
Dimensioning circuit C1
The MV/LV 630 kVA transformer has a rated noload voltage of 420 V. Circuit C1 must be suitable for a current of:
per phase
Two singlecore PVCinsulated copper cables in parallel will be used for each phase.These cables will be laid on cable trays
according to method F.
Each conductor will therefore carry 433A. Figure G21a indicates that for 3 loaded conductors with PVC isolation, the
required c.s.a. is 240mm².
The resistance and the inductive reactance, for the two conductors in parallel, and for a length of 5 metres, are:
(cable resistance: 23.7 mΩ.mm²/m)
(cable reactance: 0.08 mΩ/m)
Dimensioning circuit C3
Circuit C3 supplies two 150kW loads with cos φ = 0.85, so the total load current is:
Two singlecore PVCinsulated copper cables in parallel will be used for each phase. These cables will be laid on cable
trays according to method F.
Each conductor will therefore carry 255A. Figure G21a indicates that for 3 loaded conductors with PVC isolation, the
required c.s.a. is 95mm2.
The resistance and the inductive reactance, for the two conductors in parallel, and for a length of 20 metres, are:
(cable resistance: 23.7 mΩ.mm²/m)
(cable reactance: 0.08 mΩ/m)
Dimensioning circuit C7
Circuit C7 supplies one 150kW load with cos φ = 0.85, so the total load current is:
One singlecore PVCinsulated copper cable will be used for each phase. The cables will be laid on cable trays according to
method F.
Each conductor will therefore carry 255A. Figure G21a indicates that for 3 loaded conductors with PVC isolation, the
required c.s.a. is 95mm2.
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19/08/2016 Worked example of cable calculation Electrical Installation Guide
The resistance and the inductive reactance for a length of 20 metres is:
(cable resistance: 23.7 mΩ.mm²/m)
(cable reactance: 0.08 mΩ/m)
Calculation of shortcircuit currents for the selection of circuitbreakers Q1, Q3, Q7 (see Fig. G67)
Fig. G67: Example of shortcircuit current evaluation
The protective conductor
When using the adiabatic method, the minimum c.s.a. for the protective earth conductor (PE) can be calculated by the
formula given in Figure G58:
For circuit C1, I = 20.2kA and k = 143.
t is the maximum operating time of the MV protection, e.g. 0.5s
This gives:
A single 120 mm2 conductor is therefore largely sufficient, provided that it also satisfies the requirements for indirect
contact protection (i.e. that its impedance is sufficiently low).
Generally, for circuits with phase conductor c.s.a. Sph ≥ 50 mm2, the PE conductor minimum c.s.a. will be Sph / 2. Then,
for circuit C3, the PE conductor will be 95mm2, and for circuit C7, the PE conductor will be 50mm2.
Protection against indirectcontact hazards
For circuit C3 of Figure G65, Figures F41 and F40, or the formula given page F25 may be used for a 3phase 4wire circuit.
The maximum permitted length of the circuit is given by:
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(The value in the denominator 630 x 11 is the maximum current level at which the instantaneous shortcircuit magnetic trip
of the 630 A circuitbreaker operates).
The length of 20 metres is therefore fully protected by “instantaneous” overcurrent devices.
Voltage drop
The voltage drop is calculated using the data given in Figure G28, for balanced threephase circuits, motor power normal
service (cos φ = 0.8).
The results are summarized on figure G68:
C1 C3 C7
c.s.a. 2 x 240mm² 2 x 95mm² 1 x 95mm²
∆U per conductor
(V/A/km) 0.22 0.43 0.43
see Fig. G28
Load current (A) 866 509 255
Length (m) 5 20 5
Voltage drop (V) 0.48 2.19 0.55
Voltage drop (%) 0.12 0.55 0.14
Fig. G68: Voltage drop introduced by the different cables
The total voltage drop at the end of cable C7 is then: 0.77%.
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