TUTORIAL 3: CABLE AND SIZING OF CONDUCTORS

Question 1

a) List FIVE (5) types of cables with their common applications in low-voltage systems.

b) A 3hp single phase air conditioner is to be installed using twin-with-earth PVC insulated
and sheathed cable clip direct in a roof space that has an ambient temperature of 35ºC.
The circuit is protected by 32A MCB. The cable is bunched with five other twin-with-
earth cables for a short distance as in Figure 1. Determine:
i. The Minimum tabulated current rating of the circuit
ii. The size of the conductor

c) The size of the conductor in (b) ii) has to pass through a thermal insulation area over a
length of five meters. Determine:
i. The new minimum tabulated current rating of the circuit
ii. The new size of the conductor.

MCB 3hp
35º C
Air
32 A 20m, clipped conditioning
direct

Bundled with
five other
circuits

Figure 1

Question 2

a) A 7.5 kW 230 V single-phase motor is subject to frequent stopping and starting. The cable
supplying the motor via a direct-on-line starter is two-core non-armoured cable having
90°C thermosetting insulation and copper conductors, clipped direct. If the ambient
temperature is 50°C, what should be the conductor cross-sectional area?

b) A 400 V three-phase motor has a rating of 15 kW at a power factor of 0.8 lagging, the
efficiency being 90%. If this motor is subject to frequent stopping and starting and it is
intended to use a multicore armoured 90°C thermosetting insulated cable having copper
 conductors, installed in free air, what should be their cross-sectional area when ta =
35°C?

Question 3
a) A single-phase circuit is wired in 10 mm2 two-core mineral-insulated cable having copper
conductors and sheath and a thermoplastic overall covering. If Ib = 65 A and l = 40 m.
Calculate the voltage drop.

b) A 400 V three-phase motor has a rating of 30hp at a power factor of 0.85 lagging, the
efficiency being 95%. If this motor is subject to frequent stopping and starting and it is
intended to use a multicore armoured 90°C thermosetting insulated cable having copper
conductors, clipped direct 30m, calculate the voltage drop.(4E4A)

c) A single-phase circuit is wired in two-core armoured 70°C thermoplastic insulated cable

with 16 mm2 copper conductors. The cable is clipped direct to a wall and is not grouped
with other cables. If Ib = 70 A, ta = 35°C and l = 30 m, calculate the voltage drop.
(4D4A,4D4B)

d) A d.c. circuit is wired in single-core 70°C thermoplastic-insulated non-sheathed cable

having copper conductors of 10 mm2 cross-sectional area. If Ib = 40 A and 1 = 33 m.
Calculate the voltage drop. (4D1A,4D1B)

Question 4

a) State FIVE (5) factors considered for the installation of cable as stated in IEE Wiring
Regulation.

b) List three (3) basic design elements of cables in electrical system.

c) A three phase motor with a capacity of 50kW, 0.8 power factor and 90% efficiency is to
be fed by four single-core PVC insulated, copper conductor installed in trunking at 80-
metre run as shown in Figure 2. (4D1A)

i. Find the design current or full load current of the circuit

ii. Determine the size of the conductor if the permissible voltage drop from the MCCB to
the
 motor terminal is 2%.
iii. If the design current or full load current in c) (i) is reduced to 50A and the cable
selected is a 10mm2 cable for 40-metre run. Calculate the voltage drop of the circuit.
0.8 p.f
MCCB
80m
4 x 1C/Cu/PVC/NA,trunking
M

Figure 2

d) A 4 x 10mm2 circuit, clipped directly on a non-metallic surface as shown in Figure 3 is

protected by 60A MCCB which has maximum operating time 0.1s. The short-circuit current
is 5000 A.
i. Explain why this circuit is not adequately protected against short circuit and
recommends the necessary solution and new size of the conductor.
ii. Determine the maximum short-circuit current that this circuit can withstand.

MCB
IF = 5000A

60 A 2
4 x 10mm /1C/Cu/PVC/NA,clipped direct

Figure 3

Question 5

a) The circuits that feed a group of ten 230V switch socket outlets is shown in Figure 4. The
length of the cable from the protective device to the group of the switch socket outlets is
17m. The circuit is the single core, copper conductor, PVC insulated cable, clipped direct
on non metallic surface. The expected average connected load of each socket outlet is
300W at 0.9 power factor. The installation will through an area where the temperature may
reach 35ºC. By neglecting the thermal insulation correction factor C i and short circuit
current is 1kA and k =115. Evaluate:

i. The design current, Ib of installation.

ii. The nominal or setting current, In of MCB to be used by selecting type B.
iii. The minimum tabulated current, It,min and the appropriate conductor size.
iv. The voltage drop of the installation satisfying the requirement of 1.5%.
 v. The maximum time for cable withstand during short circuit condition and the
appropriate size of conductor.

300W X 10

MCB 0.9 p.f

350C 17 m

1C/Cu/pvc clipped direct

Figure 4

b) Explain the definition of ambient temperature and grouping effect applied to the cable
current-carrying capacity.

c) Determine the minimum tabulated current rating of a multi-core, PVC insulated cable
connected to a 3 phase motor rated at 400V, 7.5kW, 0.88 PF and 86% efficiency. The
motor is subjected to frequent start-stop (minimum circuit rating is 1.4 of IB) and operates
at an ambient temperature of 35ºC as shown in Figure 5.

MCCB
350C 7.5kW
M 0.88 p.f.
4C/Cu/PVC/NA, trunking 86% Eff.

Figure 5

d) A motor that has a full load current of 188A is fed by a multi-core PVC insulated copper
conductor cable is installed in trunking at an ambient temperature of 35ºC. This circuit is
protected by a MCCB as in Figure 6. Due to the high starting current, the current rating of
the MCCB is 350A. Evaluate the size of the cable under the following conditions:
i. Overload protection is not required.
ii. Adequate small overload protection shall be provided.

MCCB
IFL=188A, 350C
DOL M
350A 4C/Cu/PVC/NA, trunking

Figure 6
Question 6

a) List SIX (6) information needed to calculate the voltage drop in the wiring cable of
electrical circuit.

b) Determine FOUR (4) required conditions for selecting tabulated current ratings of cable,
It,min as stated in Appendix 4 of the IEE regulations.

c) A 15hp single-phase motor is subjected to frequent stopping and starting. The cable
supplies the motor via a two-core non-armoured cable having 90°C thermosetting
insulation and copper conductors, clipped direct. The ambient temperature is 60°C.
Determine :

i. The design current or full load current.

ii. The cross-sectional area of the conductor.

d) A three-phase circuit is run at 120 metre from MCCB to the load, clipped direct and not
grouped with other circuits, in a multicore armoured 70°C PVC insulated cable having 95
mm2 copper conductors as in Figure 7. The design current and the ambient temperature of
the circuit is 200 A and 45°C respectively. The load power factor of the circuit is 0.8
lagging.

iii. Determine the conductor operating temperature.

iv. Determine the voltage drop in this circuit by considering conductor operating
temperature

v. Calculate the percentage of the voltage drop.

0.8 p.f
MCCB
120m
LOAD

Figure 7