CABLING

(LECTURE 6)

NZA 2009
 3.2 Voltage drop
•The resistance of the conductor also results
in a drop of voltage along its length
•Voltage at receiving < sending
•Equipment-work on nominal voltage
•Thus, must limit the voltage drop (VD) as
minimum as possible
•Each cable has its own voltage drop
(mV/A/m)

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•Value of cables’ VD are given in Table
4D1B-4L4A
•LV installation, VD < 4% of supply voltage
•Formula:
(mV/A/m) x length x Ib
Voltage drop 
1000
where
Ib = design current

NZA 2009
 3.3 Cable installation
•Installation methods for cables are shown in
Table 4A1
•Among the installations:
–Method 1: open, clipped direct, embedded
–Method 3: in conduit / trunking
–Method 4: in conduit in thermally insulated
wall
–Method 11: on trays
–etc

NZA 2009
 3.4 Cable sizing
•There are a few correction factors which
influenced the cable’s current carrying
capacity (Iz)
•In determining Iz, following are the
correction factors need to be considered:
–Ca (ambient temperature correction factor)
 Heat flows from hot to cold at a rate which depends
on the temperature difference between them
 Table 4C1 & 2

NZA 2009
–Cg (grouping correction factor)
 Ifa numbers of cable are installed together and
each is carrying current, they will warm up
 Heat release from one cable might affect the current
carrying capacity of other cable
 Table 4B1, 2 & 3

–Ci (thermal insulation correction factor)

 Applies when the cable is installed in the form of
wall filling, roof space blanketing, etc
 The purpose of the material is to limit the transfer
of heat
In
– Iz 
Ca x Cg x Ci
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• Steps in cable sizing calculation:
1) Calculate Ib
2) Select protective device (fuse/CB) to be used (In >
Ib)
3) Determine Ca, Cg, Ci
4) Calculate Iz
5) Determine cable size from applicable table
6) Check the voltage drop
7) Check shock compliance
8) Check CPC size

** if VD is not comply with the rule (>4%), take

bigger cable size
NZA 2009
Example 3:
A 20A radial socket circuit is protected by a BS 88 fuse.
The circuit is wired using 2.5mm2 single core PVC
cables installed in a 16m length of PVC conduit. A
separate protective conductor consisting of a 1.0mm2
PVC cable is used. Assuming that no rating factors are
applicable and that the value of Ze is given as 0.5 ohms,
determine whether the circuit complies with IEE
regulation. The nominal voltage (Uo) may be taken as
230V

NZA 2009
Example 4:
A 230V 30A single phase consists of a 22m length of
run of PVC insulated cable installed in conduit. The
circuit has a full load current of 30A. Determine the
minimum size of cable which will comply with voltage
drop requirement of regulation 525-01. (Assume 70°C)

NZA 2009
Example 5:
A 230V 14kW domestic cooker installed in a house is to
be supplied by 15m run of PVC insulated and sheathed
cable clipped to a surface. The cooker control unit
incorporates a 13A socket outlet. The cable is run for a
considerable part of its length in a roof space where it is
covered on one side by thermal insulation. The circuit is
to be protected by a Type 2 MCB fuse and the value of
external impedance is 0.85 ohms. Determine the
minimum size of cable which may be used. (assume
CPC = 4mm2)

NZA 2009