LOAD CALCULATION

(LECTURE 3)

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 Introduction
• Detail distribution design involve
determining equipment size, specification,
quality, reliability and cost
• Factors need to consider in general
electrical design:
1. Demand / load
 Equipment & capacity
 Sufficient, reliable & quality (harmonics)
2. Protection (Protective apparatus)
2.1 Over-current
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 2.2 Earth leakage
2.3 Earthing
2.4 Lightning Protection
3. Cabling & routing
3.1 Type of cable
3.2 Voltage drop
3.3 Cable installation
3.4 Cable sizing
•Final layout arrangement: depend on other
services & space
•Design requirement varies depending on
premises- hospital, factory, school

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 1. Demand or load
•Important information prior design:
–Capacity (power consumption, starting current-
especially for motor)
–Incoming supply (3 phase or single phase)
–Run time (operation time)
•Types of load:
–Lighting
 Type – indoor / outdoor : fluorescent, downlight,
flood light, high bay, etc
 Lux calculation – quantity

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  Arrangement – ceiling type, other services
 General design & power consumption:
 Estimated power consumption: 100W / fitting
 Maximum 10 fitting/circuit

 Multiply by 1.8 (power loss / dissipate as heat)

 Switch to connect/break circuit: 1way, 2way

 Ceiling fan: estimated power consumption-

100W
–Power point (s/s/o)
 Indoor / outdoor : 13A, 15A, 20A
 Water heater, air conditioning : individual wiring
 13A – ring and/or radial

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  Estimated power consumption:
 15A: 500W / point
 13A: 250W / point

 A/C, w/heater, etc – 2kW / point

 Isolator?

**Value of estimated power consumption

(lighting, power points, heaters, etc) can only be
used if the actual value is not specified
–Other equipment
 Example: pumps, chiller, lift, fire protection
equipment, etc  load / power need to be declared
 Operating time

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•Term & definition:
–Full load current (IFL)
Is the total current expected to be connected to the
system
Value varies depending on the incoming power supply.
If:
 Single phase

I FL  P V  240
V
3 phase
P
I FL  V  415
Vx 3

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Ifan equipment has a power factor (pf) and/or has
moving parts, efficiency (η) will have to be considered
Thus;
 Single phase

I FL  P
V x pf x  V  240
3 phase

I FL  P V  415
V x 3 x pf x 

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–Diversity factor (DF)
 Not all load are used at the same time
 Thus, DF is a probability of the load to be used at
one time
 Size & cost of conductors, protective devices &
switchgears can be reduced
 Table 1B (IEE on site guide)

–Design current (Ib)

 Maximum current or maximum demand, expected
to be used by the system
 Ib = IFL x DF

 Ib=Ib(total)÷3, if 3 phase incoming supply

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Standard fuse rating, wire size and no. of
points per circuit:

Fuse
Size of wire No. of points / circuit
rating
6A 1.5 mm2 10 nos. of lighting / fan points
15A 2.5 mm2 1 no. 13A s/s/o
20A 2.5 mm2 2 nos. 13A s/s/o
10 nos. 13A s/s/o (all allocated
30A
2.5 mm2 within an area of not more than
(ring)
1000 sq ft
30A
4.0 mm2 6 nos. 13A s/s/o
(radial)

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•Example 1
A small shop receives a 3 phase supply, 415/240V through DB
with the following loads:
4 nos. 5kW and 4 nos. 4kW heater oven
4 nos. 4 kW and 4 nos. 3 kW cooker
4 nos. 3 kW instantaneous water heater with η = 90%
20 nos. lighting, each 100W
5 ring circuits with 30A over-current protective device and 9
radial circuits with 20A over-current protective device
20 nos. 60W and 50 nos. 40W incandescent lamp
8 nos. 1hp air condition unit and 4 nos. 1.5hp air condition
unit. Pf=0.8
Calculate MD of the DB

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