Cable Calculations

Design Procedure
 Determine the design current Ib
 Select the rating of the protection I n
 Select relevant correction factors (CF)
 Divide In by the relevant correction factors
to give It
 Choose a cable size to suit It
 Check for voltage drop
 Check for shock risk constraints
 Check for thermal constraints
Design Current
 Calculations for Ib

P
Ib 
V

P
Ib 
3  VL
Nominal setting of protection
 Using the value determined for Ib, we
then select the value of In

 IEE Regulations tables

Correction factors
 When a circuit runs at full load, it
generates heat.

 To compensate for this, and protect

the insulation, we need to apply
correction factors
Ambient temperature
 IEE Regulations based on ambient
temperature of 30°C

 Temperatures above this need a correction

factor
Grouping
 When cables are grouped, the heat
generated can be passed onto all the
cables within a group

 Table 4B gives allowances for these

factors
BS3036
 The BS3036 semi-enclosed fuse
(rewirable) as discussed previously
has a high fusing factor compared to
other types of protective devices

 When using this type, we need to

apply a correction factor of 0.725
Thermal Insulation
 Virtually all new premises use thermal
insulation as a means to conserve
energy

 Appendix 4 of the Regs covers cables

run on one side in insulation however
table 52A should be applied if it is
totally surrounded
How to apply factors
 If a circuit is protected by a BS3036 fuse, then the
factor 0.725 always applies.
 If a circuit has more than one influence, such as the
example below, then the worst case only need be
applied

Grouping Thermal Insulation

Factor 0.7 Factor 0.5

High ambient temperature

Factor 0.97
Current Carrying capacity
 The required formula for calculating
current carrying capacity is:

In
It 
CFs
 Example
In
It 
CFs

32
It   64 A
0.5
Grouping Thermal Insulation
Factor 0.7 Factor 0.5

32A MCB High ambient temperature

Factor 0.97
 Example 2
In
It 
CFs

30
It   82.75 A
0.5  0.725
Grouping Thermal Insulation
Factor 0.7 Factor 0.5

30A BS3036 High ambient temperature

Factor 0.97
 Example 3
Ca x Cg = 0.97 x 0.5 = 0.485 which is worse than 0.5 (Ci) hence

In 30
It  It   85.3 A
CFs 0.485  0.725

Grouping Thermal Insulation

Factor 0.5 Factor 0.5

High ambient temperature

30A BS3036
Factor 0.97
Choice of cable size
 Appendix 4 of the IEE Regs list all cable
types and the voltage drop

 Example

 PVC insulated single phase cable run in

conduit having a current carrying capacity of
45A installed by ref method 3 (table 4A) the
table is 4DIA and the column is 4 hence the
cable size is 10mm2
Voltage Drop
 Maximum allowance is 5% of the
nominal voltage for standard circuits
and 3% for lighting circuits
 230v Lighting =
 400v Lighting =
 230v Lighting =
 400v Lighting =
Voltage Drop formula
 (mV/A/m) is from the tables in the IEE Regs
 Ib is the design current
 L is the length of the circuit in metres

(mv / A / m)  I b  l
Vc 
1000
Voltage Drop example
 The voltage drop on a
circuit supplied from a (mv / A / m)  I b  l
Vc 
230v source by a 1000
16mm2 2 core copper
cable 23m long clipped 2.8  33  23
direct and carrying a Vc   2.125v
1000
design current of 33A
will be (mV from table
4D2B)
Shock Risk
 The earth fault loop impedance should
not exceed the values given in Part 4
of the IEE Regs