Electrical Data

Electrical Terminology Electrical Formulas Properties of Conductors

Multiplying Factors for Converting Resistance to 60-Hertz AC Resistance

Electrical Terminology

Volt (E) is the unit of electric pressure or electromotive force. It is the potential that
will produce a current of 1 ampere through a resistance of 1 ohm.

Ampere (I) is the unit of electrical current (coulombs per second).

Ohm (R) is the unit of electrical resistance (volts/ampere).

Watts (W) and kilowatts (KW) are units of electric power.

Kilovolt-ampere (KVA) is a measurement of apparent electric power.

Kilowatt hour (Kwhr) is a unit of electrical energy or work performed.

Joule (J) is a metric unit of energy: watt per second.

1 Kwhr = 2,655,000 ft-lb = 1.341 hp-hr = 3413 Btu = 3,600,000 joules.

Ohm law relationships (direct current)E = IR + W/I = WR

W = I2R = E2/R = EI
I = E/R = W/E = W/R
R = E/I = W/I2 = E2/W

For electrical formulas, see the chart below. Use the symbols above plus the ones
defined in the text above the table.

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Electrical Formulas

Use the symbols in Electrical Terminology above, plus:

eff = efficiency (expressed as a decimal)
pf = power factor (expressed as a decimal)
hp = horsepower output

Direct Alternating current

Required
current Single-phase 3-phase*
IE 1.73 IE
KVA
1000 1000
IE IE (pf) 1.73 IE (pf)
Kilowatts
1000 1000 1000
Horsepower (output) IE (eff)/746 IE (eff)(pf)/746 1.73 IE (eff)(pf)/746
Joules IE/sec IE (eff)(pf)/sec 1.73 IE (eff)(pf)/sec
746 (hp)/E 746 (hp)/E (eff) 746 (hp)/1.73 E (eff)
Amperes (hp known)
(eff) (pf) (pf)
Amperes (KW
1000 KW/E 1000 KW/E (pf) 1000 KW/1.73 E (pf)
known)
Amperes (kva known) 1000 KVA/E 1000 KVA/1.73 E

*For 3-phase systems, E is measured line to line and I is phase current.

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Properties of Conductors
Concentric lay DC resistance /M ft
Bare conductors
conductors at 77F (25C)**
Size Area
(AWG circle Diameter Copper
No. Area
MCM) (mils) each Diameter
of (sq Aluminum
wire (inch)
wires inch) Bare Tind
(inch)
18 1620 0.0403 0.0013 6.51 6.79 10.7
16 2580 0.0508 0.0020 4.10 4.26 6.72
14 4110 0.0641 0.0032 2.57 2.68 4.22
12 6530 0.0808 0.0051 1.62 1.68 2.66
10 10,380 0.1019 0.0081 1.018 1.06 1.67
8 16,510 0.1285 0.0130 0.6404 0.659 1.05
6 26,240 7 0.0612 0.184 0.027 0.410 0.427 0.674
4 41,740 7 0.0772 0.232 0.042 0.259 0.269 0.424
3 52,620 7 0.0867 0.260 0.053 0.205 0.213 0.336
2 66,360 7 0.0974 0.292 0.067 0.162 0.169 0.266
1 83,690 19 0.0664 0.332 0.087 0.129 0.134 0.211
0 105,600 19 0.0745 0.372 0.109 0.102 0.106 0.168
00 133,100 19 0.0837 0.418 0.137 0.0811 0.0843 0.133
000 167,800 19 0.0940 0.470 0.173 0.0642 0.0668 0.105
0000 211,600 19 0.1055 0.528 0.219 0.0509 0.0525 0.0836
250 250,000 37 0.0822 0.575 0.260 0.0431 0.0449 0.0708
300 300,000 37 0.0900 0.630 0.312 0.0360 0.0374 0.0590
350 350,000 37 0.0973 0.681 0.364 0.0308 0.0320 0.0505
400 400,000 37 0.1040 0.728 0.416 0.0270 0.0278 0.0442
500 500,000 37 0.1162 0.813 0.519 0.0216 0.0222 0.0354
600 600,000 61 0.0992 0.893 0.626 0.0180 0.0187 0.0295
700 700,000 61 0.1071 0.964 0.730 0.0154 0.0159 0.0253
750 750,000 61 0.1109 0.998 0.782 0.0144 0.0148 0.0236
800 800,000 61 0.1145 1.030 0.833 0.0135 0.0139 0.0221
900 900,000 61 0.1215 1.090 0.933 0.0120 0.0123 0.0197
1000 1,000,000 61 0.1280 1.150 1.039 0.0108 0.0111 0.0177
1250 1,250,000 91 0.1172 1.289 1.305 0.00863 0.00888 0.0142
1500 1,500,000 91 0.1284 1.140 1.561 0.00719 0.00740 0.0118
1750 1,750,000 127 0.1174 1.526 1.829 0.00616 0.00634 0.0101
2000 2,000,000 127 0.1255 1.630 2.087 0.00539 0.00555 0.00885
** The resistance values given in the last three columns apply only to direct current.
When using conductors larger than number 4/0 with alternating current, use the
multiplying factors in the table below to compensate for skin effect.

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Multiplying Factors for Converting Resistance

to 60-Hertz AC Resistance
Multiplying factor
For nonmetallic sheathed For metallic sheathed cables
Size cables in air or or all cables in
nonmetallic conduits metallic raceways
Copper Aluminum Copper Aluminum
Up to 3 AWG 1.000 1.000 1.00 1.00
Up to 2 AWG 1.000 1.000 1.01 1.00
Up to 1 AWG 1.000 1.000 1.01 1.00
0 1.001 1.000 1.02 1.00
00 1.001 1.001 1.03 1.00
000 1.002 1.001 1.04 1.01
0000 1.004 1.002 1.05 1.01
250 MCM 1.005 1.002 1.06 1.02
300 MCM 1.006 1.003 1.07 1.02
350 MCM 1.009 1.004 1.08 1.03
400 MCM 1.011 1.005 1.10 1.04
500 MCM 1.018 1.007 1.13 1.06
600 MCM 1.025 1.010 1.16 1.08
700 MCM 1.034 1.013 1.19 1.11
750 MCM 1.039 1.015 1.21 1.12
800 MCM 1.044 1.017 1.22 1.14
1000 MCM 1.067 1.026 1.30 1.19
1250 MCM 1.102 1.040 1.41 1.27
1500 MCM 1.142 1.058 1.53 1.36
1750 MCM 1.185 1.079 1.67 1.46
2000 MCM 1.233 1.100 1.82 1.56

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