Chapter 3

FEEDER DESIGN
Introduction
• We have now reached the point where we can begin to
discuss the actual design of the electrical system itself.

• All electrical systems have the common purpose of

providing electrical energy to the utilization equipment
as safely and reliably as economically possible.

• The system must be adequate to deliver to the location

of each piece of equipment the necessary energy on a
continuous basis, without any component overheating
or causing unacceptable voltage drops.
Cont’d
Cont’d
Branch Circuits and Feeders
• In an electrical system, power must be transferred
from the service equipment to the lights, machines,
and outlets.
• An important part of any electrical system is the
electrical wirings that connects all the components.
• Regardless of the wiring methods used, the
connecting wiring/conductors can be divided into
three components:
– Service Entrance
– Feeders
– Brach Circuits
Cont’d
Cont’d
• Service Entrance:

These are the conductors for delivering energy from the electric
supply system to the premises being served. These conductors
extend from the power company terminals to the main service
disconnect.
 The conductors are terminated near their point of entrance into
the building in the service equipment.

 The service equipment is the main control and means of cutoff

for the supply.
 In the case of a large premise, the electrical power is usually
supplied by the electric utility at medium-voltage level, requiring
a transformer to step down the voltage to the utilization level.
Cont’d
• Feeders: These are the conductors for delivering the
energy from the service equipment location to the final
branch-circuit over current device protecting each piece of
utilization equipment.

 Main feeders originate at the service equipment location, and

 sub-feeders originate at panel-boards or distribution centers at
other than the service equipment location.

 Branch Circuits: These are the conductors for delivering

the energy from the point of the final over current device
to the utilization equipment.

 Each feeder, sub-feeder, and branch circuit in turn needs its

own over current protection in the form of a circuit
breaker or fused switch.
Cont’d
• This chapter deals in general with the proper
selection of conductors for feeders and circuits.

• The selection of the correct size of the conductors for

feeders and branch circuits depends on the following:
1. Continuous current rating

2. Short-circuit current rating

3. Maximum allowable voltage drop

Continuous Current Rating of Conductors

• The continuous current of a conductor is referred to

in NEC as ampacity and is defined as:
“the current in amperes a conductor can carry continuously
under the conditions of use without exceeding its
temperature rating.
Short-Circuit Current Rating of Conductors”
• Short-circuit calculations can impose tremendous stresses on
an electrical system.
• In the case of feeders, the resulting high short-circuit
currents can cause the conductor temperature to rise very
rapidly.
 Maximum Allowable Voltage Drop

The National electrical Code recommends a maximum voltage

drop of 3% for any one branch circuit or feeder with a maximum
voltage drop from the service entrance to the utilization outlet of
5% [NEC sections 210-19(a) and 215-2(b)].

EBC recommends a maximum of 3% and 5% voltage drops for

single-phase and three-phase circuits respectively.
 The NEC recommends that the maximum combined voltage drop
for both the feeder and branch circuit shouldn't exceed 5%, and
the maximum on the feeder or branch circuit shouldn't exceed 3%
 Examples of Feeder Design
• In the normal course of the design of a feeder, the unknown factor is the
required minimum conductor size that will meet each of the three
separate requirements previously outlined: the ampacity rating, the
short-circuit current rating, and the maximum allowable voltage drop.
However, before proceeding with some design problems, there is one
more item to discuss.
• Article 220 of the NEC covers Branch-Circuit and Feeder Calculations.
Part B of this article is concerned with the ampacity requirements of
feeders, and in particular section 220-10(b) deals with Continuous and
Non-continuous Loads.
• For a continuous load, the maximum current is expected to
continue steadily for 3 hours or above.
• Conversely, a non-continuous load fluctuates and only operates
at its maximum current for short periods of time.
• An example of a continuous load is the general lighting for an
office, which usually operates with all the lighting fixtures turned
on continuously for 8 hours or more.
• An example of a noncontiguous load is the lighting in a
residential complex, where each lighting fixture randomly
switched on and off, and it is extremely unlikely that all the
units would be on at the same time for long periods of time.
• Where a feeder supplies any combination of a continuous
and/or non-continuous load, the ampacity of the feeder shall
not be less than 125% of the continuous load plus the non-
continuous load.
• There are two exceptions to this requirement. The first
concerns feeders to groups of motor. The second concerns
100% rated over current devices.
• For the method of calculating minimum load requirements for
the feeders to panels supplying lighting units and general
purpose receptacles see next chapter.
The following examples show the procedures for the selection of
feeder conductors.
 Choosing Cable Size
 Cable Size Design procedure
The correct choice of cable size for any installation is dependent upon
fundamental aspects of
(a) Environmental conditions and characteristics of protection,
(b) Current-carrying capacity of the cable (Continuous current rating)
(c) Short-circuit current rating
(d)Voltage drop of the cable.

 When current flows through a conductor, the resistance offered by the

conductor produces heat. The increase in heat is proportional to the
cable resistance, which in turn depends upon the cross-sectional area
of the cable. Since overheating damages the insulation, the conductor
size must be of adequate size to prevent this from occurring.
 The requirements of IEE Regulations make it clear that circuits must
be designed and the design data made readily available. How then can
we begin to design? Clearly, plunging into calculations of cable size is
of little value unless the type of cable and its method of installation is
known.
 This in turn will depend on the installation’s environment. At the same
time, we would need to know whether the supply was single or three
phases, the type of earthing arrangements, and so on.

 Having ascertained all the necessary details, we can decide on an

installation method, the type of cable, and how we will protect
against electric shock and over currents. We would now be ready
to begin the calculation part of the design procedure.
Here then are the basic steps in a simplified form:
1. Determine the design current Ib.

2. Select the rating of the protection In

3. Select the relevant correction factors (CFs).

4. Divide In by the relevant CFs to give cable current-

carrying capacity (IZ)

5. Choose a cable size to suit Iz

6.Check the voltage drop (Vd)

17
 Diversity Factor

Diversity factor is a factor which is applied to sub

main and main cables and their associated
gears to reduce:
 The factor is based on the assumption that
the whole of the connected load will not be
turned on at the same time.
 For example, the total lighting load in a dwelling house is rarely
switched on at a time. Thus, it can be taken that if the total lighting
load is 1000W during the life of the installation, only 66% of the
load (660W) will be switched on at any one time.
 The factor in this instance is 0.66.
 A factor for diversity shall not be allowed for calculating the size of
circuit conductor and switchgears of final sub circuits, other than
specified circuits such as cooker circuits. It is noted that the provision
of an allowance for diversity is a matter of calling for a special
knowledge and experience.
 Indeed, the application of the diversity should be decided by the
engineer responsible for designing each particular installation. The
amount by which they are increased or decreased for each installation
is a matter for the installation engineer to decide.
• In the case of lighting for each type of installation, it will be noticed that the more
the total lighting load is likely to switched on over definite periods, the smaller is the
allowance made for diversity.
• In a domestic installation, it is estimated that some two- thirds (0.66) of the lighting
load will be on at any one time.
• In a hotel, the figure is 75%(0.75), and
• in a shop, where virtually all the lights are on for most of the time when the shop is
open, the figure is 90% (0.90).
• It should be noted that no diversity is allowable in the relevant wiring supplying
certain types of load.