Cable Calculations

This part of the project deals with the matter of cable sizing and calculating
the voltage drop for each individual circuit. These calculations can be seen
on the Microsoft Excel sheet which is attached. Shown below are the many
factors that have to be taken into consideration when calculating cable size.

Voltage Drop
Voltage drop is the main deciding factor in which we have to contend with
when picking the size of a cables. There are many factors which affect
voltage drop these are listed below. According to the 4th edition of the ETCI
rules the maximum permissible voltage drop in an installation is 4% of the
nominal voltage i.e. 4% of 230 volts is 9.2 volts and 4% of 400 volts is 16
volts. As this is a maximum guide a voltage drop of 2.5% (5.75 volts) shall
be applied for all final circuits in this installation example 230V = 5.75V and
400V = 10V. From the distribution transformer to adequate allowance shall
be made also.

Ambient Temperature
Is defined in the ETCI rules as the temperature of the air or other medium
where the equipment is to be used. Ambient temperature is taken at 30° C.
This factor has to be taken into consideration if the temperature rises then
the current carrying capacity of the cable is affected.

Current Carrying Capacity

This essentially is the amount of current which a conductor can withstand
continuously under specified conditions.

Protection Type
All cables regardless of circuit type will have overcurrent protection this
essential. We are required to provide overcurrent protection to the cable in
all cases. This is done in our final circuits by MCBs. Overcurrents are the
amounts of current which exceed the rated spec of current of a cable. When
considering protection type following shall be taken into account
IB < IN < IZ

Where
IB = The circuit current
IN = Breaker size
IZ = The current carrying capacity of the cable
 Load
Power is the term used for electrical power consumption usually measured in
watts also referred to as the load.

Diversity Factor
Diversity factor is the ratio between actual load and total installed load in
our calculations we can take the first socket circuit for example the load is
2500 watts and taking into account that this circuit will be used frequently
but not all the time I have applied a diversity factor if 0.8 to this circuit. So
now the load on which we will be calculating our cable for will be a load of
2000 watts i.e. 2500*0.8 = 2000 watts. There are no given tables for
diversity in the ETCI regulations. It is left to the discretion of the engineers
experience and expertise for the application of diversity.

Cable Calculation Lighting Example

For the purpose of the example we will use the first lighting circuit as a
example DB1/LS/R1

1) When Calculating cable size the first step is we get the power
consumption from the load (1600watts)

2) The next step is applying the diversity factor of 1 as these lights will be
on constantly a high diversity factor is applied so Actual Load is equal to.

Installed load* Diversity = 1600 watts * 1 = 1600 watts

3) The next step is getting the current flowing in the circuit the formula for
this is
Actual Watts = 1600 = 7.09Amps
(Volts*P.F.) (230*0.98)

4) The current is then multiplied by the distance in meters which gives us a

value of 354.5 this value is then multiplied by our miiliVolt/amp/meter value
which is obtained from the ETCI regulations 4th edition.

5) The minimum size for a lighting conductor in the regulations is 1.5mm2

and the milliVolt/amp/meter value is 0.029 so then the formula below is
used.
The formula we use for calculating volt drop is:
Volt drop = milliVolt/amps/meters*IB*distance (meters)
Volt drop = 0.029*7.09*35 = 7.19 Volts

6) As we know from ETCI regulations the maximum permissible volt drop

is 4% but in this installation all final circuits volt drop shall not exceed
2.5%. With our calculation above the voltage drop has exceeded the allowed
limit. Therefore we shall now upgrade the cable to a 2.5mm2 the
milliVolt/amp/meter value is 0.018 therefore.
Volt drop = milliVolt/amps/meters*IB*distance (meters)
Volt drop = 0.018*7.09*35 = 4.46 Volts

7) We can now see that 4.46 volts is within our guidelines for allowed volt
drop which is 5.75 volts.

8) While the minimum allowed size of conductor is 1.5mm2 it is for the

reason above and is important to note that cable calculations must under
taken in all circuits for greater protection against voltage drop.

Cable Calculation Socket Example

For the purpose of the example we will use the seventh socket circuit as an
example DB1/GS/S2

1) When Calculating cable size the first step is we get the power
consumption from the load (2650watts)

2) The next step is applying the diversity factor of 0.8 as these sockets will
be on rather a lot so a medium to high diversity factor is applied so Actual
Load is equal to.

Installed load* Diversity = 2650 watts * 0.8 = 2120 watts

3) The next step is getting the current flowing in the circuit the formula for
this is
Actual Watts = 2120 = 9.7Amps
(Volts*P.F.) (230*0.95)
4) The current is then multiplied by the distance in meters which gives us a
value of 533 this value is then multiplied by our miiliVolt/amp/meter value
which is obtained from the ETCI regulations 4th edition.

5) The minimum size for a socket circuit conductor in the regulations is

2.5mm2 and the milliVolt/amp/meter value is 0.018 then the formula below
is used.

The formula we use for calculating volt drop is:

Volt drop = milliVolt/amps/meters*IB*distance (meters)
Volt drop = 0.018*9.7*40 = 6.98 Volts

6) As we know from ETCI regulations the maximum permissible volt drop

is 4% but in this installation all final circuits voltage drop shall not exceed
2.5%. With our calculation above the voltage drop has exceeded the allowed
limit. Therefore we shall now upgrade the cable to a 4mm2 the
milliVolt/amp/meter value is 0.011 therefore.
Volt drop = milliVolt/amps/meters*IB*distance (meters)
Volt drop = 0.011*10.25*40 = 4.26 Volts

7) We can now see that 4.26 volts is within our guidelines for allowed volt
drop which is 5.75 volts.

8) While the minimum allowed size of conductor is 2.5mm2 it is for the

reason above that all cables supplying socket circuit shall be of a minimum
of 4mm2 to provide uniformity in the installation and is important to note
that cable calculations must under taken in all circuits to provide protection
against voltage drop.

Types of Cable Used