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Whereas an oversized conductor will incur unnecessary cost not only for
the long run cables but also for cable termination materials used along
with them i.e. lugs, glands, jointing kit (in case any fault occur in the
future) and oversized cable tray. The cost of labor for laying of higher size
cable will also be higher compared to respective lower size cable.
Considering all these vital points it’s important to make an proper cable
size calculation for our motor.
Must Read: How to Calculate the Cable Size for Different Loads
and Home Wiring (US & EU Solved Examples)
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its also depends on the availability of supply voltage,i.e. in USA and EU,
while keep in mind that LT motors need more current than HT motors.
in other regions, they classified LT Motor under 1kV & HT Motor Over
1kV.
Now we have to discuss the main topic that’s how to calculate the cable
size for motors?
~ 230 A
This is the full load current cable needs to cater in Ideal condition. But in
practical situation, there are several derating factors which need to be
considered.
The current rating given for the cables is defined for ambient temp of 40*
C. If the ambient temp is greater than that, cable current carrying capacity
derates.
You may also read: What is Stepper Motor: Construction, Types and
Modes of Operation
Air Temperature
20° 25° 30° 35° 40° 45° 50° 55°
in Deg.
Normal
1.32 1.25 1.16 1.09 1.00 0.90 0.80 0.80
PVC
De-
HR
Rating 1.22 1.17 1.12 1.06 1.00 0.94 0.87 0.80
PVC
factors
Temperature Correction Factor, K1 when cable is in the Air = 0.88 (for 50*
Amb temp & XLPE cable)
Let’s go for worst case scenario, i.e. 3 trays parallel to each other having
9 cables each touching to each other.
No. of
No. of Cables per Rack No. of Cables per Rack
Racks
1 2 3 6 9 1 2 3 6 9
1 1.00 0.98 0.96 0.93 0.92 1.00 0.84 0.80 0.75 0.73
2 1.00 0.95 0.93 0.90 0.89 1.00 0.80 0.76 0.71 0.69
3 1.00 0.94 0.92 0.89 0.88 1.00 0.78 0.74 0.70 0.68
6 1.00 0.93 0.90 0.87 0.86 1.00 0.76 0.72 0.65 0.66
Table: Cable Grouping Factor (No of Tray Factor), K2 = 0.68 (for 3 trays having 9 cable
each)
= 0.88×0.68 = 0.5984
Let’s select 1.1 KV, 3 core, 240 Sq.mm, Aluminum, XLPE, Armored cable
for single run
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Nominal Area
of Conductor P.V.C. Cable XLPE Cable
(Sq. mm)
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= 13 V
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= 3.13%
1. Cable derating Amp (240.55 Amp)is higher than full load current of
load (230 Amp) = OK
2. Cable voltage Drop (3.13%)is less than defined voltage drop (10%)
= OK
3. Cable short circuit capacity (22.56 KA) is higher than system short
circuit capacity at that point ( X KA) = OK
You may also read: What is Motor Efficiency & How to improve it?
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Motor KW = 350
= 41 A
Suppose Short circuit level/Fault level for H.T. system, Ish (for duration
t=1sec) = 26.2 KA
= 278.72 Sq.mm
We can see from the below table also that the short circuit capacity of
300sqmm cable is 28 KA which is more than our fault level.
You may also read: Star Delta 3-phase Motor Automatic starter with
Timer
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We can see that this will automatically satisfy other two conditions also.
Let’s select 6.6 KV, 3 core, 300 Sq.mm, Aluminum, XLPE, Armored cable
for single run
Temperature Correction Factor, K1 when cable is in the Air = 0.88 (for 50*
Amb temp & XLPE cable)
Cable Grouping Factor (No of Tray Factor), K2 = 0.68 (for 3 trays having 9
cable each)
Reactance = 0.0999 Ω / Km
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= 2.132 V
= 0.032%
1. Cable derating Amp (269.28 Amp) is higher than full load current of
load (41 Amp) = OK
2. Cable voltage Drop (0.032%)is less than defined voltage drop (5%)
= OK
3. Cable short circuit capacity (28.20 KA) is higher than system short
circuit capacity at that point (26.2 KA) = OK
9 Comments
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Ratna Ramesh
Please give me the Chart for the cables and glands, lugs
Reply
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7/12/2019 Cable Size Calculation for LT & HT Motors | Electrical Technology
2. About Cable voltage Drop (3.13%) is less than defined voltage drop (10%) = OK
Could you help me understand about 10%?. The voltage drop 10% is your experienced or
what’s standard?.
Thanks & have a nice day!
Reply
Sanjeev Raghav
Dear sir,
There is some typing error, instead of 217, it should be the Calculated full load Current
i.e. 230 Amp. thus 217 is not the voltage but it is current and Voltage V2 is voltage
drop in Volts in one Km length with one Amp Load current.
Now, here cable length is 200 mtr., so it is divided by 1000 to convert the 200 mtr. in
Km. & instead of 217 Amp it should be 230 Amp. Now multiply by the 0.3 i.e. Voltage
drop in one km with one amp load current. Thus, actual Voltage drop in Volts would be
V2 = 0.3*230*200/1000 = 13.8 Volts
Reply
Electrical Technology
We have changed the values. Thanks for correction.
Reply
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Saumil Jain
Dear Sir,
Please specified how will select the size any type of cable like control cable and power
cable as well as core.
Reply
Electrical Technology
Here is the step by step tutorial: How to select proper cable for installation ?
Reply
Rehan Ansari
Dear Sir,
Please specified how will select the size any type of cable like control cable and power
cable as well as core.
Reply
Electrical Technology
You may find it here with examples
Reply
Hasnat
For underground cable CU cable, for 350KW, 6.6 KV. What will be calculation? Please
help. I need actually 1500KW, 6.6KV undergroung cable 200m calculation?
Reply
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