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To calculate cable size in square millimeters, determine the load current using power and voltage, then calculate the voltage drop based on cable length and resistance. The required cable size is found using the formula A = (I * L * K) / ΔV, where A is the cross-sectional area, and K is a constant for the wire material. Finally, select the next standard cable size to ensure safety and compliance with electrical codes.

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New Microsoft Word Document

To calculate cable size in square millimeters, determine the load current using power and voltage, then calculate the voltage drop based on cable length and resistance. The required cable size is found using the formula A = (I * L * K) / ΔV, where A is the cross-sectional area, and K is a constant for the wire material. Finally, select the next standard cable size to ensure safety and compliance with electrical codes.

Uploaded by

surjya sekhar das
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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To calculate cable size in square millimeters (sq mm), you need to determine the required

current capacity and the distance of the cable run. The formula generally involves
considering the voltage drop and the current carrying capacity of the wire material. [1, 2, 3,
4, 5]

1. Determine the Load Current (I):

 If you know the power (P) in Watts and the voltage (V) in Volts, use the formula: I =
P / V. [1, 2, 6]

 For 3-phase systems, you'll also need the power factor (PF): I = P / (√3 * V * PF). [7, 8,
9]

2. Calculate the Voltage Drop:

 Voltage drop is the reduction in voltage along the cable due to resistance.

 It's calculated as: Voltage Drop (ΔV) = (I * L * R) / (√3 * V) for 3-phase systems.

 Where:

o I = Load Current in Amps

o L = Cable length in meters

o R = Resistance per unit length of the cable (ohms per meter)

o V = Supply voltage in Volts [6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18]

3. Calculate the Required Cable Size (A):

 The general formula is: A = (I * L * K) / ΔV.

 Where:

o A = Cable Cross-Sectional Area (sq mm)

o I = Load Current in Amps

o L = Cable length in meters

o K = A constant depending on the material (e.g., 56 sq mm/A/m for copper).

o ΔV = Allowable voltage drop (typically 3-5%). [1, 1, 19, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
25]

4. Choose the Next Standard Cable Size: [1, 26]

 The calculated cable size will be a value. You should choose the next standard cable
size available (e.g., 1.5 sq mm, 2.5 sq mm, 4 sq mm).
 This ensures safety and compliance with electrical codes. [1, 1, 27, 28, 29, 30]

Example:

Let's say you have a load requiring 30 Amps (I) and the cable length is 50 meters (L). You're
using copper wire (K = 56 sq mm/A/m) and want a maximum voltage drop of 3 Volts (ΔV).
[1]

1. Load Current: I = 30 A

2. Voltage Drop: ΔV = 3 V

3. Cable Size: A = (30 A * 50 m * 56 sq mm/A/m) / (3 V) = 17.86 sq mm

4. Choose Standard Size: Select the next standard size, which would likely be 25 sq mm.

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