Examples
From EBCS-10. Table B.1, select cables of suitable current-carrying
capacity for the following loads and conditions (p.v.c. cables to BS 6004
into screwed conduit).
(a) 240 V single-phase sub-mains of lighting load totaling 10.5 kW.
Length of run 10 m. Average ambient temperature 25oC, diversity 66%
(b) 400 V balanced 3-phase power circuit. Load 18.65 kW, efficiency,
80%, power factor 0.69. Average temperature 30oC. Length of runs 100 m.
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Solutions
a)
Given
Power =10.5kw
single phase Voltage =240V
Length of cable run= 10 m=L
Average ambient temperature of 25oC
diversity factor =0.66
Required
selecting suitable cable size
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Then,
Current taken by load = Power / Voltage = 10.5kw/ 240v =43.75 A =Ib
maximum current through cables =43.75* 0.66= 28.88 A (using D.F)
From table, If BS 88 32-A circuit breaker is chosen for protection, 32 A rated
circuit breaker can be selected ,
Then, In = 32 Amp
The correction factor for ambient temperature from Table A.4 for250C is 1.03.
Therefore the required cable capacity rating:
Iz = In/Ca = 32/ 1.03 = 31.07 A
From Table B.1, choose a 4 mm2 conductor which carries 32A.
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Voltage drop = mV/Am * Ib * L
From table B.2 voltage drop for 4mm2 conductor size = 11mv/Am
Vd on cable = 11 mv/Am * 28.8 A * 10 m = 3.168 V
Maximum allowable voltage drop( MVd) = 2.5% of 240 MVd
=2.5*240/100 = 6V.
Since the actual voltage drop(Vd) < MVd, 4 mm2 can be the correct
size selected
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If BS 3036 fuse is chosen for protection, this fuse type requires a correction factor
of 0.725.
Iz = In/CF
Ca = 1.03, Cf = 0.725
Iz = In/ Ca* Cf =32/1.03*0.725 = 42.67 Amp.
From Table B.1, a 10mm2 conductor carries 57 A.
Take 10mm2 diameter conductor.
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Voltage drop = (mV/Am) * Ib * L
From table B.2 voltage drop for 10mm2 conductor size = 4.4mv/Am
Voltage drop on cable = 4.4 mv/Am * 28.8 A * 10 m = 1.27 V
Maximum allowable voltage drop = 2.5% of 240 V = 6V.
Since the actual voltage drop is less than from the allowable maximum
voltage drop, selected size is 10mm2.
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b) output kw
eff .
input 3VI cos
18.65kw
I 48.77 A
3 400 0.8 0.69
From table 9.1, 50 A circuit-breaker of type BS 3871 can use for protection.
then, In = 50 Amp
Load current will be :
→ Iz = In/CF : =Ca = 1
Then,
→ Iz = 50 A
Choose 10 mm2cable which is capable of carrying 50 A.
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Testing for Voltage drop: Maximum voltage drop = 2.5% of 400 V = 2.5*400/100=10V.
Voltage drop on the cable = (mV/Am) * Ib * L
= 3.8 * 48.77 * 100
= 18.53 V which is beyond the allowable voltage drop.
So, choose the next cable size, which is 16mm2.
Voltage drop for 16 mm2 = 2.4 * 48.77 * 100 = 11.22 V w/c is beyond allowable Vd
Therefore selected size is 25 mm2.
Vd=
i.e. voltage drop becomes the main determining Factor
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when, 50 A BS 3036 fuse can used for protection from table 9.1
→ In = 50 A
→ Correction factor for the fuse is Cf= 0.725
→ Load current Iz = In / CF = In / Cf
→ Iz = 50 A / 0.725 = 68.966 A
From table B.3 select 25mm2 cable which carries 97 A
Testing for Voltage drop:
Voltage drop on the cable = (mV/Am) * Ib * L
Voltage drop for 25 mm2 = 1.7 x 48.77 x 100 = 8.29 V
Therefore selected size is 25 mm2 conductor sizes.
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Example 2
A 30 m run of twin and earth p.v.c. non-armored four touching copper cables
are situated in an ambient temperature of 350C. Determine the minimum
size of cable to supply a 220-V 10-kW load. Protection given by:
(a) Miniature circuit-breaker (m.c.b.)
(b) Rewirable fuse.
Solution of (a) Electrical Installation Circuit Design
Ib = p/v = 10000/240 = 41.67 A.
Ib = 41.67 A. 50-Amp m.c.b. is adequate for protection of 45.67 Amp.
In = 50 A. And from Table A.4 correction factor for 350C = 0.94
Ca = 0.94.
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Con’t…
From table A.1,Correction factor for cables group together is 0.75
→ C = 0.75
Required cable current rating I
→ Iz = 50 /(0.94 x 0.75 ) = 70.9 A
Iz = 70.9 A
From Table B.3 (for multi core cable) 16mm2 cable carries 69A.
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Example 3
A twin and earth p.v.c.-insulated (copper conductors) cable runs between a 230V
distribution board at the origin of an installation and a 10kW heater. The cable passes
through the following environmental conditions:
(a) on its own in a switch room with an ambient temperature of 35◦C;
(b) on its own in an outdoor area with an ambient temperature of 25◦C;
(c) bunched with three other cables on a wall surface in an area with an ambient
temperature of 40◦C;
(d) finally on its own passing through a thermally insulated wall section for a distance
of 2m, in an ambient temperature of 30◦C.
Protection is by BS 3036 fuses, length of run is 60m and the voltage drop is limited to
5.5V.
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Calculate the minimum cable rating and select suitable cable for voltage drop limitation.
Circuit details
Heater circuit so no special restrictions.
Protection by BS 3036 fuses so Ci is 0.725.
Voltage drop limitation is 5.5V.
Area (a) 35◦C Ca is 0.94.
Area (b) 25◦C Ca is 1.03.
Area (c) 40◦C Ca is 0.87, Cg is 0.65.
Area (d) 30◦C Ca is 1, Ci is 0.5.
Now overall correction factors are as follows:
Area (a) 0.94 × 0.725 = 0.68
Area (b) 1.03 × 0.725 = 0.747
Area (c) 0.87 × 0.65 × 0.725 = 0.41
Area (d) 0.5 × 0.725 = 0.36 (worst area)
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Design current Ib = 10000/230 = 43.5A
Nearest BS 3036 fuse element is 45A (BS 7671 Table 53A).
Select worst area (d): Ca is 0.5.
Minimum cable rating = 45/0.36 = 43.5A
Select 70mm2 cable size carrying (139A) and 0.63mV/A/m voltage drop.
So 70mm2 cable is satisfactory.
Obviously one should avoid running cables in hostile environments wherever possible, in this case
avoiding thermal insulation and not using BS 3036 protection.
Assuming that the cable grouping was unavoidable we could now use area (c) as the worst
environment and in this case:
Revised circuit details:
Heater circuit so no special restrictions.
Protection by BS 88 fuses so Cr is 1.
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Voltage drop limitation is 5.5V.
Area (c) 0.87 × 0.65 = 0.565
Voltage drop limitation 5.5V.
Select cable size 25mm2 (90A) and 1.75mV/A/m.
So 25mm2 cable is satisfactory and cheaper to install than 70mm2 cable.
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