Cable Sizing

[scotjimland]

One of the more common electrical questions on forums is : "What size cable do I need "

Go here http://www.aeicables.co.uk/and you can use a free cable sizing wizard, you need to register but it's only a formality.

In order to use the wizard you need the followings information about your installation.

1/ Cable type, (PVC single, multicore etc )
2/ Supply voltage
3/ Direct Current / Single / Three Phase
4/ Total Amps / Horse Power / Watts / or kVA
5/ Length of run(mtrs.)

Armed with this information you can now calculate the size of cable.

As an example

I want to wire a 3kw invertor, my parameters are:

1/ Single PVC
2/ 12v
3/ DC
4/ 3000
5/ 2 mt

Type this info into the wizard and the answer is:

Cable Requirements....
Cable size (sq.mm): 95.00
Max. current rating over 2 mtrs.: 300.00
Actual voltage drop over 2 mtrs.: 0.23
Estimated conductor temperature (c): 57.78

I hope this is useful, it takes the guesswork out of calculations and it looks good when you answer a post

 

[TestPoster]

Nice one Jim, thanks for the info mate

Keith

 

[Geo]

Or you can save yourself the trouble and just PM JIM
Geo

 

[scotjimland]

Or you can save yourself the trouble and just PM JIM
Geo

Fair enuff, I'll PM you for a dodgy MOT .. :thumb:

 

[TestPoster]

But Jim....... You are on a Spartan Chassis, not a Dodge mate
Sorry :Blush:

Keith

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[GeorgeTelford]

Hi Jim


Probably not a good idea to get amateurs to use that wizard, it requires a level of knowledge that is beyond amateur use.

How many know the Cable ratings, ambients etc, its not helped by the many varied standards that cable/wire comes in when bought.

By the way surely the correct answer to your notional Invertor is ISO 35mm (thats cross sectional area in mm's Squared) or AWG 2

 

[scotjimland]

Hi Jim


Probably not a good idea to get amateurs to use that wizard, it requires a level of knowledge that is beyond amateur use.

How many know the Cable ratings, ambients etc, its not helped by the many varied standards that cable/wire comes in when bought.

By the way surely the correct answer to your notional Invertor is ISO 35mm (thats cross sectional area in mm's Squared) or AWG 2

Hi George

Point taken, but it could be argued that amateurs shouldn't be messing with electrics in the first place but in the real world many do and are keen to learn, forums abound with electrical questions of this sort and even with limited cable knowledge the wizard will give a reliable answer using just the default values for ambient, volt drop, grouping etc.
So I figure it's better to have the use of this tool rather than guess and get it horribly wrong, in saying that if anyone is unsure they should seek professional advice..

Correct, the wizard gives the cable size in square mm rather than mm squared.:thumb:

 

[GeorgeTelford]

Hi Jim

Best if they ask really, mind you it would be absolutely hilarious watching them try to "fit" 95mm invertor cable round corners etc oh:

Here is one that may be a little better for beginners, it asks the basic questions and even shows you the cable needed for sale when calculated....

Link Removed

 

[scotjimland]

Hi Jim

Best if they ask really, mind you it would be absolutely hilarious watching them try to "fit" 95mm invertor cable round corners etc oh:

Here is one that may be a little better for beginners, it asks the basic questions and even shows you the cable needed for sale when calculated....

Link Removed

Yes indeed..

Nice link George .. cheers :thumb:

 

[RockieRV]

ok so this is the youtube video on cable sizing:

CABLE SIZING

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[scotjimland]

ok so this is the youtube video on cable sizing:

CABLE SIZING

:thanks2: