Use the link on the left to access our cable sizing application. Manage and size all your cables, from low voltage to 33 kV.
You can create and size cables for your projects. To add a new cable, click the '+Cable' button. Once a cable is added, you can then edit and size the cable.
Besides navigating to a project's cables from the projects view, you can also use the projects dropdown box to change projects. Navigating directly to 'Cables', loads cables for the last project you worked on.
Your cables are listed in a table. You can filter what is displayed by typing search terms and sort the table by clicking on headings. You can select cables using the tick boxes. For each cable row, you can do the actions:
You can also use the action buttons to print reports and display different columns in the schedule. When using reports, by default all cables are printed. Only selected cables are printed if one or more cables are selected.
The actions buttons delete, copy and move are enabled when multiple cables are selected and will perform actions on all selected cables.
To keep track of your cable, give a meaningful designation, the start point of the cable, end point of the cable and useful description.
You can select either an a.c or d.c. supply. Depending on the supply type, you must provide the voltage, frequency, phases and earthing system type.
Changing voltage may change the selection of available cables. Setting the frequency to zero will select dc.
Select the type of load your cable will be used with, and provide the anticipated maximum current which will flow in the cable (including the power factor). You can also enter the kW or kVA, and the application will calculate the load current.
For motors, power refers to the motor output. Power factor is fixed unless explicitly changed.
You can select a protective device and trip unit for your cable. If selected, current capacity will be based on the protective device settings. For adjustable protective devices, you can enter a setting lower than the trip unit rating if desired by using the 'Set o/c' checkbox.
If required, you can add an RCD using the 'Add RCD' checkbox and select an appropriate rating from the dropdown.
You can select the cable you would like to use from a selection of generic and manufacturer cables. The selected voltage and system type determine the available cables.
Select the correct value from the dropdown box if you know which CSA you wish to use.
If you wish to calculate the CSA, select any value. Once sufficient data is entered and the sizing method selected, the calculation results will suggest a suitable CSA.
Depending on voltage, selected cables and configuration details, sizing standards may be available. It is possible that no sizing standard covers your cable type, in which case only UDR is available.
Once a sizing standard is selected, appropriate installation methods based on the selected cable are given. Once the installation method is selected, the calculation box will show the cable's sustained current capacity and suggested minimum CSA to comply with the sizing standard.
Our application only uses installation methods defined in the sizing standard. The available methods in the standard may not cover your particular installation requirement. In this event, you can try a different sizing standard.
The available cable CSA is based on manufacturing standards and what manufacturers provide. For a given sizing standard, the CSA which can be sized is based on the values given in the standard. In general, this creates no issues, however in a few cases it may be that the sizing standard does not cover the selected CSA. In this event, the calculation box will display an appropriate message.
As part of the installation, you need to specify the circuit length and number of parallel cables intended to be used for the circuit. The circuit length is the distance from the cable source/start point to the cable destination/end point.
For single-core cables, you need to specify the proposed arrangement and cable spacing if required (edge to edge, 0 = touching).
User defined rating is always available and is the default option. This is used to specify the value of sustained current capacity for the cable, temperature and number of parallel cables at which the rating is calculated.
UDR allows you to keep track of cables where the sustained current capacity is determined by other means, along with cables where the application has calculated the rating. Any entered UDR is used in subsequent impedance, voltage drop and fault rating calculations.
Depending on the selected sizing standard and installation method, you must provide additional derating factor data to enable the calculation.
Note: 'Circuits' is the number of independent cable circuits being run together (include this cable as 1 circuit, plus any additional circuits). Spacing between independent circuits is edge to edge ( 0 = touching).
Enter the maximum allowable voltage drop for your system. This is primarily used to provide a notification if the calculated value exceeds the required maximum.
Provide the expected line-line and line-earth fault ratings (either in kA or impedance), along with the power factor and time before the fault is cleared. Changing a rating value (kA or Ze) will update the other values.
A soil resistivity of 100 Ω.m is typical and can be used in the absence of actual data.
Earth Fault Loop calculations for certain LV cables can be carried out when a protective device is selected. In many cases, the maximum allowable EFL impedance is automatically calculated. Where this is not the case, or should you wish to use a different value, this can be entered.
To reduce EFL impedance, you can choose or add an external CPC or use a spare core if one is available. It is also possible to select to ignore any cable armour in EFL calculations.
You can enter comments or information about your cable here. Comments are printed on various reports. Comments are ideal to document your findings, assumptions, and other relevant cable information.