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# Calculation of k Factor

IEC 60364-5-54 gives the following formula for the calculation of the factor k:

$k= Q c ( β+20 ) ρ 20 ln( β+ θ f β+ θ i )$

where Qc = volumetric heat capacity of conductor at 20°C, J.K-1.mm-3
ß = reciprocal of temperature coefficient of resistivity at 0 °C
ρ20 =  electrical resistivity of conductor material at 20 °C, Ω.mm
ϴi = initial temperature of conductor, °C
ϴf = final temperature of conductor, °C

Note: strictly speaking ß is specfied at 0 °C.  Within myCableEngineering calcuations, ß is determined by taking the reciprocal of the 20 °C temperature coefficient.  This introduces a small, but negligible error.

### Typical Application

For manual calculations, the following will give realistic results:

β [°C]    Qc [J.K-1.mm-3 ρ20 [Ω.mm]
Copper 234.5 3.45 x 10-3 17.241 x 10-6
Aluminium 228 2.5 x 10-3 28.267 x 10-6
Steel 202 3.8 x 10-3 138 x 10-6

Substituting the above values and rearranging the IEC equation slightly, gives:

$k=226 ln( 1+ θ f − θ i 234.5+ θ i )$- copper conductors

$k=148 ln( 1+ θ f − θ i 228+ θ i )$- aluminium conductors

$k=78 ln( 1+ θ f − θ i 202+ θ i )$- steel