Cabling
This topic covers :-
• Types and Selection of cables for use in an
electrical installation.
• Methods of supporting cables
• Cables enclosure for additional protection
• How the cables/conductors are identified
Typical high-voltage and low-voltage distribution
system connection
3
Selecting Cables
• When selecting a cable one of the most
important factors is the temperature attained
by its insulation .
• Bare conductors may be operated at much
higher temperatures than most insulated
conductors.
• The operating temperature of the cable must
not exceed the safe temperature for the
insulation.
• All cables have electrical resistance, so there
must be an energy loss when they carry current.
• This loss appears as heat and the temperature of
the cable rises.
• The rate of heat loss is a function of the
difference in temperature between the conductor
and the surroundings.
• Rating of a cable depends on its ability to lose the
heat produced in it by the current it carries.
• The transfer of heat, whether by conduction,
convection or radiation, depends on temperature
difference - heat flows from hot to cold at a rate
which depends on the temperature difference
between them.
• Correction factors is taking into account the
ability of a cable to shed heat due to the ambient
temperature.
• The Regulations use the symbol Ca to represent
this correction factor.
Correction factors to current rating for ambient temperature (Ca)
(from [Tables 4C1 and 4C2] of BS 7671: 1992)
Ambient
Type of insulation
temperature
I2 is the operating current for the fuse or circuit breaker (the current at which
the fuse blows or the circuit breaker opens)
Ca is the correction factor for ambient temperature
3 or 4 3 or 4 3 or 4 3 or 4
- 2 cables 2 cables 2 cables 2 cables
cables cables cables cables
3 or 4 3 or 4 3 or 4 3 or 4
- 2 core 2 core 2 core 2 core
core core core core
Bare Bare
Cross- p.v.c. sheath p.v.c. Sheath 3
p.v.c. Sheath sheath sheath
sectional Volt 2 x single or x single or
3 core 2x 3x
area twin twin
single single