Cable Type Depends on:

• Cable Insulation materials

• Rubber
• Paper
• Polyvinyl chloride (P.V.C)
• Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE)
• Mineral (Fire rated cable)

Armoured or Unarmoured

Type of Conductor

• Copper
Aluminum
Thermoplastic

Thermoplastics are polymers that can be softened through heating before being processed and then
left to cool and harden. Once cooled, they show no changes in chemical properties, meaning they
can be re-melted and re-used several times.

Thermosetting

Hardening permanently after one application of heat and pressure. Thermosetting plastics, such as
phenol-formaldehyde, cannot be remolded.

What is the difference between thermoplastic and thermosetting?

Thermosetting plastics and thermoplastics are both polymers, but they behave differently when
exposed to heat. Thermoplastics can melt under heat after curing while thermoset plastics retain
their form and stay solid under heat once cured.

Thermosetting – 90 0C -XLPE

Thermoplastic- 70 0C – PVC
Correction Factor

The current-carrying capacities of cables are based upon the following reference ambient
temperatures:
i. For non-sheathed and sheathed cables in air, irrespective of the Installation Method:
30 0C
ii. For buried cables, either directly in the soil or in ducts in the ground: 200 C
Where the ambient temperature in the intended location defers from the reference ambient
temperature, the appropriate rating factors should be applied.

Ca = Correction Factor
∅𝑚𝑎𝑥 −∅ ∅𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒
Ca =√
∅𝑚𝑎𝑥 −∅0 ∅0 = 𝐴𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑇𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒

𝐼∅ × 𝐶 = 𝐼∅
Group Correction Factor (Cg )

• If a number of cables are installed together and each carries current, they will all warm
up.
• A closely packed cable cannot easily dissipate heat, so its temperature rises. Because of
this, cables installed in groups with others carry less current than similar cables lying on a
surface which can dissipate heat more easily.
• Therefore, a grouping factor is applied to determine the actual current rating of a cable
when they are grouped.
Voltage Drop
𝑽𝒅. 𝑰𝒅. 𝑳
Vd =
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎

Where,
• Vd is voltage drop of the cable in mV/ampere/meter
• Id is the designed current in Ampere
• L is the length of run in meter

𝑉𝑑
Vd = . 100%
400
Maximum allowable voltage drops:
Lighting Other Users
Low voltage installations 3% 5%
supplied directly from a public
low voltage distribution system
Low voltage installation supplied 6% 8%
from private L.V supply