Electrical Cable Size Calculator & Cable Size

Chart Amps

Electrical cables are the lifelines of any electrical system, transmitting power from one point to
another. Keeping in mind the very crucial job they conduct, choosing the right cable size in
electrical installations is of utmost importance to ensure the safety, efficiency, and optimal
performance. The longevity of your electrical devices and appliances also depends on the kind
and quality of cable you use to connect them to the electrical supply. Hence it is important to
choose the type of wiring and the size carefully.

Let us look into the types of cables along with their cable sizing chart and discuss the
significance of correct cable sizing.

How to Choose the Right Electrical Cable for Your Needs?

The different kinds of wiring are as follows:

1. Cables

Cables are generally used for permanent wiring, acting as conduits for distributing electrical
power throughout a building’s infrastructure or through the power grids. Typically concealed
from plain view, cables are hidden behind walls, ceilings, and floors ensuring a seamless and
organized electrical system.

A standard cable will have two essential components –

 The core, and

 The PVC sheathing

Choosing the appropriate core size and proper sheathing is essential for matching the cable to
specific electrical applications.

Two-core-and-earth-cables, also known as twin-core-and-earth-cables, feature three core types,

each identifiable by the colour of its sheathing, which is:

 The live core is insulated with a brown sheath

 The neutral core is insulated with a blue sheath, and
 The earths core is devoid of any sheathing

The twin-core-and-earth electrical cable size chart amps are as given below:

Size Amps Energy Utility

1.0 mm2 14A 3.25kW at 240V lighting applications
1.5 mm2 18A 4.25kW at 240V lighting applications
2.5 mm2 24A 5.75kWat 240V power circuits
4.0 mm2 32A 7.75kW at 240V power circuits and shower applications
6.0 mm2 40A 12.9kW at 240V shower and cooker applications
10 mm2 53A 12.9kW at 240V cooker applications

Three-core-and-earth cables are commonly used in scenarios where additional connections are
required. Similar to twin-core-and-earth cables, the cable sizes here also correspond with a
current and wattage. However, these cables are only used for two-way switching of lights.

1.0 mm2 — 12A in current, 2.75kW at 240V used for lighting two-way switches.

2. Flex

Flex, also known as flexible cable, usually serves as a stranded electrical wire to connect
appliances and pendant lights to the main wiring network.

Similar to cables, flexes also have three colour-coded cores, which are as follows:

 The brown core provides live insulation, carrying the active current to power the
connected appliance or light fixture
 The blue core serves as neutral insulation and forms a return path for the current thereby
ensuring a complete and safe circuit
  The earth core which is green or yellow and offers a low-resistance path in case of
abnormal current flow, directing current to the ground and preventing potential damage.

Properly matching the flex size to the appliance’s wattage ensures that the cable can handle the
required current without overheating or posing any safety risks.

Given below are the electrical cable size calculator chart for flex sizes and the corresponding
rating of suitable appliances.

Size Corresponding Appliance Rating

0.5 mm2 700W
0.75 mm2 1400W
1 mm2 2300W
1.25 mm2 or 1.5 mm2 3000W

3. Armoured Cables

Armoured cables are specifically designed for the transmission of data or power in challenging
environments such as underground or overload installations. Unlike the two previously
mentioned cable types, armoured cables incorporate an additional layer of protection in the form
of a metal sheet, hence the name ‘armoured’.

Given below are the rating electrical cable size chart amps - standard core sizes of three-stranded
armoured cables, along with their respective capacities and wattage ratings.

Size Amps Energy

1.5 mm2 18A 4.25kW at 240V
2.5 mm2 24A 5.75kWat 240V
6.0 mm2 41A 9.9kW at 240V
10 mm2 56A 12.5kW at 240V
16.0 mm2 85A 20.5kW at 240V
25.0 mm2 104A 25.25kW at 240V

However, it is essential to note that some manufacturers may include certain other specifications
for their armoured cables, which are often printed on the insulation itself.

Read Also: Type of Electric Cables & Conductors with Application